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Originally posted at: Kathy Hilton’s White Lace Top and Skirt

Photo: @suttonstracke

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Originally posted at: Sutton Stracke’s Orange Satin Dress

Here we are in the first month of the new year. It can feel exciting if you are happy to say goodbye to 2025, and it can feel daunting… and it can even feel both at the same time.

Before the holidays began, I read an article by Maria Shriver that included an exercise which resonated with me, and I thought it might for many of you 60 & Me-ers as well!

I’ve written before about the importance of taking care of ourselves first. I’ve also written about how so many of us are too busy with the “shoulds” of life, prioritizing others’ needs above our own and how we don’t take the time to look into our deep down for the answers to our questions.

As Shriver put it, we forget to check in with our own hearts, or maybe we’re just afraid to express our true desires. She wrote, “But here’s the truth: if you don’t know what you truly want, then it’s hard to know where you are going. It’s hard to know what steps to take to get anywhere.”

Shriver’s Exercise

The exercise she shared is to write a list in the first person: What do I really want? She gave a few prompts that I think are helpful and perhaps instead of New Year’s resolutions, we try and incorporate our desires into this format as another option. The idea behind this process is to set the intention and provide a roadmap to get closer to making it happen.

So here are a few questions to ask yourself and then answer them with a pen and paper:

1. What do I really want for my health right now?
2. What do I really want for my relationships?
3. What do I really want to learn or explore?
4. What do I really want to let go of?
5. What do I really want to feel more of every day?

Don’t Overthink It

She says to not overthink it; just start writing. It can be anything from the desire to travel, taking better care of your health, wanting to learn to trust yourself more, getting more fresh air, drinking more water, learning to listen better, or having more love in your life.

I hope you will give this a try!

Speaking of love, I wrote another spoken word poem; and it’s about love, called “Let Love Fall In.” I guess one thing I really want in this new year is more love in our lives, and this is how I expressed it. In case you’d like to see it, you can find it on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iODVpbHp0A8&t=1s

In closing, I want to share a quote with you that is attributed to Zig Zigler, which I think lends itself well to this, the beginning of a new year.

The 3 C’s of Life Choices, Chances, Changes

You must make the choice to take a chance if you want anything in life to change.

Some people think of the new year as just another day in another month. Some use it as a way to begin again with a clean slate.

The fact is, we can start with a clean slate any day of the week, and, frankly, any time of day if we wish.

So, whatever calendar moment or time of day or year works for you to help you take a step toward change (if you want something to change), make the choice to take the chance!

Any moment can be your clean slate. If you are unsatisfied with where you are, who you’re with, what you’re doing, your health, your friends, your situation…

Do. Not. Settle.

I’ve made some choices and taken chances in life… (and continue to) for which others (may) have thought me bonkers. Maybe they were right, maybe they weren’t, but it doesn’t matter what other people think! 

I encourage you to do the exercise I shared from Maria Shriver and see what it reveals to you. Then you decide if you are ready to make the choice to take the chance to create the change you wish for. I’d love to hear from you to see what you discover and what, if anything, you decide to do!

It’s your life. It’s 2026. What will it look like? You get to choose.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you want for your life in 2026? What’s something you’ve dreamed to do and finally have the chance to pursue?

Picture this scene – a fragrant tomato sauce bubbles away on the stove, filling the air with its enticing aroma. On the windowsill, the scent of basil and mint transports you straight to the sunny climes of the Mediterranean, while on the table, a fruit bowl piled high with lemons and blood oranges adds a welcome splash of colour to the room.

How much do you know about Sicilian gastronomy? It could be that a recent holiday in Sicily has captured your culinary imagination, or you may just enjoy experimenting with cuisines from overseas and like the idea of introducing a hint of Sicily into your cooking. Start your journey into recreating Sicilian flavours at home with the ultimate Sicilian pick me up, a strong espresso with a soft amaretto biscuit, then get set to bring a taste of the island to your own table.

Why Bring Sicilian Flavours into Your Kitchen

In common with the rest of Italy, here in Sicily, we’re very proud of the culture that surrounds our food. Our regional version of the Mediterranean diet is still largely made up of olive oil, fruit, vegetables, seafood and whole grains, with limited amounts of dairy and meat, so it’s essentially a really healthy diet. Sicilian food is all about using seasonal ingredients that are grown locally, avoiding, where possible, ultra-processed foods.

