Thankfulness Project Monday

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy- because we will always want to have something else or something more." - Brother David Steindl-Rast

An interesting quote to get you all thinking this morning. So here are some of the things I'm feeling grateful for on this Monday morning.

• The Oscars! I've been a fan of Oscar Sunday for many many years. I love the anticipation when I wake up that morning, as I begin to prep food for the little get together I host every year, when people are walking the red carpet, and during the actual show itself. It's a little thing to look forward to, but adds a bit of excitement and joy to my life. It's the little things, right?
• My work schedule: I'm a fan of my work schedule right now. Not only do I have a full load of clients, but I have some free time to work on other things, such as researching and writing. I've found a great balance at work, and I like it!
• Chips and salsa. Delicious. Absolutely delicious. I love sweet things in life, but I REALLY love salty things, and this does the trick. I eat a little bit of chips and salsa at least half of the days of the week. 
• Pictures from vacations: Sometimes when it's cold, gray, or I'm having a bad day, it really lifts my spirits to go through some pictures from some of my favorite vacations, and remember the good memories from that time. 
• Old episodes of The Office. I have most of the seasons on DVDs, and sometimes I really enjoy whipping them out and watching a few episodes. I always laugh, and they bring a smile to my face. Plus, I enjoy watching awkwardness happen, and Michael certainly is awkward!

Now it's your turn:

What are you thankful for today? Is there a TV show you like to watch when you need a good laugh? Did you watch The Oscars? What were your thoughts?

A Little Recap and Favorite Past Posts

My posting schedule may be a little lighter this week... or at least lighter content wise. I had a fantastic Thanksgiving (more or less) with family & friends, with a few difficult situations thrown into it. I'm safely back home and have a busy week at work, mixed in with a few other commitments and trying to catch up on the week that I was visiting family. Last December I didn't have many readers yet, as my blog was brand new. Because of that, I wanted to post a few posts from last winter that stand out in my mind, and relate to this holiday season!

Warming Up With A Cup of Tea <- There are some mental health/emotional benefits to tea as well!
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day <- This is one of my favorite Christmas songs. I didn't love it growing up, but a few years ago I learned the history of the song, and it's really interesting! Make sure to check this one out!
Tips For Surviving The Holidays With Family <- Let's be honest. Sometimes family can almost ruin the holiday season. Here are a few tips to stay healthy and happy while being around your family over the holidays!
My Little Lifesaver <- TOTALLY worth it!
Serenity, Courage, Wisdom
When There's A Winter Storm <- Tips for staying safe in the winter months!

Now it's your turn:
Feel free to share one of your OWN favorite winter posts here! I'd love to see them.

Mango!

Growing up my parents gave my siblings and me dried mango as a snack sometimes after meals. Because they did this on an infrequent basis, it was an exciting and special event, and we looked forward to it. My dad would occasionally cut a real mango at the table, and for some reason I thought it was absolutely amazing. While I didn't like the taste of it as a young child (it was too slippery for me), I grew to love it, and it's now one of my favorite fruits. My love for this fruit was reborn when I went to Ecuador earlier this year. (You might remember a similar post to this on my love for papaya)
Although I will make no attempt to go into detail about all the health benefits of mango, from what I've read I believe that mango is a great source of Vitamin C and antioxidants. To me, mangos are the perfect treat, because they are sweet like candy, but healthy as well! I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by the fruit at first, as it is not easy to prepare like apples, bananas, or oranges. That said, I thought I would share the way that I cut a mango. This is, of course, not the only way to do it, and google is a great source of information if you are curious.

1. Before cutting your mango, make sure that it is ripe. When you push lightly on the skin, it should indent slightly. Yellow and reddish colors are appropriate for a ripe mango.

2. Wash the mango. Many people don't realize that a mango has a large pit in the center of it, and you will need to cut around this. Holding the mango, start cutting off center, and go slowly. When you hit the pit, you won't be able to continue cutting. Move your knife gently around the pit, cutting slowly. If you can see in the picture below, there's an indent on the right side of the piece to the left. This is the pit. 

3. After cutting out the pit, put it to the side. You can chew on it a bit later to remove some of the excess fruit. What remains is 2 pieces of mango (each is one of the mango to the side of the pit that you have removed). Take a knife and slowly peel off the skin. In the picture below, the half to the left is unpeeled, and the piece to the right has been peeled of its skin. 

4. Once the skin is removed, take the half and lay it flat on a cutting board. Cut the mango into bite sized pieces as shown below:

5. Voila! Once you have your mango cut, enjoy (doesn't the mango below look DELICIOUS)!

I eat mango in a lot of forms. Some of my favorite ways include:

• Putting mango in oatmeal (Tropical Oatmeal "Recipe")
• Mango & blueberry salad as an evening snack
• Mango salsa

Here's what I'd like to know:

Have you ever tried a mango? If you have, did you like it? What's your favorite way to eat a mango?

