Well it's the first day of Spring, the birds are chirping, the crocuses are poking up through the ground, and snowflakes are falling...I think Mother Nature is confused. To help her out (and provide some hope for the rest of us) I thought I would share some of my favorite photos from previous Springs.
Just before Spring also happens to be one of my favorite holidays...St. Patrick's Day! Unfortunately this year between term papers, work, and just coming back from vacation I didn't get to celebrate or share any fun posts with you all...here's to next year!
You may wonder what this has to do with health and wellness. Well the first day of Spring is a big deal to me. Spring has always felt like "my time" a time of renewal. I begin to feel energized! And these four reasons here are why.
1. It's time to get outside. After being couped up inside all Winter you can finally get outdoors and get active again. I can't wait to go for walks, bicycle rides, and hikes, and this year take little guy to the park to play! Not to mention the fresh air and warm sun feels amazing.
2. It's time for gardening. I like to plant a few flowers and lots of herbs to use fresh throughout the summer and also freeze for later. The vegetable garden is my dad's thing...but I like to provide input and pitch in there too when I can!
3. The farmer's markets return. I get really excited about this one. I am fortunate to have a couple good grocery stores nearby that I can buy quality produce from year-round, but there is nothing like buying it in the peak of their seasons directly from the farmers themselves. We make a day of it, waking up early to get there while the selection is still plenty, buying breakfast and coffee from local vendors, just walking around enjoying the people and sights, and of course filling our shopping bags!
4. It's time for new life. In Springtime everything is welcoming new life from the buds appearing on trees to the birth of baby animals. I look forward to Spring breathing a little fresh life into me each year as well.
DISCLAIMER: The content on this
blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its
author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt. It is for entertainment purposes only and not
intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.
Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation,
complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the
guidance of a qualified professional.
There's no doubt about it...vacations are awesome! Whether it's an impromptu road trip, a week at the beach, or a weekend at the cabin the idea is to take a break, have fun, and relax. Ideally you come back home afterwards with tons of great memories and feeling refreshed. Though sometimes between lost luggage, turnpike traffic and wrong turns, happy hour specials and all-you-can-eat buffets you come home feeling exhausted and unwell.
Recently I took a quick trip to the Massachusetts' coast for a wedding. With the exception of the wedding itself (I could not pass up the amazing food and a few glasses of champagne!) I did not want to completely undo all of the hard work I have done lately to lose weight. So I packed this handy little bag to help me make healthy choices during the rest of the trip and have all of my wellness essentials on hand to keep my vacation from getting the best of me...and you can to!
Once you gather all of your essentials, place them in an easy to grab tote or carry-all like this one that can be relocated from the car to the hotel room for convenient access!
Packing List:
Healthy Snacks
Choose ones that are shelf stable unless you know you will be able to keep them cool both during the trip and at your destination. For this trip I packed crackers, granola bars, fresh fruit, and little packets of almond butter.
Healthy Drinks
I took a case of bottled water for drinking and avoiding the temptation of grabbing a soda from the gas station or rest stop vending machines. You can include some those drink mix packets if you feel you will get tired of just plain water. It turned out to be useful alternatively for rinsing off pacifiers and toys during the car ride also!
Sneakers
Depending on your trip and how you packed, sneakers may not be in the suitcase. Plus, having them out and easily accessible for quick changing can help if you stumble across a nice place to stop and stretch your legs along the way or find a great running path (or the beach!) near your hotel. Bonus workout!
First Aid/Other Essentials
It's also not a bad idea to have a few necessities on hand so you don't have to run to a store or overpay for them at convenience marts. I packed a box of tissues, hand sanitizer and wipes, hand lotion, tylenol, tums, and bandaids....you just never know when you may need them!
Weather Accessories
For this trip I took sunglasses and an umbrella, but during the summer a bottle of sunscreen would be in here too. This one was a given cause I keep them in my car so they are usually handy, but if you are flying or riding in another vehicle they can be easy to forget. The weather can be hard to predict so being prepared so you are not caught under the glare of a blazing sun or drenched in the rain can make or break a trip.
DISCLAIMER: The content on this
blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its
author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt. It is for entertainment purposes only and not
intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.
Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation,
complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the
guidance of a qualified professional.
So this week for the health and fitness challenge I'm in we are striving to consume our recommended servings of vegetables daily, similar to our
challenge with fruits last week (when I shared my recipe for this beautiful fruit salad). For me personally that is about 2 and a half cups of veggies per
day...easy peas-y!
