After a year of bouncing around our homes like balls in a pinball machine, Americans are chomping at the bit to head to their favorite beach, lake or pool this summer.  It's easy to forget what to pack, so let's take a look at some essential items you won't want to forget to pack in your beach bag.

Sunscreen
We don't want to use just any sunscreen; we want to use one that doesn't add more stress to our oceans by leaving behind a residue that kills our precious coral reefs.  Environmental Working Group (EWG) has done an in-depth analysis of sunscreens that are healthy for our oceans and that offer the best protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays for us.  EWG also reports on which sunscreens  are best for kids, as well as detailed information on potential harmful ingredients.  Check them out and get the best protection for your skin this summer. LINK

Sunhat
The best way to help protect ourselves from the harmful effects  of strong sun rays is to provide shade for our body, including our head.  There are a lot of options in this category, but consider getting one with a wide brim and that folds up like this popular one from Furtalk:
​

Sunglasses That Protect Your Eye Health
Not all sunglasses are the same so don't skimp on this item if you are going to be spending time in the sun.  Quality glasses that protect our eyes from UV radiation help prevent cataracts and other eye diseases.  Maui Jims are my personal favorite, not only do they 100% block the both the UVA and UVA rays, they also offer a really friendly repair program if your glasses get scratched, cracked or break in some way.  Wide-framed lenses, like this  Taro model, help protect the delicate skin around the eye area as well.
​

 
Extra-Large Reusable Water Bottle That Keeps Your Beverage COLD
Keeping well-hydrated is important when we are out in the sun so we want to have plenty of fluids, but the last thing we want to do is add more plastic to the ocean, right?  Making the investment in a good quality reusable, insulated, stainless steel water bottle is a great investment for you and the environment.  This wide-mouth, 64 ounce bottle offered by Hydro Flask, not only holds a large volume of cold water, or your favorite drink, to the beach; you can also easily fill it with ice cubes.  Keep this properly cleaned and it will last you for years making it well worth the investment.  What makes this even better?  Hydro Flask provides grants to non-profit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, or providing better access to parks.

A Good Book
There are millions of books available today so it's hard to choose which one to add to your beach bag, so I'll leave this up to you, since it is also a personal preference.  Be sure to post in the comments below which book you'll be adding, maybe I will add it to mine.
 
Have a fun summer!

​Trying something new can be daunting, for all of us; no matter how accomplished we are at other things.  Years ago, I wrote a blog about my experience writing my first novel, I KNOW YOU'RE THERE.  The idea came as an "internal nudge", which turned into an internal tug of war:
 
"You don't have an MFA," the inner gremlin challenged.
 
"Who is going to read a book you write?" the inner doubt questioned arrogantly. 
 
 The greater pain won, because as the late, great Maya Angelou once said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

​Not knowing exactly where I was going, but having some idea of the story in my head, I began.  I wrote, and wrote, and wrote.  Eventually I realized that I needed feedback, from someone who actually did have an MFA, and that I could trust to tell me the truth.  I enlisted the help of Alice Osborn, writer and editor.
 
With Alice's eye opening feedback, I rewrote, edited, and wrote some more.  I hired Alice to meet with me on a regular basis to review where the story was going, read some parts for feedback, and basically provide me some assurance that I was writing something that maybe someone else would enjoy reading.
 
Then came the victory!  My book was published, my marketing campaign began and my book was for sale on Amazon.  Wow, where would it go?
 
The balloon I was floating on quickly popped with my first reader review, a scathing, one-star review. I wanted to hide under my bed, to be honest.  

All those gremlins inside were laughing, "We told you!"
 
I called Alice.  She had the perfect antidote.  She shared the quote that Dr. Brene Brown, who was just started to share her work on vulnerability with the world at the time, references in her work.  

​"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory no defeat."  
​-Theodore Roosevelt

​Alice pointed out that the book reviewer didn't have the courage to post with a real name; he/she hid behind a slang word.  Alice also enlightened me that since my book touched on some tender subjects, it might trigger some readers, and this reaction would be a lashing out from that hurt.  I licked my wounds and took a deep breath.
 
Admittedly, a lot slower than I would have liked; patience has never been one of my virtues, other reviews weighed in, comments were made on social media, calls from friends, and emails from readers, who liked the book.  The joy of seeing my book rated four stars, and readers, who I didn't know, post why they liked the book spurred me on to write an unintended sequel, The Sound Of The Crow.
 
My confidence grew, and so did my creativity.  I wrote and published a third book, CoolGrannies.  Imagine my delight receiving this amazing compliment from best-selling author, Mary Pipher:

Writing, by itself, can be a pure joy.  I do a lot of that, without publishing it, as I know many other writers do.  I've heard Elizabeth Gilbert writes whole novels, and then decides to publish them, or not.  I have to admit; however, there is great joy in sharing one's work; seeing that others enjoy it.  So, if you are on the fence about writing your first book, don't be stingy.  Write it.  Someone wants to read it.

My grandparents were minimalists long before the term was invented and popular.  They lived through the Great Depression, so they were very mindful of spending, and fiercely practical.  
 