Thankfulness Project Monday

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton

Happy Monday, and welcome to another edition of the Thankfulness Project. If you're new to the blog, or haven't read the history of this project and the benefits of implementing a thankfulness practice into your life, click here to catch yourself up!

Without anymore hesitation, here's a few of the things I'm thankful for right now:

• Long Weekends: Are you all enjoying your extra day off today? I DEFINITELY am and am so happy to get an extra day to sleep in and spend some time hanging out with my family! 
• Mini Vacations: I love taking little vacations over long weekends, and labor day is no exception. I've spent the weekend hiking, sleeping in, sitting in the sun, and enjoying laughter and games with family and friends. What more could you want for a long weekend?
• Football Games: Now that school has started, so have football games! I'm not a huge fan of football, but I do enjoy going to a game or two throughout the season- especially when the weather is still warm. 
• Warm Weather (and lots of sun!): Fall is quickly approaching, and while I love fall and the beauty it holds, there is nothing that can compare to the beauty and happiness that summer brings to my life. I'm trying to enjoy the last little bits of it, and this past weekend provided quite a bit of it!
• Walks: This summer I've focused on adding other types of exercise to my fitness routine. However, this past week I went back to the trail I've spent most of the last year working out on, and walked a fast 7.25 miles. It felt good, and I was happy with it. 

Now it's your turn!

What are you thankful for today?

Advice For College Students

The purpose of primary education is the development of your weak characteristics; the purpose of university education, the development of your strong.  ~Nevin Fenneman

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.  ~Author unknown, commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin

Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right.  ~Henry Ford

As fall is ushered in every year, hundreds of thousands of students pack up and move back into colleges across the world. Without an intentional focus on what you're doing and what you want out of college, it's easy to waste it. That being said, I thought I'd ask some of my blog readers and twitter followers what advice they would give themselves as a college freshman. Here's what a few of them said:

• Gene @Accountability: "Eat in the cafeteria more, eat delivered pizza less."
• Gene @Accountability: "CALL your mother/grandmother/father. dont' TEXT them....CALL them. we're still old school like that."
• Katy @Singing_Runner: "Join a social organization- whether it be a sorority, intramural team, club, etc. Get out there and get involved!"
• Recover Reflect from RecoveryReflections:  "Who you think you want to be may not be who you really are, but by being yourself you will love who you become."
• Melissa from Hungry, Happy, Healthy: "have focus but also have fun. travel. explore yourself. don't rush. and if you don't know what you want to do? IT'S OK!!!"

And here are a few others I have based off my own life and my years working at a college:

• Create a mission statement for college and post it on your desk. There are days you'll wonder if it's worth all the work, pain, and sacrifice, and it'll be helpful to have something concrete to go back to.
• Create a balance between work and play: Sometimes it's easy to get caught up on all the parties and events that colleges have to party. Don't seclude yourself, but you also don't have to attend everything out there. Remember that you are at college to get an education, and you're paying a lot for it. Don't waste it.
• Learn to say "no": There are so many good opportunities at college: clubs, volunteer work, jobs, friendships, and classes. You can't do it all, and if you don't learn to say no, you'll end up being stressed and burned out. Choose a handful of things that are important, and say no to the rest. 
• Don't Skip Class: It's REALLY tempting to skip class in order to sleep, go to a party, or watch TV. Don't do it. Professors tend to have a lot more grace with you if you have an emergency or need an extension if they see that you're putting forth an effort to show up. 
• Study Abroad! If you have a chance, travel as much as you can! You learn a lot about yourself and the world by doing it!
• Get to Know Yourself: College is the time where you step away from your parents and have control of the choices you make in life! Get to know who you are, and feel confident in that! Develop self worth. Learn what your strengths are and then develop them! Learn how to cope with your weaknesses.
• Increase Health And Wellness: There are a huge amount of jokes out there about the lack of health in college. Remember that every day you have the choice about what healthy decisions you make! Try adding different wellness behaviors to your life!
• Develop Coping Strategies for stress and anxiety: Those stressful moments will come up. If you healthy coping skills in place for those moments so that they don't suck you under. 

Obviously there's a number of other things I could say about starting college, but long lists get overwhelming:) 

Now it's your turn:

What was the most important lesson you learned in college? What's your best piece of advice?

Thankfulness Project Monday

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

The more I focus on these Thankfulness Project quotes, the happier I am that I've chosen to add this practice to my life. It helps me to focus on gratitude throughout the week, and getting this to be a natural part of our thinking is crucial for a healthy lifestyle! Please join in and list what you're thankful for-either in the comments section or posting on your own blog! If you choose to post on your own blog, please put the link in the comments section! I'd love to see this continue to grow across the blogging community!

