Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist's Blog (229)

The stars were aligned for Opening Night of the Ringling International Arts Festival, and event organizers aligned them perfectly. Pre-performance champagne toasts in theater lobbies began the evening with sparkle that carried throughout the evening. As The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Baryshnikov Arts Center partnered for the festival, the Night of Premieres included four world premiere performances: solos by Mikhail Baryshnikov and…

Attention all lovers of arts and culture, this week’s Ringling International Arts Festival is an event not to be missed. As the…

Iron Chef recently came to Sarasota when a group of friends formed Iron Chef Sarasota. Periodically, we’ll be gathering for a cook-off featuring a secret ingredient announced two days prior to the dinner along with the assigned course. The…

My mom is known for her Southern cooking. Her sweet corn pudding is one of my sweetest childhood food memories, and a recipe that I relish and cook to this day. Having tried savory corn pudding, it’s hard to decide which one I like best. They’re both delicious… you decide.



Sagaponack Corn Pudding



This recipe, featured courtesy of the Food Network, 2002 Barefoot Contessa Family Style, was much requested after a recent…

to register for Relationships101. Successful relationships take skill; they don’t just happen…at least not for long. In Relationships 101, you will learn self skills and relationship skills. When those skills are practiced in relationship, relationships transform. The skills learned will not only apply in relationships with spouses or significant others, but in any relationship.



In Relationships 101, here’s just some of what you’ll…

This recipe welcomes Kim “back to the office” from her trip. Our weekly business lunches at Longevity Restaurant used to habitually include the sweet potato fries. Now that Longevity has closed, here’s an even healthier version -- sweet potato fries that are baked instead of fried -- to satisfy the craving.



Preheat oven to 400 degrees.



Slice sweet potatoes into whatever size fries you prefer.



Mix in bowl with at least…

Berries rich in antioxidants and whole grains make these muffins a bit more guilt--free than your usual bakery muffins. Enjoy for breakfast.

11/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup cornmeal

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

2 free range eggs

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup raw sugar

1 cup buttermilk

6 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1 cup raspberries

1/2 cup…

Too often, people focus only on what doesn’t work in their relationship. When you focus on the positive, your relationship will become more positive. What you focus on expands. This week, take the time to identify what does work in your relationship.



Ask yourself these questions:

• When you are getting along well, what are you doing differently than when you aren’t getting along?

• When you’re arguing and the fight finally stops, what did you do to turn things…

Feelings and negative emotions are signals. Anger, sadness, fear, shame, anxiety and depression are all signals that something in life is out of balance. In relationships, the signal may that you are being mistreated, tolerating behavior from someone else that you shouldn’t, or perhaps that you are treating someone else poorly or not acting within your own integrity. Emotions are designed to get you to move. They remind you to make changes, and call you back to your values.



Although…

This week’s relationship tip is to bring work home. My advice is not to literally bring work home so you have less time to spend with your spouse. My advice is to bring the skills, energy and ambition you utilize at work home and apply those same skills and motivation to your relationship.



Did you know that most people treat the people they work with better than they treat their spouse? Think about it; it’s true. I bet you’ve said things to your spouse or significant other in your…