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This blog is for my fellow health-and-wellness junkies, along with anyone interested in weird and lesser-known activities in Atlanta. Let's rewind to late 2019, when Joe and I were driving home from a weekend in Asheville. We were listening to comedian Bert Kreisher's podcast, lol-ing our way through the mountain roads. Bert is a hefty man, known for taking his shirt off on stage and exposing a massive beer belly during his standup shows. What many don't realize is that he's actually in amazing shape and works out religiously. In this particular episode, Bert mentioned his favorite fitness class in Los Angeles: hot spin at a studio called "The Sweat Shoppe." (Yes, that was really the name). Joe and I had just recently entered our fitness craze at the time. We were intrigued. With extra time on my hands in the car, I did a quick Google search, not thinking there was even a slight chance they had a studio in ATL. Low and behold they had 3 studios: 2 in Cali and one in ATL. What. Were. The. Odds. Pretty sure we booked a class for the following weekend. Sweat Cycle, formerly known as The Sweat Shoppe, is located within The Forum at Lenox Mall. The Forum is as intimidating as intimidating gyms get, but thankfully Sweat Cycle, tucked in a corner of the gym, offers a friendlier vibe. The first time taking this class, Joe and I about died during the intense and relentless cardio routine in the heated 85-degree room. But the high we felt afterward was amazing and kept us coming back. Once the pandemic hit, we took a long break, but have since refound our love for Sweat Cycle. Bonus: They're now offering free weekly classes. Sign up for their newsletter for dates. Warning: The class is hard. You will sweat buckets onto the floor below your bike. This is coming from someone who barely breaks a sweat during a normal spin class. You'll probably also get a little light-headed. If you take certain instructors, you may even need to lay on the floor for 20 minutes after class. But the amazing feeling afterwards is so worth it. I'll leave you with a pro tip: Bring ice water. Lots of ice water. Here is Diana's take on Sweat Cycle!

I have never been particularly fond of workout classes. Particularly cycling classes. Most that I have been to leave me unsatisfied and with a bit of social anxiety. However, I have been attending Barre3 classes religiously for the past few months, and am so happy that I found a studio and a workout class that I love. Given my weariness for other workout classes and studios, I was extremely skeptical when Savanna insisted I attend a Sweat Cycle class with her (the “Sweat” meaning that these classes take place in a hot room - think hot yoga, but for cycling). I would already feel completely exhausted after a “normal” cycling class, and given that I am prone to heat exhaustion...this class sounded like a disaster waiting to happen for me. But I went anyway. And I loved it! Savanna gave me some great tips before we went to make me feel more comfortable: wear sweat-wicking clothing, bring ice water in a container that’s easy to drink out of, and just ride and not follow the instructor if it’s too much. With these tips and an open mind, I stepped into the warm studio and had an amazing workout. I did not push myself too hard as I was still quite nervous, but I followed about 80% of the workout and felt amazing afterwards. Sav and I had to sit outside the studio for a few minutes before leaving to catch our breath and gather ourselves, but other than that I felt great. It’s an intense full body workout that makes you sweat more than I ever have in my life. After I showered, I felt completely detoxed, clean, and great about myself. If you’re in Atlanta (or California), I highly recommend checking out Sweat Cycle. If you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll get notified each Sunday about free classes that week! It’s an intense, dripping-sweat, and satisfying workout. Here's Savanna's take on Sweat Cycle!