With that said, I have a heart full of thankfulness this past week. Here are a few of the things I'm loving:

• Spending Time With Someone I Love Deeply: There are certain people in my life that I wish I could spend time with every day, but only get to see every few months. The month of August I've gotten to catch up with a number of these people, and I'm so very thankful for the time that I've gotten to spend with them. I'm grateful that these are the types of relationships where I can pick right back up and it's fun and normal immediately!
• School Sports Games: This weekend I went to a college soccer tournament, and it was a lot of fun! College students have so much energy, and they definitely help make sports games more fun!
• Qdoba Mango Fresh Salads: I love the special meals that restaurants bring in for the summer, and I think I've taken advantage of this salad about 5 times in the last month. I love mango, and the fact that I can get it on a salad makes me love it even more!
• Quotes: I've always been a big quote fan. Not only does it allow us to think only bits of wisdom from people in the past and the present, but they shed light on almost every issue out there. And, if you've read my blog for very long at all, you know that I LOVE to start my posts with them!
• Trips: I'm someone who doesn't get stressed living out of a suitcase for weeks on end, which is a good thing considering my life! This summer I have been on the move constantly, and I'm loving it! I get the chance to see a lot of people and places that I wouldn't normally see, and I'm thankful for that!

Now it's your turn:

What are you thankful for today?

My Food Finds While Traveling

I've mentioned this in a few posts, but these last weeks I've been busy traveling quite a bit! It can be a challenge to eat healthy, as fast food restaurants are plentiful and cheap on the road. If you haven't read my last two posts on health and safety while traveling, here they are:
Health & Safety While Flying
Health & Safety While Driving

There are a number of new products I've gotten to try while on my travels, so I thought I'd post some pictures of them here! Enjoy (and try not to let your mouth water TOO much!)

I love eating plantains, so I was incredibly excited when I found plantain chips in a grocery store in Florida!

Frozen Yogurt (ok...not the most healthy choice, but completely delicious). This was orange sherbert (dairy free) with a little cake batter, topped with brownie bites, mango, kiwi, and strawberry. YUM!

I eat this for breakfast almost every day I travel. Pomegranate Chobani with granola. Packed with protein and calcium, which is a perfect way to start the day!

Qdoba Mango Fresh Salad, topped with Guacamole! I've eaten this a number of times over the last month, and think it's delicious!

I love guava, so I was really excited to see these on the shelf at the grocery store. Bonus- they are lactose free!

Also lactose free! 

I'm a huge fan of tropical flavored things, so I was excited to see Coconut Soda. I hardly ever drink soda, but decided to splurge one day on this!

Because I can't eat ice cream, and I couldn't get my hands on any frozen yogurt, I bought fruit and mango sorbet from the grocery store. It was ALMOST as good as the real deal. 

I eat these all the time while I'm traveling! Healthy and delicious!

This is one of the most delicious and refreshing teas I've ever tried in my life! 

Here's What I'd like to Know:

Have you stumbled upon any new foods recently that you are loving? What's your go to health food when you're traveling?

Fantastic Fridays (Life's Tiny Delights)

Happy Friday! Because I was at the beach last Friday, my post was just a little different, and you can read it here.

"Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were looking through the gates of Heaven."

-John Lubbock

I got to see this beautiful sunset every single night while at the beach! Beautiful and breathtaking! I was definitely not experiencing any Nature Deficit Disorder this week! The sunset was actually a really great time to develop the practice of mindfulness, as the entire "sunset time" lasted for about an hour or so. In that hour, I tried to think of nothing that was going on except the very present moment I was living in, and it was really pretty easy to do. I feel like the sunset sort of envelops you into it, which makes it easier to focus only on that. It was beautiful... 

And of course, here are some search terms for the week:

• mediterranean pizza recipe (this gets at least a couple hits a week now)
• Can you wear contacts while flying (this has gotten at least one hit a week since I posted it...I definitely never expected the post to bring in much traffic after I hit "publish post")
• Challenging Cognitive Distortions
• Greek Yogurt Found in Greece (This is one of my favorite "fun" posts!)
• Therapist Burnout and Boundaries (VERY important!)
• Shoved on a plane (my post from yesterday!)
• loveinvest 2011 (not sure what this is about...)
• What Your Counselor Is Thinking

Ok, so no funny search terms for the week- except maybe the last one made me smile a bit. I actually haven't done a post called "What your counselor is thinking" but now I'm starting to think it would be interesting to write a post on that! What do you think?

Here's what I'd like to know:

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

Where have you seen your favorite sunset?

Have you ever wondered what your counselor is thinking?

One time I was pushed by a passenger on a plane...