As a kid, their lifestyle seemed kind of boring.  They didn't vacation often, my Grandfather worked a lot, and on Christmas my grandmother decorated with a solitary, red poinsettia plant.
 
"Ma, where is your Christmas tree?" we would ask every December.
 
"Right over there," she would point to the poinsettia wrapped in colorful tinfoil.  "That is my Christmas tree."
 
It can be a festive experience to select a tree, decorate it with lights and holiday ornaments.  As I have become older, however, the task of putting all the decorations away seems to tarnish the fun.  Now that we no longer have young kids in the family, seeing the joy through their eyes is gone as well.
 
I imagine my grandmother, Ann, laughing up in Heaven as she now watches me cut some greens from the yard, arrange them in a vase and wrap one strand of lights around them.  I add a few amaryllis bulbs around the house, which I will plant in the garden, come spring.  Watching these plants bloom brings joy to the season in a more practical way than cutting down a healthy tree.  I'm grateful for the example she set and the opportunity to conserve my energy after a hectic year.  It is a present I am giving to myself.
 
What holiday lessons have you learned from your cool grannies?

Order your copy now of #CoolGrannies
Available in Paperback or ebook format
Free for KindleUnlimited

Delving into a good book is one of life's simple pleasures.  Having this escape route during a Pandemic makes the experience all the more pleasurable. Here is a list of my three favorite literary escapes this year.  What I found to be the best books of 2020.
 
Alicia Keys- More Myself:  A Journey
 
For those of us who have long been fans, and in awe of the all around musical talent of Alicia Keys, we may assume that she was raised in a privileged environment that cultivated her gifts.  To say I was surprised that wasn't the case would be an understatement.  Being a native New Yorker, I remember what the neighborhoods were like where Alicia was raised.  I found them scary and intimidating just to drive through, I can't imagine what it was truly like being raised there, by a single parent, no less.
 
Alicia takes us on a journey through her past with unbelievable grace.  It is evident that she has done a lot of healing, but is no victim.  Her story is not only inspirational, it showcases that each of us is born with gifts that we must cultivate no matter where we are raised.  
 
I listened to this book in the audible version while taking a long drive.  It was as if Alicia was sitting in the passenger seat, like a friend, sharing her story.  I could have driven all day. I was enthralled.
 
This read will serve as a motivating launch to be our authentic selves in 2021.
 
Sue Monk Kidd- The Book of Longings
 
When a favorite author has a book release coming, it is like waiting to go on a much-anticipated vacation.  Sue's latest novel, featuring a young woman, Ana, fiercely trying to be her authentic self in an oppressive, male dominated era is an eye opening reminder of how far women have come, and yet, how much more we have to go to experience true equality.  Even being married to Jesus, we all know who he is, didn't elevate her status or make her journey that much easier.  Her devoted Aunt Yaltha, however, shows us how powerful female mentors can be in our lives.
 
The historical detail of this well-researched novel left me feeling as if I were there in the first century, dusty, with limited color.  I feel compelled to share with you that the first part of the story may not be an easy read.  In fact, if you are triggered by abuse, please be forewarned.  At one point, I put the book down, thinking that maybe this isn't what I wanted to read during an already stressful Pandemic.  However, after listening to some podcast interviews with the author about the book, and trusting that Sue would not leave her readers feeling traumatized, I picked it back up and continued on Ana's quest.  I'm glad that I did and I think you will too.
 
Barbara O'Neal:  When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel
 
This book was by far one of the greatest surprise reads of the year for me.  I stumbled upon it while flicking through reviews of women's fiction books on Amazon.  It was actually published in later 2019, but I discovered it in 2020 so I am including it on my list. With over 19,000 four and a half reviews, I was intrigued.
 
Part suspense, part family drama, this story featuring two sisters, whose lives became drastically separated in a profound way, will hook you from the beginning.  Untangling their complicated past, while experiencing the pain and healing along the way, left me with a satisfied feeling that love can heal all wounds.
 
Learn more and order these books if you like.  What were your favorite reads this year?

Note: These are affiliate links which may provide a small compensation to, me,  Susan Allison-Dean, to help support her writing, but will not increase the price to you.  I also fully support your decision to purchase books from your local independent bookstores.

Susan Allison-Dean is the author of three women's fiction novellas, I Know You're There & By The Sound of The Crow, a two series set.  Her third, #CoolGrannies, a story of sassy women later in life, the Golden Girls version of Thelma & Louise, minus the cliff.

The Coronavirus Pandemic swept in and disrupted our lives.  Many of our norms were ripped away and we were left to figure out how to adapt and cope on our own. This level of disease hasn't wreaked havoc, like this, since the Spanish Flu of 1918.
 
Feeling a bit panicky and overwhelmed early on, I thought to myself, "Who can I reach out to that would offer some guidance that I could trust?" 
 
It didn't take long before, Maretta, the real Maretta, who I drew off of for the protagonist in my novel, #CoolGrannies, came to mind.  I gave her a call.
 
Always up to something, she shared with me that she had just adopted two old cats, Ben and Jerry. 
 