What’s your preference when choosing a vacation destination? Fancy or Casual? As you've aged, has your taste and preference changed over time? I ask with two locations in mind: Jekyll Island and Sea Island (both in GA, one fancy, one casual). But the question itself is generic for wherever you choose. If you know me, or have read TPA blogs, you know I’m a big fan of Jekyll Island (casual), Georgia. In a couple weeks Jeff and I are headed to Sea Island (fancy), Georgia. I’m looking forward to evaluating how they compare to each other and if my preference and priorities, at this stage in life, have changed. If I were to have visited Sea Island...say...35+ years prior to now I would imagine that Jekyll would still be my favorite, in spite of five-star accommodations on Sea Island. You might say: Sure, that’s what you think now but you didn’t experience five-star get-aways in your 20s, so how can you really know? Actually, I did and I’m envisioning that our character is embedded in our souls and Jekyll would/will still hold first place regardless of stature of the latter, but we shall see. I turn 59 in a few days and am looking forward to finding out whether advanced age influences my preference in travel destinations, particularly where these two Islands are concerned. I’m curious if core, innate tastes and proclivities carry on into advanced age or if the inevitable “slowing down” process takes precedence and “service and concierge” win in the end. And if so, is it more psychological or physical? Fifty-Nine seems and sounds so old. But I don’t feel old...except maybe a little when the darn “slowing down” stuff creeps in, like being tired at 8 p.m. Jeff and I still do everything we’ve always done (travel, exercise, sports, etc.), but at the end of some days sleep sounds better than I remember it sounding. It always sounded pretty good, but not super good, like it does now! So come on, let's see if being 59-years-old means leaving behind a favorite, casual, do-it-yourself-for-the-most-part, quiet island for a more “serviced” destination. And if so, what are the main deciding factors: physical or psychological. Thank you for reading and God Bless YOU! Love, Shelley

Hi Everyone, I hope you are doing well and you’re not struggling to recover from covid taste and smell loss (anosmia), like I have been. If you happen to be trudging through the mother-of-all unpleasantries (anosmia), or know someone who is, I want to share my experience of what has and hasn’t worked insofar as regaining taste and smell [post covid]. I had a mild case of covid. Apparently, “mild” cases result in anosmia more than severe cases. For me, the connection between taste bud neurons and the brain are not easily understood. That is why this article explains idiosyncrasies of the central nervous system relating to taste ~ middle-school style ~ (i.e. layman's terms). Sometimes things are better explained in a "junior," non-stressful manner in order to be adequtely processed, IMHO. I hope it helps you understand the taste bud/brain connection better too. Smell returned relatively quickly for me, within a week. But, sadly, taste did not follow closely behind. Small hints and teases arose but quickly faded. Loss of taste is not the end of the world but there is a definite psychological impact of disillusionment. Watching others enjoy fancy, delicious dinners while I tasted zero was disheartening at best. Not to mention I found myself taking additional bites in earnest only to be ADDing flavorless calories onboard. Like most people, I googled the heck out of how to regain taste/smell post covid. You name it, I tried it: Essential oil aromatherapy Warm castor oil in nostrils Ginkgo/biloba B-Complex Kava Kava Omega 3 Cayenne pepper Curcumin Ajwain seeds Exercise Sleep Healthy meals Facials/massage PRAYER Repeat I tried EVERYTHING! Albeit, there was one thing I hadn’t tried...until last week: A char-burnt orange mixed with brown sugar. I knew about the viral orange craze on tiktok but after watching the video, and reading a couple negative reviews, I chose to pass. It looked scary and I was skeptical. Last weekend, Diana’s friend, Jan, visited us. Jan asked me if I’d tried virtually everything on my list above. Yes, yes, yes, I said. And then she asked about the char-burnt orange thing! I said: That’s the only thing I haven’t tried. From there, I jumped up, bolted to the refrigerator, flung open the door and grabbed the single orange inside. Jan, Diana and I sprang into action and followed the video’s instructions. From time to time the orange caught fire, sparked and emitted an odd odor :-) But no matter! What more could I ask for...there were two Georgia Tech grads in my kitchen conducting a viral tiktok experiment (that sounded delicious btw) in order to help restore my flavor. What did I have to lose!? Once the orange was black enough to their liking, they cut off the skin, gutted the warm pulp into a bowl and mixed a teaspoon of brown sugar into it. Diana said, “here, hurry, you’re supposed to eat it warm!” Flavor had indeed already begun to return for me, but typically I would taste the first bite of something and the flavor would disappear by the second bite. Well, the brown sugary, orange concoction was delicious from the first bite clear to the last bite. That in and of itself was major progress. Without question, after eating a char-burnt orange with brown sugar my taste continue(s) to improve. That very evening I enjoyed everything at dinner, including pita bread which is bland. Currently, taste-ability is holding steady at 90% for me. And, frankly, I recommend everything else on my list too. What do you have to lose? My assessment of the recipe above is 100% positive. I wish I had tried it sooner but am so very thankful that Jan visited us last weekend and shared her enthusiasm, motivation and kind spirit to try something new on my behalf. Thank you Jan! And thank you to the Jamaican man who created the video to begin with. Cheers to delicious flavors, friends and always God! Love, Shelley https://www.tiktok.com/@toosmxll/video/6904461007586987265