If you read my blog posts from a few days ago, you'll remember that I was on vacation at the beach! It was a great vacation, full of fun, laughter, and sun! But then came this tweet from me:

And here's the blog post: 

After boarding the plane an hour and a half late (weather problems... and then maintenance problems), my mom and I made our way to our seats. I had a window seat, and she was across the aisle from me in an aisle seat. The flight attendant noticed we were talking, so she told my mom to just switch to the other aisle seat (next to me), and she'd ask the woman if she'd mind switching to the other aisle seat. Well, the woman made her way down the aisle, and the flight attendant asked if she'd be willing to switch to the aisle seat across the aisle. She threw a huge tantrum in the aisle, gaining the attention of the other passengers nearby, screaming "THIS IS THE SEAT I PAID FOR AND I WILL BE SITTING IN THAT SEAT" followed by incredibly rude words to the flight attendant. Now, she has every right to say no, as that was the seat she paid for and was planning on sitting in during the flight. To scream the way she did though was completely uncalled for.. In all my years flying, I've never heard one passenger ask another passenger to switch seats to sit by a family member and be turned down by them, especially if it was an aisle seat for an aisle seat. Anyways, my mom stood up and, without saying anything to the rude passenger, moved and sat in her assigned seat. I said nothing to the passenger who sat down next to me, and continued to read the blog post I had earlier been reading. The woman and I spoke no words at all back and forth as we waited to take off. At the last minute before take off, the flight attendant grabbed us and said there were 2 available seats at the front of the plane (!!), and moved us up there. The passenger sitting next to me stood up (without being asked) so I could get past her. I slipped past her but as I took my first step towards the front of the plane, she shoved me in the back, and I flew a few steps forward. I'm really wondering what was going on her head that made that an appropriate move! I hadn't even spoken to her (and even if I had, when is it ok to push people?), so it seems a little weird that she would've considered that to be the appropriate action.

Anyways, after that, we were seated in the front of the plane and took off. And then this happened:

We hadn't complained to the flight attendant about anything related to said passenger, but as the flight attendant got the brunt of this woman's harsh words, and the fact that I got shoved, I think she felt bad for us. And gave us free wine. And LOTS of cookies and pretzels. The flight attendant proceeded to spend the entire flight teaching little magic tricks to the passengers the entire time, and I laughed throughout the whole flight! What started out to be a really lousy flight experience turned out to be one of the most fun flights I've ever taken in my entire life! 

As I was sitting there, I had to wonder what was going on in that woman's life that made her behave in such a miserable way. If she didn't want to switch, she could've said no and left it at that, but she verbally beat up the flight attendant, and then shoved me. My counselor brain really wants to know the "why" behind the whole thing? Anyways, I decided to ignore the rude passenger, and I ended up having a really fantastic time. 

We all have bad travel stories right?

What I'd like to know:

What's one of your crazy travel stories?

Would you have ignored the passenger, spoken to her, or shoved her back? 

Thankfulness Project Monday

Thank you all for your patience as I was on vacation last week! I tried to schedule some posts ahead of time, and respond to your comments as I had time. Obviously, my main purpose was to relax, engage in self care, and enjoy time with family, and in my mind, the trip was a huge success. After a pretty bad flight home (post on that coming soon), I'm happy to be getting back to my regular schedule.

And with that, here are some of the things that I am thankful for today:

• The Beach: I got to spend 8 glorious days sitting on the beach, watching the waves gently roll in, taking long walks in the surf, and bobbing on the ocean. Sounds amazing, right? I think it does wonders for ones mental health, and it was such a wonderful time! 
• Vacation: We each need time to get away from the hustle and bustle of time, be by ourselves, and get some self care! That's exactly what I did this past week, and it was wonderful! 
• Family Time! I spend the entire last week with my family, including a brother who is in the military and got 3 weeks of leave time! It's so great to be together, laughing and hanging out! I'm so thankful for them:)
• Protein Bars: Kind of funny to go on a list like this, don't you think? But seriously, I'm so thankful for protein bars. They make traveling so much easier, both because they travel well and are easy to eat on a plane or on the beach, but because they are healthy and filling as well! 
• Safety: Besides a minor foot cut from a shell, there were no injuries this week, either on the beach or in traveling! This is always a huge praise, and I'm thankful when everyone arrives safely home once again. 

Ok, I'm off to go collect my luggage. It didn't make it home with me last night (again...story will come soon), and get laundry done! 

Here's what I'd like to know:

What are you thankful for today? 

Would you rather take a trip with family or friends?

Fantastic Fridays (Life's Tiny Delights)

“I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm.”