"They are brothers, one is ten pounds the other one is eighteen pounds," she said with a tone that told me this irked her in some way.  "Now I know why. Jerry eats all the food before Ben.  So I have to coordinate their meals. I didn't really want two cats, but they were brothers and had to go together.  My daughter called and begged me to adopt them because they were going to be euthanized."  
 
I laughed, knowing these were the two luckiest cats on the planet.
 
"Maretta, I am calling because I wanted to get your perspective on this pandemic situation, how to deal with it.  I wanted to hear from someone that I trust has ridden through tough times in a productive way."  I shared.
 
"Hmm", Maretta paused as gave some thought to my question.  It didn't take long.  Then in her dry, truthful, matter-of-fact way, she shared these two bits of wisdom.
 
"Well, first of all people don't like their routines disrupted.  If someone eats ice cream every night before bed, and now they can't have ice cream, they’re not going to like it."
 
Maretta paused again.
 
"When things like this happen, you just have to go through it.  When President Kennedy was shot, the country was in chaos.  We didn't know what was going to happen.  But, eventually things settle down and new norms are established and life goes on."
 
She made it sound simple and doable.  I immediately felt better.  
 
Thank goodness for the Cool Grannies in our lives!
 
Are you a cool granny with some wisdom to share? Or maybe you have a cool granny in your life that has imparted wisdom that has helped you?  Reach out and share your #CoolGrannies wisdom. If we share it on the #CoolGrannies platform, we'll send you a free copy of #CoolGrannies.

Order a copy of #CoolGrannies now.
Free to download for Kindle Unlimited Members!

Did you know that what you eat can help save the planet?  According to #RacingExtinction, if each American went meatless for just one day, it would be the equivalent of 7.6 million cars off the road for 24 hours.  Changing our diet is considered one of the fastest ways to curb our carbon emissions which affect climate change.  

Eliminating meat from your diet will also be good for you.  According to the World Health Association there is a link between eating processed meats and cancer.  Red meat also probably increases the risk of cancer.

Meatless meals can be delicious! Ready to start? Prepare the meal pictured above in just minutes. The recipe is on my Pinterest page or choose from one of the other pinned meals. Let me know what you think.

#MeatlessMonday #RacingExtinction #StartWith1Thing #Vegetarian #ClimateChange

​Is your perfect day at the beach one where you are lying on a chaise lounge, sipping a pina colada under an umbrella made of palm tree fronds? Eighty-degree trade winds whispering sweet nothings in your ears, a good book in your hands that pushes away every worry, an afternoon nap so deep that you wake up wondering where you are as you wipe away the drool that leaked down the side of your face?  Me too. But, that’s not always possible.  Alas, the beach can be great, even off-season. Here are 6 reasons why:

​​One: You get it all to yourself! Well, almost. You may have to share it with a solitary jogger or some old guy sweeping the sand with a metal detector hoping to find treasure. You probably won’t be hit in the head with a beach ball, however, or have to listen to a boom box playing your least favorite song.

​Two: No Bathing Suit required. Phew! Tired of trying to squish those extra pounds into a bathing suit that feels more like sausage casing?  Hit the beach off-season in some warm, cozy wear. You don’t even have to do your hair, throw on a warm hat or a worn baseball cap; you’ll be in style.

​Three: You can bring Rover. Many beaches allow dogs off-season.  Dogs love to romp on the sand and toy with the waves.

Four: Wildlife watching.  Wildlife behaves wild in the off-season when us humans around invading their turf.  If you're lucky you'll see dolphins teaching their young how to surf the waves close to the beach, whales migrating to and from the south to mate and bear their young, and seagulls fetching their own dinner when they don’t have your potato chip bag to raid. Why we even spotted a pig one winter on the beach hanging with his volleyball playing beach friends.

​Five: Save money.  Waterfront hotels offer low rates. No beach pass required.

Six: Good night sleep. The beach offers that salty taste and the lulling rhythm of the waves to tune down your internal chatter all year.
​

Susan's novels feature escapes to the Caribbean. Learn more on her website www.susanallisondean.com 

​#beach #relax #books #reading 

#Nursing #Healthcare 

For those of us who love animals and understand the immense threat facing wildlife today, it has been a difficult few days. Trying to wrap our heads around why an American dentist would travel to Africa to kill an African lion is mindboggling and emotionally draining.  Below I share a few articles that have stood out about this tragic event.  Have you read any that you would like to add? Please feel free to add them in the comments and any thoughts you would like to share.

A message from Jane Goodall 
Link

Cecil the lion's death wakes up the planet! (Video)
Link

What makes rich men want to hunt beautiful animals? 
Link

Of Lions and Men: Mourning Samuel DuBose and Cecil the Lion  
Link

Why Cecil the Lion Was So Popular With People
Link

Here's why Walter Palmer keeps saying he "took" Cecil the Lion 
Link

Photo note: The image above was displayed last night on the Empire State Building honoring Cecil.  Multiple images were displayed by the Oceanic Preservation Society. Search #RacingExtinction to learn more or visit their website: www.racingextinction.com