WELLNESS | by POSY GERING

IF YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED THE GAME MONOPOLY, you know the power of the “Get Out of Jail Free” card. Instead of going directly to jail, where you are stuck until you roll doubles with the dice, you get to get back in the game immediately. Why not put a couple in your pocket to use today?

SOURCE: MONOPOLY

If you’re like me, every time you make a mistake or commit an infraction of your unwritten rules, you put yourself in mental jail. Iron bars are nothing against the strength of imprisonment of labels such as “stupid,” “wrong,” “bad”, “irredeemable.” If you accept the label, it usually sets off a vicious cycle of judging yourself, and proving that the judgment is true, further imprisoning yourself, limiting your creativity and cutting off innocent learning.

There is a quick way out of this: Give yourself a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. It creates a sense of freedom, cuts off the self-recrimination, and gives you at least an interior smile to carry you through the rest of your day.

DESIGN | by CELESTE TELL

HERE’S A GREAT WORD for the Urban Dictionary: Boomerangers. Definition: the adult children of baby boomers moving home again due to financial or other hardship. I get it. Many of my friends’ kids are indeed moving back in either during or after college, or because they can’t find jobs.

On the flip side, there are just as many boomers whose parents or in-laws are moving in with them. It’s no wonder we are called the sandwich generation. According to the U.S. Census, the number of households with at least three generations increased 30 percent between 2000 and 2009.

When the kids or the parents decide to move in, the biggest considerations are space and communication:

• Reorganize existing spaces to provide balance between personal privacy, independence and communal living. Furniture and paint can turn a family or rec room into a studio apartment, a guest suite into a living space or a second floor into an almost-separate apartment — minus the cooking facilities.
• Remodel a basement, attic, garage or other area to create fully independent living space with separate entrances and cooking facilities. Check local zoning and building codes to learn what you can and can’t do. And be sure to get appropriate permits and comply with all requirements.
• Establish and agree on ground rules, such as who can use the kitchen at what hours and when loud music is — and isn’t — acceptable. Make sure each family member has an opportunity to have her or his day-to-day needs accommodated.

Whether it is your kids or your parents moving back in (or both!) look at it as an opportunity to create a new kind of relationship at a unique point in all of your lives.

DESIGN | by JANNA LUFKIN

RECENTLY A FRIEND ASKED if I would be interested in joining her for a presentation featuring a well-known interior designer from New York. I know the designer’s work and am drawn to his particular sense of style. The presentation was titled “American Design in the New Century” and I was curious to see how he might be applying his unique style in today’s economic climate, so I agreed to go.

OFFICEMATE WOOD CLIPBOARD @ AMAZON.COM

As his talk proceeded — accompanied by beautiful photos depicting gorgeous lofts and apartments in New York City and elsewhere, the “country houses” (most second or third residences for their owners) and the sources where the designer was shopping — all I could think about was: Where is this guy coming from? Was it me? Or was the rest of the audience feeling the same?

When the presentation was over, I turned to my friend and reluctantly said, “The best thing about the whole presentation was a wall of simple office-supply clipboards and the artwork clipped to them.” “Me too!” she exclaimed. I felt vindicated.

Later that evening, she called me. She recapped the rest of the day’s events and told me about a conversation she had with a designer who also attended the morning talk. “Loved that wall of clip boards!” she said. We had a good laugh.

My point? Even in the most expensive, elaborate and over-the-top homes, the creative use of something as simple, inexpensive and accessible as those clipboards made the biggest, most memorable impression.

As for American Design in the New Century? Based on the past few years of its first decade, most Americans have come to realize, appreciate and celebrate what is simple and familiar. A creative twist to an everyday object will trump over-the-top and expensive any day.

DESIGN | by DEBRA PRINZING

THE GARDEN TOURING SEASON IS UPON US: Where I live, there seems to be at least one secret garden tour or garden festival every weekend. And I never say no to a chance to don my straw-brimmed hat, sling a camera over my shoulder and spend a day entering a few new garden gates.

AT LONGWOOD GARDENS

Here are my tips for making the most of a tour day, rain or shine:

• What to wear: the aforementioned hat to protect your skin from sun or showers; comfortable walking shoes (no sandals or heels); and layers for sudden changes of weather.
• What to bring along: a lightweight backpack filled with a water bottle, snacking food, sunscreen, camera and notebook. It’s nice to have your hands free in the garden, in case you want to stroke a scented leaf!
• What to do: Take photos when you notice an attractive plant combination, clever design idea or unusual material — great for future reference in your own backyard; ask questions of the homeowner, designer or volunteer docents, especially to meet an unfamiliar or uncommon plant; be sure to thank the hosts for opening their garden to the community.
• What not to do: don’t step off the walkways; don’t express your criticisms out loud; don’t help yourself to plant cuttings!

I’ve discovered some of the best inspiration for my own landscape-design projects when touring others’ secret gardens. Try exploring in your community and you’ll get an informative horticultural education, too.

BACK TO BASICS | by KAVITA VARMA-WHITE

MY KIDS SPENT THEIR EARLY YEARS attending a Catholic school in Florida. They had to wear uniforms, and the only real choice each day was whether to wear a yellow, white or blue shirt.

Two years ago we moved to the Pacific Northwest and joined a public elementary school. That first day in September was a treat. My then 9-year-old was beyond excited that she had traded in her plaid uniform and sensible black school shoes for cool shorts, a hoody and a pair of slip-on sneakers. My son, who was 6, put on a football jersey and shorts. The weather was warm and everyone was giddy at the freedom of wearing whatever they wanted.

A few weeks later when the temperature dropped, I insisted both of them wear long pants and jackets. The fight that ensued was no fun. (“No one wears long pants. Why do we need a jacket? ” [Insert name of friend] never wears a coat!” The fight the day after that was no fun, either. This went on for a few days and each time, I’d “win” the clothing battle, but they left the house sulking, which is never a good way to start a school day.