--Anonymous

Hello from the beach! This week I've been blogging to you from the beach, which is why my posts have been a bit scarce. I'm taking my own advice and getting some time out in nature, and getting some good self-care. Needless to say, the beach, sand, waves, palm trees, and pool have been my tiny (...actually it's been pretty big) delight of the week. Developing mindfulness meant for me that I was trying to engage all my senses in the experiences, whether I was sitting in a chair, walking on the beach, standing in the surf, or  feeling the sun pound down on my shoulders. It's been fantastic! 

Since I'm writing this post a bit early to free up my schedule, I can't actually give funny search terms for the week, so I'm going to leave it at that!

What I'd like to know:

What's your favorite beach to go to, and what's your favorite thing about a beach vacation?

Greek Yogurt in Greece

Do you remember my first post on the Greek Yogurt Chobani? I grew up eating yogurt every day, but once I found out I was lactose intolerant, I cut yogurt out of my diet. For a few years, I missed yogurt, and desperately tried to find a substitute. I was thrilled when I stumbled across Chobani, and realized that it was not only incredibly healthy, but also didn't bother me lactose-wise. I'm SO glad that I tried this before actually going to Greece- I was a lot more comfortable eating the yogurt there knowing that I was going to be ok.
Since March I've had Greek Yogurt ever day for breakfast or lunch. Imagine my joy when i went to breakfast the first morning in Athens and was served this:

Yes...you are seeing correctly. That is a glass dish of greek yogurt with honey...and the Acropolis (Parthenon) in the background. I don't think any greek yogurt can ever compare to this great experience:) Ok, enough with the cheese factor. Seriously though, this greek yogurt was fantastic (and the view didn't hurt either). What I love about Greek yogurt is that it not only tastes great and has a good texture (smooth and creamy), but it's healthy! Packed with protein, this makes an excellent and healthy breakfast or snack throughout your day. If I could some how force each of you to eat Greek yogurt on a regular basis, I would. But let's face it- that would be impossible, creepy, and really poor boundaries. So I won't. But I can encourage each of you to run to your closest grocery store immediately and try it if you haven't. Not only is it delicious, but it's also a healthy decision (and don't we all love when healthy tastes good too?).

Have you tried Greek yogurt before? If so- what flavor is your favorite?

Fantastic Fridays (Life's Tiny Delights)

Do you remember last week's post on my Life's Tiny Delights/ Fantastic Friday? If not, click on the link and check it out. I still haven't found a title that I like, so please be patient as I try to figure this out. If you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them! The link above will give some background to this little "holiday" on my blog, and trying to develop a practice of mindfulness in my life.

With that being said, here's something I'm loving right now:

I'm pretty sure this is one of the most colorful and decadent platters of dessert I've ever eaten off of. Seriously- how amazing does this look? While eating, I tried to be very present in the moment, and notice the tastes and textures while I was eating it. YUM! 

Search terms are always interesting & fun to see (at least I love looking at them on other blogs!), so here are some from the last week: 

• "It's not about me" Boundaries (excellent search by the way. You can read it here)
• Chobani lactose intolerance
• Could you wear contacts while flying a jet? (yes- I'm a professional in this area:) This came from my post last week on health & safety while flying). 
• Grandma health
• Mediterranean Pizza Ingredients (you can find this recipe under the "recipe" tab above)

It seems like this is a pretty wide range of random searches, doesn't it? 

Now here's a few things I'd like to know from you:

What would you like to see in a lighthearted Friday post?

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

Health & Safety While Flying

Leaving on a jet plane!

In yesterday's post, I discussed post, I gave 10 tips for safety while on a driving trip. Today's blog post is dedicated to safety while flying. As you know, I love to travel, and unfortunately this means a lot of flying (can you say long lines, inappropriate touching at security, and lost baggage?). Here are a few of my tips for a safe & healthy travel experience. 

1. Hydrate on the day leading up to, as well as the day of, your flight: It's not only difficult to get enough fluid while traveling, but the airplane can be very dehydrating. Coming into the experience well hydrated will only benefit you.

2. Once again, bring lots of snacks! While a flight might only be 2-3 hours, you might get stuck waiting on a runway for 2 hours before you leave. You may arrive late, and have to skip your planned dinner during the layover you've now lost due to time. Always bring healthy snacks (protein bars are great) to hold you over...or as a substitute for a meal if necessary.

3. Bring an empty water bottle. While you can't go through security with water, if you bring an empty water bottle, you'll be able to fill it up as soon as you get into the main part of the airport. This will help you to stay hydrated. 

4. Pack a change of clothing in your carry on bag: I've lost my luggage multiple times, sometimes for a week or more. The last thing you want is to walk off the plane in dirty clothes, and have to sleep in them and wear them again the next day. If you lose your luggage, you'll be happy to have that clean shirt with you!

5. Pack all medications in your carry on bag: NEVER CHECK YOUR MEDS. Again, trust me on this one. If you lose your luggage for a week, you will be without those medications for that time. If you have prescription medications, always bring them in your carry on bag. 