What’s your favorite flower? Least favorite flower? Do any flowers scare you because of toxicity? I like most flowers with a couple being favorites. Pansies and peonies top my list. Pansies are colorful year-round, edible (did you know that?) and supreme survivalists. Peonies, well, they are fragrant, fluffy, long-lasting happiness. Roses are lovely too. I prefer pink and yellow roses. But roses are disappointing when they droop and wilt sooner than expected. Atlanta usually gets at least one, hard freeze each winter. I’ve had pansies covered with ice in January and by March they are back, bright and blooming. Yellow and white pansies are great for transitioning from fall/winter into spring. Read about surprising pansy facts here. Did you know that you can decorate cakes and other culinary creations with pansies? I haven’t tasted a pansy thus can’t weigh in on their flavor, or lack thereof. Maybe soon... Then there are indoor favorites. I received my first ever bouquet of peonies a couple years ago from Savanna’s mother-in-law, Mary Ellen. Peonies speak softly for themself: soft color, musky-floral fragrance, generous, enduring blooms. In short, fluffy, cotton-candy-like joy! It was love at first sight for me: Lilies any one? Lilies are stunning, aren’t they. White Christmas lilies make the most beautiful center-piece. Jeff’s mother gave us a Christmas lily bouquet in 2018. It bloomed precisely Christmas eve. Heavenly. Lilies are known for “purity” and “devotion.” But do you know that lilies are also highly toxic to cats and dogs? I didn’t know this until a few days ago when Savanna called to tell me her beloved Archie had lily pollen all over his face and "could die." "Death" doesn't sound like purity and devotion to me! Let the google-frenzy panic begin. It’s true, when a crisis strikes we are inclined to google like crazy. Doing so can help but it can also induce [more] fear. Archie is all right, ptl, but he did spend a day in the hospital for precautionary observation. If you have house pets, and you’re a lily lover, here's some info on lily toxicity to cats and dogs. At the end of the day, any flower that isn’t lethal to pets or other animals is my favorite flower!! Zero poison smells and looks good regardless of all else. Spring is just around the corner, thank the Lord! Cheers to your favorite flowers filling your garden in a few short weeks. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Sav and Dan's blogs are below. We posted about the same topic this week. Redundant, bland, boring? We won't be duplicating in the future (too much) but for the sake of flowers and cats we couldn't resist this time. I hope you enjoy their posts. Flowers & Felines - Savanna Flower Child - Diana

With Valentine’s Day behind us and our abodes full of sweet-smelling plants, the Sweeney girls have been fervently discussing flowers. Particularly, which flowers are our personal favorites and which ones are poisonous to cats. Tulips and peonies are at the top of my flower preference list. Tulips come in so many beautiful colors and look so elegant with their long stems and perfect petals. I don’t like very leafy flowers, and a tulip’s stem has perfectly slender and discreet leaves. Tulips have long been a favorite of mine, and I look forward to seeing them in season every spring. In addition, peonies have became a recent favorite. They’ve always caught my attention, mainly from being Blair’s favorite on Gossip Girl, but I recently grew a true adoration for the fragrant flowers. The blossoms, when they open in full bloom, are truly beautiful. Though they can be several colors, the traditional pink I’ve seen on most peonies is my absolute favorite (and is probably my favorite color in general). They are such beautiful flowers and though they can be hard to find, they are well worth it. With all this talk of flowers being said, we had a very real scare with cats and flowers this past week. As I’m sure you’ve read in the previous blogs, Savanna’s cat Archie had an encounter with lilies that sent everyone into a spiral. The flowers are potentially lethal to felines, but luckily he did not ingest any of the lilies in Savanna’s home - he only got covered in their pollen. It was still a big scare and Savanna and Joey took him to the vet as a precaution. It opened my eyes to potential dangers with animals and things around the house. Moral of the story: Be very careful with what you bring into the house if pets are roaming around. -- Diana