That’s when I realized it wasn’t worth it. Good grades are a must. Good behavior in school is a must. Dressing warmly because I thought it was a cold day? Not a must.

We compromised by agreeing to just one rule: If it’s below 40 degrees, long pants have to be worn. Every day they check the weather. If it’s forecasted to be a low of 38 and a high of 42, they argue that shorts are technically still allowed, and they walk out the door dressed as if they are still in balmy Florida.

PASSIONS | by MOLLY MARTIN

IF YOU’VE ENJOYED MISO only in that light, savory soup that often kicks off a Japanese meal, then you’re in for some treats. The fermented-soybean paste is a versatile seasoning that can be incorporated into many other dishes. For example:

© ASIAN FOOD GROCER

• As a base for other soups
• To make an even creamier risotto
• Brushed on baked or grilled vegetables, including corn on the cob
• Adding a new dimension to mashed potatoes
• Used as a marinade for fish
• Blended into dips and sauces

Miso is low in fat, has no cholesterol and offers a balance of protein, carbohydrates, essential oils, minerals, vitamins and isoflavones. A tub of miso paste lasts well in the refrigerator. I find yellow miso the most versatile, but sometimes experiment with the white and red varieties as well.

Miso can, however, be high in sodium, so if you’re keeping an eye on that, be sure to compare labels: Some brands have less sodium per tablespoon than others that are labeled “low-sodium”.

WELLNESS | by POSY GERING

WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE: driving on the freeway when some “jerk” cuts you off. My immediate response is to want to exact vengeance.

I rarely remember when I’ve been the offending party. Ninety-nine and nine-tenths percent of those times, I just wasn’t paying enough attention. It was nothing personal. I was just in my own quasi-conscious world. I expected the guy behind me to be able to read my intentional mind.

What if I believed that others had good intentions and were not singling me out in a personal way? Lots of the time, people don’t respond to me in the way or time I want. I tend to interpret actions or inactions as symbols of interest, respect, acceptance or other meaning.

I have a choice. If I assume good intentions, more possibility opens up.

Remember your last mis-understanding? Imagine an “instant replay” in which their intentions were all for very good reasons and had nothing to do with you. What might happen differently?

Sure, there may be a gap between their intention and the impact on you. However, if you believe that the intentions were for good, it loosens the knot of conflict. I may not make peace on earth, but next time I’m on the freeway, there can be peace in one car.

CONNECTIONS | by MOLLY MARTIN

I STOPPED COUNTING AFTER 5,040: Fitness-related applications for the iPhone, that is. Wait, aren’t computers supposed to count such things for us?

© FITNESSKEEPER Inc.

Anyhow, the next and certainly not final frontier in exercise entrepreneurship seems to be software for smart phones that somehow helps with our workouts. You can track exercise sessions and duration, calculate calories burned, log calories consumed, read exercise descriptions, watch demonstration videos, even go through guided sessions for inspiration or relaxation.

Some concepts are simple: Hundred Pushups ($1.99) helps you follow a six-week plan to be able to do 100 consecutive push-ups. (There’s also Two Hundred Situps ($1.99) and, soon, Twenty-five Pullups.)

Others are more comprehensive and can be a little scary: The RunKeeper (free for basic version, $9.99 for pro) uses the GPS capabilities in a 3G iPhone to track your pace, elevation, duration, calories burned and actual distance traveled — and traces your actual path on a map. Very cool. But wait, that wasn’t really me ducking into Mrs. See’s after that workout…

And some fall into a familiar trap: The SixPack App Pro ($.99), for example, nicely shows a range of exercises for the abdominal muscles, but as everyone who’s fallen for an infomercial ab machine knows, a six pack is visible only if one also gets rid of the layer of fat that covers most bellies.

Smart-phone exercise apps do indeed hold the promise of making exercise easier. And, yes, tracking exercise better. But still there remains the age-old problem: Actually doing it.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING | by DEBRA PRINZING

OPEN AN ENVELOPE OF RADISH OR CARROT SEEDS, pour a few tiny grains into your child’s hands, and encourage him or her to sprinkle those seeds onto the soil. Within a few weeks, young leaves will emerge, soon followed by harvest time — when crops of veggies can be picked, washed and eaten straight from the garden. Your kids will have the healthiest snacks around.

SOURCE: iSTOCKPHOTO.COM

Gardening can be any parent’s secret agenda to teach children that vegetables and fruits don’t always come pre-cut and shrink-wrapped from the supermarket. My boys, now 13 and 17, learned to garden in a postage-stamp-sized city backyard where two 4-by-8-foot raised beds yielded organic raspberries, strawberries, heirloom apples, sugar peas, carrots and beans. While playing outdoors the boys were free to graze on fruit, vegetables, herbs and salad greens. Since we used organic practices, it was safe to eat straight from the pea patch.

Here are some more kid-friendly ideas:

• Make it colorful. Plant playful varieties of seeds, such as ‘Thumbelina’ carrots (2 to 3 inches long, they’re ideal for shallow or poor soil); ‘Easter Egg’ radishes in a colorful array of red, white, purple and pink; and ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard, with neon yellow, hot pink and vibrant orange stems (delicious and colorful in stir-fries and soups).
• Grow in small places. Plant all the ingredients for a delicious and fresh-from-the garden salad in a sunny window box. Even a single cherry tomato plant in a container will yield a menu-enhancing crop.
• Make room for herbs. Tuck basil, parsley, thyme and mint plants around the edges of larger containers or planting beds. Ask your children to assist you in the kitchen — send them out to pick the aromatic leaves to season a pot of soup or garnish the chicken. They’ll enjoy helping!