I thought I would stick with
my "eat the rainbow" theme and create a veggie dish that showcases a bright assortment of colors as well. Some of them, particularly the purples and blues, were a bit challenging to represent, but with a little creativity I think I got them all: tomatoes for the red, carrots for the orange, a sweet bell pepper for yellow, lettuce, celery and cucumbers for the greens, and a red/purple onion for the blues/purples...I even snuck some white in the form of garlic cloves into this homemade ranch dressing along with some vibrant fresh herbs.
A chop salad seemed like a great way to put them all together and boy was I right if I say so myself...I could easily get my 2 and half cups in each day with a big plate of this salad as a side dish or as a meal all on its own!
Chop salads started trending a few years ago and I never knew what the
big deal was...that is until I tried to eat a salad with a squirming child on my hip trying to grab each bite I took. Now I get it! A chop salad, which is
basically a regular salad all chopped up into bite sized pieces provides
the opportunity to enjoy a salad- gracefully! Anyone who
has ever fought in that battle between their fork and the one gigantic
leaf of lettuce in their salad while not slopping dressing all over
their face and/or clothes knows what I am talking about...and here is the solution.
Makes: 4 generous servings
Salad Ingredients:
1/2 head of iceberg lettuce (I know, I know iceberg is like the black sheep of the lettuce family but its crispness makes it perfect for this salad)
1 small tomato
6 baby carrots
1/4 yellow sweet bell pepper
1/2 English cucumber
1 small stalk celery
1/4 purple onion
Dressing Ingredients:
1 (6 oz.) container plain Greek yogurt
1-2 tablespoons lowfat milk
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Handful each: fresh chives, dill, and parsley, roughly chopped
Directions:
Prepare the salad dressing first by combining the Greek yogurt, milk, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs in a small bowl and set aside.
Wash and chop all of the vegetables, except lettuce, into bite-sized pieces, approximately 1/4 inch. The lettuce can be chopped into larger pieces, approximately 1/2 to 1 inch.
Place all of the vegetables into a large bowl and give them a toss to mix them up.
Pour the salad dressing over top and toss again to coat all of the pieces evenly. Serve immediately. **The salad dressing can be kept separate until serving if the salad is to be eaten at a later time.
Delicious topped with a little bit of grated Parmesan cheese and warm croutons!
DISCLAIMER: The content on this
blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its
author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt. It is for entertainment purposes only and not
intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.
Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation,
complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the
guidance of a qualified professional.
Interviewing for a job can be a very nerve-wracking situation. Unfortunately, as hard as it may be to avoid, being nervous and stressed prior to an interview is not likely going to help your chances. The key to calming your nerves, and hopefully nailing the interview, is to identify what elements worry you the most about interviewing and then taking steps to prevent them from getting the best of you. This way you can march into that room with a clear mind and the confidence to blow potential employers away!
I recently went through a rather strenuous interview process myself and wanted to share a few tips that I found beneficial:
1. Be prepared. Being thrown off by an unexpected question is one of the biggest fears interviewees have. In the days leading up to your interview do some homework on the company and the position you are applying for. Also prepare answers to these notorious questions regarding your past experiences, career goals, your strengths and weaknesses ahead of time to eliminate being caught off guard if asked.
2. Dress to impress. It's a given that you want to look clean and professional when going to a job interview, but this is just as much for you as it is for them. Picking an outfit that is comfortable and you feel good in will help boost your confidence. Try to avoid restricting clothing, feeling like you can't move will not help your anxiety!
3. Play some music. En route to your interview loosen up a little by listening to music. Pick a few favorite tunes that are sure to pump you up and get you in a good mood. Something upbeat, yet light, works for me...I listened to the Plain White Tees on my way to the interview, "Hey There Delilah" never fails to make me smile! Old school hits that remind you of more care-free younger days work well also!
4. Take a minute. Once you get to the location, sit in your car for a moment to compose yourself. It's always a good idea to show up to your interview a few minutes early, but try to allow yourself a little extra time before going in. Take a few deep breaths, give yourself a little pep talk, check to make sure there is nothing in your teeth, and off you go!
Best of luck!!
DISCLAIMER: The content on this
blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its
author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt. It is for entertainment purposes only and not
intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.
Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation,
complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the
guidance of a qualified professional.