6. When you fly, you are at a risk for deep vein thrombosis for a few weeks following your flight. Know the warning signs, but don't turn into a hypochondriac. 

7. Take frequent stretch breaks. This helps you decrease the chances of something like DVT. Click here for an excellent link with information & videos for stretching on the airplane. 

8. Use this if you have a cold or sinus infection. If you have a cold, the pressure in your nose and ears can feel unbearable. This is the best trick I've found (along with a decongestant) to help make your flight as painless as possible. 

9. Bring eye drops or your glasses if you wear contacts. Again, flying is dehydrating, which can irritate eyes (with or without contacts). Eye drops can be incredibly beneficial and add to your overall comfort. If you wear contacts, I'd suggest bringing your glasses, a contact case, and solution for a longer flight, just incase your eyes get too dried out. 

10. Be Prepared! While it's fun to travel in a cute blazer, dark skinny jeans, and heels, if your flight gets canceled and you have to sleep on the floor of the airport, you will not be happy with your clothing choice. Keep this in mind as you dress for your flight. Bring layers of clothes to stay warm in the airport or plane, and something to lay your head on (i.e. a backpack or hoodie) if you do end up having to sleep in the airport. 

Do you enjoy flying? What's your worst flight story?

Healthy & Safe Travel Tips (driving trip)

Summer is almost here, which means an increase in travel throughout the country. Because of this, it's important to prepare for your trip carefully, and be smart as you embark on your travels. The phrase "expect the best, prepare for the worst"definitely applies to this situation. None of us want to have problems along the way...right? By being prepared, we can hopefully avoid as many problems as possible. While I wouldn't say I'm a complete pro at giving travel tips, I've traveled enough to have collected a certain number of things that I've found helpful and important.

Time to hit the road!

1. Fill up with gas & ALWAYS check tire pressure the night before leaving: The last thing you need is to be scrambling around the day you leave (does anyone else's stress level shoot up as you're quickly packing the car and doing the final check of your house?) doing these basic chores. This has been drilled into me since I was a small child. 
2. Make sure to bring lots of fluid! Hydration is crucial for health and wellness, especially when it's hot and sunny. The last thing you need is a traffic jam or flat tire where you're stuck outside in the heat, and have nothing to drink. What would happen if, say, you got stuck in a traffic jam for 7-8 hours. Prepare for the worst, expect the best:)
3. Pack lots of snacks! This applies for the same reason as above. If you get stuck for a number of hours (and let's be honest...who wouldn't be grumpy in this situation), you'll be incredibly happy that you packed those extra protein bars or bags of cereal. 
4. Bring Lunch: There's no reason you need to be stopping for a meal on the way. It's cheaper, and often healthier, to pack lunches (or dinners) and eat at a rest area. 
5. Stop the car for regular breaks. Our concentration tends to decrease over time, so take little breathers every few hours. I know it gets really frustrating to stop, but is it worth losing 5 minutes every few hours to be healthy? Run in place, do deep breathing, and stretch a little!
6. NEVER TRY TO PUSH THROUGH TIREDNESS. No, I don't mean when you're just a little sleepy. If you are really struggling to stay awake, either switch drivers or pull over and rest for 15-20 minutes. It's not worth trying to push through and falling asleep. And coming from someone who has had someone near to them die by being hit by a driver who has fallen asleep, IT IS NOT WORTH THE RISK. Be kind to yourself and others by making smart decisions.
7. Don't just rely on gps. I am really bad at following basic directions or a map, which leads to me being completely reliant on the gps. While I think that gps is really wonderful, it can lead to problems. For example, I was driving through downtown Chicago once, and my gps popped up with a message saying "Lost Satellite." Awesome. So I was stuck praying desperately that the satellite would pop up soon. Before leaving, handwrite or print off directions so that you don't get stuck without anything.
8. Invest in AAA. I avoided it for awhile, but am SO THANKFUL that I finally jumped on the AAA bandwagon. Not only do they give you a nifty handout for any trip you're going on (with multiple routes, etc...), but they are a great safety net if something where to happen on the road. PLUS, you can get some great discounts. It's totally worth it!
9. Add some fun with itunes playlists or books on tape. This is especially helpful on long car trips. Mix it up, and the hours will fly by!
10. Wear comfortable clothing. Sure, I love looking cute when I travel, and I'm always a happy camper in heels. But the best way to travel is in comfortable clothing that can be layered (do you ever feel that no matter how high you turn the AC in the summer, if you're sitting in the sun you just can't cool down?). Loose clothing is easier to move in, and will provide the least amount of distraction and the best range of movement while driving. 

Now it's your turn! Have you ever had a road trip that has fallen apart? What are your best travel tips?

