Author: Karen

I am an RN, Author, Coach, and Speaker. I write novels about relationships to help people find insight into their own. I guide people to create comfort, clarity, and connection in their lives. By combining metaphysical tools with over twenty-five years of nursing experience, I infuse the 'art of nursing' into my practice by providing partnership and resources help people compassionately honor their health.

Baby tooth

by Karen, posted in health, Someone's gotta say it

Many of you may have had a toothache at some point in your lives.  I certainly have.  Many of you may also know how expensive it can be when something goes wrong with your teeth. Even if you have some dental insurance, even if it's good insurance, after the procedure is done and the dust … Continue reading Baby tooth

Quest for the best fried clams

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, family, local fun, restaurants, tweens

  Tom's Fried ClamsWe recently read an article in the York Independent newspaper rating local restaurants by how good their fried clams were. One of the restaurants mentioned was Tom's Fried Clams, located on Rt. 1 in York, Maine. We'd never been there, so off we went. We had a coupon to receive $4 off a clam … Continue reading Quest for the best fried clams

Late, late summer (but feels like fall) date night

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, local fun, restaurants

Yia Yia Pizza from Jimmy the GreekI took off early from work for a date night I planned with my husband last week. He said he wanted Thai food, so I was going back and forth mentally all day about where to go (Mekong Thai? Thai Rose? Thai 9?). Since I couldn't decide, I decided to … Continue reading Late, late summer (but feels like fall) date night

(Chicken) Food for Thought

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, family, raising chickens

  To all my gardener friends and friends of friends local to Wells:  Want to do a good deed for your feathered fowl friends? Give us your tired, wretched masses...of produce! Reasons to bring your inedible, unappetizing, or otherwise unappealing garden food items to my house: Drive by and drop off! You don't even have to get out of … Continue reading (Chicken) Food for Thought

In to Africa

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, health

My friend and work colleague, M. Lennon, RN, is preparing for a trip (not her first) to Africa;  she and other volunteers will continue the work they were doing at the Newstart Children's Home and Clinic last year. This year they hope to build a separate school; right now the school is contained in the baby center.  Newstart currently is home to about 70 (amazing!) … Continue reading In to Africa

Paying by check

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, shopping

I was at Hannaford's in Kennebunk Saturday night, and after my transaction, I noticed that the (young, teenaged) cashier put aside my BLANK SIGNED CHECK next to the register. I asked if she printed my check (although I could clearly see she had not) and she said, "Oh, yeah; we usually do but it didn't print this … Continue reading Paying by check

Fall!

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, baking, restaurants

Fall is a time when a young(ish) woman's thoughts lightly turn to...pumpkin muffins! What is a better harbinger of the new season? I ask you.  Pumpkin muffin is a term that should be used loosely; more of a suggestion than an edict. There are many different versions of the pumpkin muffin.  Here are a few:  … Continue reading Fall!

New Arrivals

by Karen, posted in raising chickens

The new peeps were born last Wednesday and scheduled to arrive on Thursday, Friday the latest, through the mail. We did order from a new vendor, one we hadn't ordered from in the past. We chose them this time because they allowed us to buy 20 at a time instead of 25. They were cheap; … Continue reading New Arrivals

Magical thinking (or: the 80/20 rule revisited)

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, baking, fitness, health, restaurants

This summer, for the first time since losing weight, I put some back on. In reviewing my behavior over the past 3 months, I realized what happened: I reversed the 80/20 rule of maintenance. Instead of staying on track with eating 80% of the time so that the other 20% I could eat whatever I … Continue reading Magical thinking (or: the 80/20 rule revisited)

It’s all good

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, family, health, italian, local fun, restaurants, tweens

I was annoyed the other night, thinking that even though I was lucky to have had an extra day off from work this week, it had been all used up with medical appointments. Deciding to make them, scheduling them, dealing with insurance company in advance to try to make sure they didn't weasel out of paying … Continue reading It’s all good