What's the first thing you think of when you hear someone mention Valentine's Day? Many of you will say love. Some will say chocolates. But I think most will say flowers. Grocery stores, email inboxes and TV ads boom with flowers in the weeks approaching the love holiday. I am lucky to have a husband who always remembers the importance of sending flowers -- whether on holidays or just as a surprise. (One of my favorites was when he had flowers waiting for me when we returned from our first trip together.) Last Saturday, the day before Valentine's, I received a phone call from our concierge while sitting on the couch in a face mask. "You have a delivery - would you like me to send them up?" Within minutes I had a stunning pink bouquet outside the door, teaming with roses and lilies. Knowing that some flowers can be dangerous to cats (and knowing we have the most curious cat of all time), I put the flowers on our bedroom dresser and closed the door, planning to enjoy them solely from the bedroom. Fast forward past a lovely Valentine's weekend and a few days at work. I'm sitting on the couch with Archie on my lap after work, watching a Zoom meeting that ran late. I repositioned him on my lap and got a good look at his face. Covered. In. Lily. Pollen. Somehow, some way, his cute little face found its way into one of the deadliest plants to affect cats. I FREAKED out. Crying / screaming / the whole thing. Called the vet right before closing time, who was kind enough to speak with me. He discussed our options and we landed on a plan to monitor Archie overnight for any severe symptoms, and to take him to the hospital in the morning to have blood work taken. Thankfully, after spending a whole day in the hospital, our sweet boy is ok. No serious complications. And the vets all agree we did the right thing by getting him checked out. Even a small amount of lily exposure can be deadly to a cat. Moral of the story: I LOVE flowers, but I love my baby boy even more. One silver lining of the experience was having Archie sleep in our bed overnight so we could monitor him. He LOVED it and so did we. Savanna Here is Mom's blog on this theme

Hi Everyone, I hope you are happy, healthy, and [heroic] these days!  Have you gotten back to traveling yet? Given Ireland and UK travel is off limits, Jeff and I set out discovering Naples, Florida.  I’ve dipped my toes in Floridian water a little here and there (pan handle, Jupiter, Palm Beach) but that’s about it. Most of my blog readers are from Atlanta, Georgia so I’m going to assume some of you are well-versed in Naples.  I’m a late Florida bloomer.  Discovering Naples, Florida, nevertheless, is something I never would have imagined doing had Covid not put the brakes on UK travel. The short story version of discovering Naples, Florida reads like this:  I want to move to Naples poste haste. Five favorite things about Naples: Stunning room views Sunsets Jets skis and beach dining Golf course scenery Bathing suits!!! The flight to Naples is only an hour and 20 minutes from Atlanta.  Presto, you’ll be there in no time from ATL. From our room at La Playa, stunning blue-green water filled the view.  We saw stingrays, dolphins and yacht-occupiers from the balcony.  The sand was snow white, stretching as far as the eye can see. Looking left Looking right …while not moving… A ribbon of hot pink (God art!) set outside LaPlaya in an impossible-to-take-our-eyes-off fashion during dinner one night.  On another night, the most beautiful lightning lit up the ocean like a strobe light show. We jet skied with the entire ocean to ourselves, ate oysters, salmon, swordfish, grouper and other stuff that we’re not sure what we did to deserve it all. No, I’m not taking up golf.  But it was fun pretending to.  The golf course was beautiful, we met some nice people and saw some wonderful wildlife.  Pssst, Jeff is a really good golfer 🙂 Now to the most amazing part of the trip.  Who likes to shop for a bathing suit when you’re over 50??  NO ONE!  I needed a bathing suit to jet ski.  We stopped in a “going out of business” Steinmart and found one that actually FIT for…$29!  It was the only one I tried on, final sale…miracles really do happen because!  Praise the LORD! Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Sweet, wonderful, blessing Purrl! Previous Blog