A Few Wise Words...

"Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Moment of honesty with each of you: I'm naturally on the more fearful end of the spectrum. Over the years, I've learned to talk through my fears, decide what's rational and irrational, and learn to develop self talk to address this. This has been incredibly helpful. But sometimes the fear is still there. The above quote has been an encouragement to me throughout the years as I try to face fear in the face. But WHY should we do one thing every day that scares us?

Well, I don't think there's something magical in one thing every day, nor do I think it has to be all or nothing. Do one thing every week that scares you if you'd like. I also think it's important to remember that the things that scare us can be simply making a phone call (perhaps calling a company to let them know about an incorrect charge is terrifying to you!) or emailing a friend you had a fight with last week. It can also be something big, like getting on an airplane of sky diving. It's important to face our fear so we remain free to do things in the world, instead of cutting more and more activities out, making daily living increasingly difficult. Facing the fears we have not only opens up more of the world to us, but helps us to develop courage. This helps us live life as a daring adventure. 

Here's a picture of one thing I've done recently that's been a little scary (and kind of fun too!):

Source

At one point I stood at the very front of this huge crowd (of almost 50,000 people according to some reports) in the middle of a riot in Greece. While the time I was there was peaceful, some riots before had become violent...so I was a little nervous. It was fun to be there and witness history happening, and get to talk to the Greek people about their perspectives on the issues at hand. 

Now it's your turn: What things scare you (big or little)? Have you faced any of your fears lately? If so, what did you do?

Thankfulness Project Monday

Welcome once again to my Thankfulness Project Monday post! I know it's been a few weeks, and I thank you all for your continued patience! If you are a recent reader of my blog, you can click here to read the background information on this weekly post. These last 3 weeks have been filled with an endless list of things I'm thankful for, so it's hard to get this list down to only a few things. I've felt so immeasurably blessed recently, and am so thankful for the time that I have had. That being said, here are the things I'm thankful for today:

• Travel! If you've been a reader of this blog for very long, you know that I travel quite often, and I'm a huge fan of it:) I recently had a business/pleasure trip mixed into one. During this trip, I got to stare at the view shown in the above picture quite a bit! It's beautiful, isn't it? (if you can't tell, that's the parthenon lit up at night)
• Safety: When traveling, there's always an increased risk of injury or illness. I'm so thankful that I had smooth sailing the entire time, and didn't get sick at all! 
• This beautiful weather: As I type this, I am sitting outside in the sun, looking at flowers, and hearing the sound of the fountain next to me. It's like a little slice of heaven right now. Not only is my mood so much better when it's nicer out, but the smells and sounds are spectacular. We would all do much better to spend more time outside enjoying the weather (remember: USE SUNSCREEN!).
• Mediterranean Food:  Ok, so I know I'm on a little kick with this right now, but I get really excited when I know that a mediterranean dish is coming for dinner. I'm excited about it all day. You can click here and here to see my two latest recipes. 
• The Daring Adventure: These last 2 weeks have been crazy and adventure filled. I've experienced new things, and pushed myself in different ways. We should always be doing this. Of course this doesn't require going to a different country, but it's easy to get stuck too much into a routine and forget that we can live life as a daring adventure!

Now it's your turn! What are you thankful for today? 

A Simple & Delicious Treat {Recipe Included}

If you've been reading my blog for very long, you may have picked up a few things about me:
1. I LOVE to travel (see here and here)
2. I dislike cooking (but love making this and this)
3. I can tolerate cooking if it's in some way connected to my travel :)

So, knowing that, a week ago I set out to cook another favorite from my visits to Ecuador and the Dominican Republic: Plantains! They are delicious, can be a side to a meal (served with salt or ketchup on top), or as a dessert with cinnamon cooked on top.

Why plantains? According to self.com, plantains are "very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Potassium" (see here for other nutritional data). Plantains always need to be cooked-they cannot be consumed like a banana. I'll go step by step through the cooking process with pictures. Side note: There are many ways to cook plantains and many things to do with them-this is simply one way. They can also be mashed and made into little patties-this is also delicious.
Ok, so here we go:

1. Here is a plantain. They can be cooked when they are green, yellow, or brown. The more ripe, the sweeter they are. They need to be cooked differently, so look up directions! 

2. Peel the plantain. This isn't as easy as a banana. It may be easier to cut both ends off the plantain to start the peeling process. 

3. Cut the plantain into small pieces using diagonal cuts. DO NOT cut straight across. Don't make the slices too thick.

4. Warm up a pan (medium or medium-high temp, and cover base of pan with a thin coat of oil.

5. Put plantain slices into the frying pan and let it cook. Once it's browned, flip over and let the other side cook.

6. Voila! There you are! If you want cinnamon or salt, you can put on immediately following removal from the pan. If you want to put another dressing on top, go for it. It's delicious!!!