We also see mealtimes as social occasions for adults and children, time to gather together to chat while we enjoy delicious food.

I’m sure many of us also find that challenging ourselves with new flavours and recipes from overseas can be enormously satisfying. And there are times when a traditional Sicilian dish is like enjoying a mini holiday in Sicily on a plate!

Food can provide a wonderful bridge between our everyday life and far-flung places, and using specific ingredients to make dishes that you’ve tasted abroad is a great way to recreate holiday memories or perhaps even a way to explore a particular cuisine before heading overseas. And best of all, when it comes to Sicilian food, it may be easier than you ever thought.

Sicilian Food vs. The Rest of Italy

So how does Sicilian food differ from the rest of Italy? Each region of Italy has its own recipes and traditions, often handed down over centuries, and the way that a particular dish is made can even vary from one village to another. But Sicilian food, in particular, is influenced by several factors.

Firstly, centuries of rule by others has resulted in a fusion of Mediterranean cultures, with elements of Arab, Norman, French, Spanish and Greek cuisine all present. Hence the combination of flavours in dishes such as ‘caponata’, a sweet and sour aubergine bake made with vinegar, sugar and pine nuts.

Or the widespread use of couscous in the Trapani area in the west of Sicily, reflecting the North African influence.

Secondly, an island setting means we have an abundance of seafood, and long, hot summers result in a profusion of basil, capers and mint.

We also have a long tradition of street food, with snacks such as ‘arancini’ (rice balls) and ‘panelle’ (chickpea fritters) playing a central role in daily life. Plus, widespread use of almonds mean more sweet things than elsewhere in Italy, with almond based biscuits and pastries appearing at every celebration – or frankly, at any time!

Key Sicilian Ingredients for Your Store Cupboard

One of the reasons that Sicilian food is so healthy is in its use of fresh seasonal items. However, you’ll still need some store cupboard items so if this has whetted your appetite, it’s worth first stocking up on some basic ingredients.

Start with some extra virgin olive oil, a selection of vinegars, salted capers, olives, sardines and anchovy fillets. Dried oregano, cinnamon, raisins, olives and pine nuts, and couscous, pasta and breadcrumbs will also all come in handy. Buy the fresh produce such as fish, fruit, vegetables and ricotta or pecorino cheese as and when you need it.

Simple Everyday Sicilian Cooking

The beauty of Sicilian cooking is in its simplicity. Check out recipes for Pasta alla Norma (with tomato sauce, eggplant, basil and ricotta salata) or Pasta alle Sarde (with canned rather than fresh sardines, fennel, pine nuts, raisins and breadcrumbs), two dishes that are simple to make, affordable and healthy. Or buy some fresh swordfish or tuna, and prepare it in the classic Sicilian way, with olive oil, tomatoes, capers and olives in a pan, served alongside a light fennel and orange salad.

What About Sicilian Desserts and Sweet Treats?

Most people are familiar with Sicilian cannoli and ‘cassata’, the elaborate multi-layered celebration cake. However, there are far simpler, and equally delicious, sweet treats to make which are classically Sicilian. Start with a batch of squidgy ‘Amaretti Siciliani’, Biscotti Regina (sesame almond cookie) or almond brittle. Common to all the biscuits is a heavy use of almonds, citrus, honey and spices.

Experience Sicily at Home… Then Experience It in Person

Once you’ve had a taste of Sicilian food, what could be better than visiting Sicily and sampling some of these dishes in situ? Once you get there, you’ll find ample opportunities to broaden your knowledge of Sicilian flavours and learn more about the prominent role food plays in daily life in Sicily. Explore local markets or the huge food markets in Palermo, Catania and Syracuse, book a wine tasting at a local vineyard and take a cooking class or two to perfect a couple of dishes to whip up in your own kitchen.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Are you interested in learning more about Sicilian food? Have you been to Sicily? Have you ever taken cooking classes on an overseas holiday?

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Originally posted at: Erika Girardi’s Khaki Studded Cargo Pants and Red Sunglasses