On Saturday, the day before Valentine’s Day, I had an idea to drop off a package on my parents porch to surprise them. Joe and I went to Fresh Market, which happens to be two blocks from our condo, to pick up some small surprises. We spotted the perfect little Purple Heart vase, stuffed with three succulent roses. I was going to pack it in a big pink bag along with some cupcakes. While we were in line, I spied some bottles of sparkling crab-apple which reminded me of celebrating fancy occasions as a child. I ran over to the display while Joe stayed in line. As I walked back, I heard someone call Joes name and I was instantly confused. After swiveling my head a few times, I see my PARENTS. Staring at the flowers in Joe’s hands. Needless to say we put the flowers back, waited for them to leave, and then picked out a few new treats to leave on the porch. Happy Valentines Day! Savanna

Most of you know that my mom (Diane) is 91-years-young and going strong, on her own. Do you also know that she refuses to enter the 21st century with such necessities as a cell phone, social media, and internet per se? If you’re friends or family you probably know that about her, but if not: can you believe it? How is that possible? Or...Is that why she’s doing so wel? Mom is doing great without all of the above. And get this...resisting them ostensibly energizes her. Diane loves the telephone, pure joy in her world. I still recall her excitement when call waiting and caller ID came out. But, adding internet service has zero appeal to her. Sooo...I print and snail mail blogs and, when needed, provide proxy internet access for her. Don't we tend to say things in texts, emails and/or blogs that we might not otherwise say to each other? Not that virtual connecting is vital to survival or livlihood, but it is, for sure, current and envogue. Both of which Diane values. But snail mail and phone calls will have to do, for now. If you have a parent, relative or friend in their 80's or 90’s, have you heard of Barbara Karnes? I learned of Karnes in the final hours of my dad’s life, four years ago. She wrote: Gone From My Sight, a helpful booklet about the dying experience. Last week, I received an email titled, The Scar in your Heart, Grief in End of Life Care. What? Of course that’s not where I am with Mom but it piqued my interest in becoming educated. The time will obviously come for all of us. Why not be prepared, educated! If you’re not familiar with Barbara Karnes, RN, she is an award winning end of life author and educator. She has years of experience as a hospice nurse tending to hundreds of patients during their cross-over. She teaches that the dying process has a “normal,” natural progression that most people follow. She teaches about the common flow of death in a positive manner, helping to alleviate fear and provide sacred memories to carry forward. A Japanese friend of mine said that in Japanese culture they don’t really find sorrow in elderly death because the person is “old” -- everyone dies when they are old. However, if a young person precedes elders in death, that is very mourned, as of course it is in western culture. And we have a similar "celebration of life" tradition to honor deceased but it seems western culture weeps and mourns long after the celebration, regardless. Perhaps this is due to substituting fear over fully understanding death's common process? Ms. Karnes provides valuable information and explanation. Hi Mom, If you’re reading and got this far. Don’t worry, there won’t be a test on anything. (Mom STILL talks about childhood anxiety over being called on in class and exam stress she experienced during high school and college.) I just want you to know I’m thinking of you, Mom, and looking forward to our journey into eternity, through Him! And whenever you get tired of me mailing blogs to you I'll set you up online! Thank you for reading, Love, Shelley Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. Thessalonians 4:13-14 - “I found myself thinking about President William McKinley, the third American president to be assassinated. He lived for several days after he was shot, and towards the end, his wife started crying and screaming, "I want to go too! I want to go too!" And with his last measure of strength, McKinley turned to her and spoke his last words: "We are all going.” John Green, Looking for Alaska

Hi Everyone, How was your Valentine’s Day? Was it blanketed with red, pink and sweet hearts or was it good ‘ol invisible love? Do you spread valentine love all around you (friends, neighbors, siblings, etc.)? Admittedly, my fondest valentine memory was giving and receiving cards from each classmate in elementary school. But, once in middle school “Valentine's” became more targeted -- the boy or girl who caused swarming butterflies (hi Chip K. :-) -- you know the kind. Diana was out of town in North Carolina with her boyfriend, Elijah, yesterday (2/14). But Jeff and I ran into Savanna and her forever Valentine, Joey, at Fresh Market on Peachtree. Here is her blog sharing the unexpected encounter. In short, she was picking a valentine out for me and we foiled her surprise. Again, since around middle school my valentine recipient has been one person, in particular. Of course I indulged my children with all sorts of red, pink and sweet valentine love over the years, and, admittedly I miss that aspect but “My Valentine” is Jeff. The other 364 days of the year are available to share friend and family love -- not just the pink, red and sweet kind. That being said, I do share special valentine gifts with those who have lost their significant other, like Mom. I delivered a gift and meal to her yesterday. Check this clock out: As you know, she doesn’t have the internet but this digital gem brings facts and fun to her kitchen. Mom’s valentine meal was from this amazing Colorado junior league cookbook (Tipsy Cornish Hen, Million Dollar Rice and Broccoli ala Orange). Psst...Savanna...it was magnificently heartwarming running into you shopping for a “mom valentine” at Fresh Market. You are the sweetest valentine imaginable. Be on the lookout for a belated couldn’t-resist-reciprocal treat. Here’s hoping all of you had a Valentine’s day full of love and surprises ~ CHEERS! Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Here is a great book about Love!