I'm wondering how this would turn out if it was cooked in coconut oil instead of extra virgin olive oil.

Did you watch the Academy Awards last night? What was your favorite look/movie? 

If you'd like to watch a video on this process, here are a few links:
green 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAkz2hbmSSU
colombian patacones, fry 6-8 min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uaQ1rUAIT8&feature=related
ecuador patacones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itNSYnVpEGs&feature=related
ecuador mashed plantains filled with cheese (empanadas)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuCEFBYmNGA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sGewIhH3NY&feature=related
Venezuelan patacones with cheese
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhi6gw58np0&feature=related
 green baked
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnXU33QQdt0

ripe/sweet
http://www.ehow.com/how_4560278_cook-ripe-plantain.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IntQtrfSaLI
ripe for plantain fritters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsSJpvrg8RI&NR=1

6 states, 2 countries, 1 month

In the month of January, I have been in 2 countries and 6 states. I love traveling, experiencing new things, and getting to see people:) However, I'm also a little tired; tired of waiting in lines, boarding planes, losing luggage, and breathing stale air in the plane. It's sort of a love hate relationship, really, but it allows me to do many fun and wonderful things!

So, this weekend I was in Florida. I went through security, and got pulled to go through the Xray machine. Nothing popped up on the xray, but apparently that wasn't good enough for them. So I got pulled into the 2nd screening area, and got the "pat down". I put that in quotes because it was more like a groping/rubbing session, and one which I turn someone in if it happened out in the real worried. It was humiliating, violating, and VERY inappropriate. Plus I had to pull down the top of my pants and lift up my shirt. I'm not really sure why that was necessary seeing as nothing popped up on the x-ray machine (and, fyi, I'm not a terrorist!). I'm all for safety, but what I experienced really crossed the line. I was furious. But mostly, I kept wondering how those people who have been sexually abused might feel. I kept wondering how many people have been triggered by this experience...I certainly don't know this answer, but it made my heart hurt for those people.

Anyways, then my flight was delayed, causing me to almost miss my next flight (i sprinted through the airport and got there as they were closing the door!). Because I've had bronchitis, I had a lot of sinus pressure. I was expecting some pain, as I've flown many times with a sinus infection before, but this past weekend I experienced the most excruciating pain in my forehead, and almost passed out from the pain. It was horrible.

Sounds like complaining. But here's what I'm thankful for:

1. I have the ability to travel

2. I get to see people I love and care about

3. I get to learn about and experience new cultures

4. I get to people watch & have time to read fun magazines!

And here's some great airport pictures from my month (and some pictures from my travels):

 Waiting areas...

Rows of luggage from stranded travelers. 

Bienvenidos a Ecuador-dos!

Well, I've been home from Ecuador for just over a week, but in many ways it seems like many more weeks. I've had multiple dreams about Ecuador, from the amazing fruit there to chasing guinea pigs around the neighborhood I grew up in to save them from being eaten:) I miss Ecuador (specifically, Cuenca) terribly. I found the people wonderful and incredibly friendly to interact with every day I was there. I had mentioned before that mental health was a few decades behind the US in Ecuador (not just from what I saw, but this is coming from discussions with multiple people there). It was such a joy for me to go and share what I know, study, and love about mental health and wellness. The people there were incredibly receptive to listening to lectures on Wellness, Depression, Work-Life Balance, and Suicide, and many of them stayed after to have individual conversations. Many of them have asked for supplemental materials to be sent down, and I'm just so happy to be helping out down there!

I have to say that my time there wasn't just about me lecturing and teaching, but I also learned a lot from the people there. I obviously learned about the current state of mental health and counseling services, but I learned about relationships too. I think in many ways, Ecuadorians have a much better view of relationships then we do here. I think I learned a little more about pausing in my busy schedule to talk to those around me, and to really be in a community with them. I value this so much, and it definitely made me feel more appreciated there.

Ecuador was an absolutely wonderful experience, and I definitely want to go back as soon as I can to continue having conversations and sharing what I know about increasing wellness. I feel so blessed to get to see the things I saw, experience the food and the culture, and meet all the wonderful people I did over the course of the week.

As promised, here are some other pictures (a few are here in my first post about Ecuador):

 Cajas National Park in the Andes Mountains

 Outside the Trout Restaurant in the Andes Mountains

 The New Cathedral in Cuenca. It's so beautiful!

 This is the "school bus" that Ecuadorian children take to school.

 At the open air market. I love all the bright colors!

 Cute old Ecuadorian women walking in Cuenca.

 Sunset above the clouds. It's hard to see in this small picture, but the black gaps are the tops of the Andes mountains.

 Older woman in Turi

More Inca ruins in Cuenca with the Andes Mountains in the background