By Shelley Sweeney Connie’s parents were night owls. Going to bed after 1 a.m. was normal for them. They had just settled under the covers when disheveled Connie came bursting through the rickety door of their apartment. She ran hurriedly through all the rooms. Connie’s younger sister had just turned off the television and her twin brothers were already asleep. “What’s going on? Where have you been? The mother said. “Didn’t we tell you not to come home so late? Look it’s 1:30 in the morning.” “I can’t believe it, ohmygod,” Connie said, “It’s amazing! You won’t believe what happened! Ohmygod, for real!” Connie collapsed into her father’s lazy boy chair. “It’s unbelievable,” she said, searching her phone for the news. Her twin brothers peered out of their room with ruffled hair, rubbing their eyes. “What on earth has happened?” the father insisted. “Are you drunk? You look a hot mess” the sister smirked. “Drunk? No, well sort of. I mean I was but not any more. That doesn’t matter -- what matters is that the whole country knows who I am now!” Connie was hurriedly swiping up and down on the cracked phone screen. “Last night only y’all knew Connie Jean Johnson, Banjo Barista from Littleton County. In a few hours the whole world's gonna know me.” “Get a hold of yourself and tell us what happened,” the father said. “You have not gone viral,” the sister surmised. “What are you talking about? What do you mean: viral?” the father insisted. “Y’all live like hermit crabs. The world knows who I am, Dad. I’m a celebrity now. That’s what viral means. On the internet...videos, viral. I’m living that dream.” The Dad turned pale. The mom held her head in her hands. The twin boys tippy-toed trying to peak at the phone. “Look! I found it. Here, read for yourself!” The father put on his reading glasses. “There it is! Look there’s my name, Connie Johnson... Shh, listen, here it comes.” The whole family gathered around Connie’s right hand. “Watch, shh, here it comes.” A police car and ambulance, lights flashing, startled all of them. The mom and dad gasped. The twins raced back to their bedroom. A rookie news anchor, Meredith Day, cut in saying, “Just after noon today, a 21-year-old woman emerged from a restaurant right down the street.” Miss Day turned and pointed to Hooters Restaurant over her right shoulder. The dad rubbed the top of his head and coughed. “Shhhh, here it comes, my name, you’ll see me walk away with the cops.” “...the young woman, being in an intoxicated condition, fell into the center of an impressive cookie-box pyramid that five 9-year-old Girl Scouts had spent much time building. Thin Mints, Caramel Delights, Peanut Butter Patties, and Thanks-A-Lots were some of the delicious flavors that came crashing down on top of the girls’ heads. Troop 1991 leader, Barbara Bedenford, ran as fast as she could to save the girls but, unfortunately, didn’t make it in time.” Connie’s sister giggled. “Y’all I’m famous! This is all over the news and the internet. Don’t you see?” The video continued: “The intoxicated woman was taken away and the girl scout injuries are reported to be minor but they were taken to a nearby clinic to have them tended to.” “No one pressed charges. I just had to sober up some.” Connie rushed her phone to a charger. “I have to share this. Nobody will believe it. I’m going to put it on all my spots.” The family went back to bed. Connie stayed up saving, sharing and counting views. There would be plenty of time for sleep. She chatted with old and new friends. The video went out to all of her platforms. Connie ignored unkind comments, filing them away in a just-jealous compartment. When the family awoke the next day, Connie was sleeping. The End. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect - Romans 12:2.