Wiser or Just Old!?!

Is it true that with  age comes knowledge and wisdom?  It seems that with age and wisdom (if they come hand in hand) comes a practicality that can be at times... dull, lol.  For instance, take a look at the photo above.  Not the best of photos, but I think that you will get the point.

The heels in the back were my typical summer sandal buy for the past couple of years.  Fun, strapy, and sexy!  Last year when I went to France I bought the sandals in the middle.  I still wanted something fun and cute, but sacrificed a bit (okay, a chunk) of the sexy for comfort.  This year, the only new sandals that I bought were the two in the front.  The brown is a CROC!!! and the black mass is a weaved shoe with a wedge.  Do you see the digression here people!?!?!?!?!  :0

After walking a marathon in one day last year in Paris in my Aerosole sandals, I learned a lesson of sorts and the Crocs this year are my replacement for them.  They along side the black wedges will be joining me on this year's vacation.  I still feel like I could do worse, there are less attractive shoes out there, but I feel like perhaps I am only just a step away (no pun intended, lol).

I will be bringing one more pair of shoes... my sneakers.  That's right.  You read that correctly.  I will be bringing my sneakers on my romantic child-free vacation.  As comfy as those weaved wedges and Crocs may be, I don't think that they are going to be of much help climbing this...

Any guesses where we are going?!???

I think in the case of the sneakers, wisdom wins out, don't you think?  ;)

If aging doesn't grant us either, then I am wiser through my experiences... let's just hope that those Crocs work, otherwise it's back to fun and cute next year!!!

The Beauty Inside

Two years ago, there was a short film series released on YouTube called The Beauty Inside.  The concept behind it is as the title suggests, however the way in which it was delivered was rather unique.  I loved watching this film two years ago and it is one that stuck with me.  I felt that it was the perfect follow-up to yesterday's post.

Please watch and enjoy...

The soundtrack was performed by Dustin O'Halloran, love it and him.  ;)

A Radiant Spirit

Is anyone familiar with the Turia Pitt story?  I wasn't until just a few days ago when someone shared a link on Facebook.  In September of 2011, Turia was running an ultramarathon in Australia when she became trapped in a bush fire.  She suffered burns on more than 60% of her body and even had to have fingers amputated.  The damage to her body was extensive and her recovery entailed countless operations and extensive therapy.  The doctor's have referred to her as a medical miracle as she now is able to live an active lifestyle as she had before... running, hiking, and biking.

I cannot image the physical pain that this young woman endured and probably still does.  What is even more unimaginable is the mental anguish that she endured as well.  What she accredits to her recovery both physical and mental... is her family and friends.  Their support helped willed her to use her positive energy to not give up.  Even more than that, she has used that positive attitude to be thankful for her life.  Instead of feeling pity for herself, she feels that she is lucky and blessed and doesn't want others to feel pity for her either.  Turia is now a motivational speaker and an activist.  

It is a story like this that captures a person's inner radiance.  And despite all of the scars, I can't help but to see a beautiful person on the outside when I see pictures of her.  She has inspired me to not feel pity for her, but the feel too that she is lucky for this new life that she has.  She has found a deeper purpose and has regained a quality of life too.  She also just got engaged!!! to someone who may have an even more radiant spirit than hers.

Turia's fiance is the same boyfriend that she had since before the fire, before the burns, before the change of Turia's physical appearance.  He was there through it all... the very worst and the deepest of the lows.  Turia says that he was her inspiration and he never stopped believing in her even when she couldn't believe in herself.  He is a very handsome man, but to be even more beautiful on the inside... she is a lucky lady.  They both are and I wish them all the best in health and happiness as they continue their lives together.  

To read more about Turia's story you can read it here on Australia's Women's Day or just Google Turia Pitt.  

Peter Lik's "Phantom"(above)  and "Ghost" (below)
I found these to be appropriate for this post, "A Radiant Spirit."

While the Cat's Away...

My son has been at day camp for the past two weeks, leaving me with the most free time that I've ever had since before his time!

Right now, I'm lying on a blanket in Central Park's Sheep Meadow enjoying a gorgeous summer day and soaking up the last couple of hours before my free time is over.

Last week, I was in my hometown and Ewan went to a rustic day camp out there (the same one that I worked at as a teenager).  I filled my days with some shopping, running, and other odd errands.  I visited with my grandmother who at 89 is starting to slow down.  I had lunch with my oldest and dearest friend, Jessica.  It's been a tough couple of years with her going back to school to obtain her doctorate degree along side raising two children and working at the local college.  So we've talked less and less over that time period.  However, whenever we do see (or talk) to one another, we can pick up from wherever we last left off.  The time and the distance though does make it tougher to catch up and we find that we've missed telling each other some rather significant details at times.  But I love her and it was just wonderful to spend some time together without the kids.  The best part though was going golfing for the very first time, with my dad!  The golf part was both horrendous and fun, but it was just cool spending the day with my dad, just the two of us!

This past week I was back in NYC where I have even less free time (unless I buy it with a babysitter).  So I appreciated it greatly, especially since my sister came back with us.  It was great to have a partner in crime in which to explore the city!  Monday we went to DUMBO, The Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central, Bryant Park, The High Line, and a rooftop bar!  We put on alot of miles and went right back to it Tuesday having lunch near Lincoln Center and taking a stroll through Central Park.  I can't remember the last time I have spend such a significant amount of alone time with my sister, if ever.  It was fantastic and more needed than I think either of us realized.  <3

Wednesday morning I found myself at the park running after dropping off Ewan, which made the decision of what to do on this day rather obvious.  Mani-pedi, of course!  Wednesday, I relaxed at home.  I place I hadn't really been in 12 days.  It was fabulous, lol.

Thursday, I finally made my way up to The Bronx and visited the NY Botanical Garden.  I can't believe that I've lived here now for 8 years and had yet to go.  But I did, and now I am a member, lol.  It was nice to be on my own time and to move at my own pace.  I brought my camera and practiced all of the different techniques that I learned (and was beginning to forget) in my photography class this past winter.

And finally, today.  My last day.  I had a good go and it was refreshing to rejuvenating to take off my mom cap for a bit.  I am looking forward to this next week though and spending time again with Ewan.  Time moves so quickly, especially the summer time.  Before I know it, we will be back in the school day routine.

LOL... I really didn't intend on writing a rundown of everything I did for the past two weeks.  Oh well, my mind is enjoying taking a break as well.  I know that I am lucky to be a teacher and to have this time off in the summer as well as to have had this free time for the past two weeks.  We all need some "me" time.  How do you spend your free time (kid-free, husband-free, significant other-free)?  

10 Ways to Make Yourself Feel Happier and Healthier

I came across this article and thought that it was quite good.  You can read it in its entirety here.  However, I will summarize it by listing the 10 ways this article claims will make you feel happier and healthier.

1.  Keep Mornings Calm
On weekends and during summer vacation, I do a decent job of keeping the mornings calm.  On work/school days though, not so much.  It just takes me sooo long to get ready in the morning.  Even when I prepare everything the night before.  I'm just so slow, then I have to do a mad dash to leave on time.  So, this is an area that I would like to improve.  I wish I were a morning person.  I envy those that wake up and go for a run and have breakfast... all with a smile on their face.  So that is something that I am striving to get better at!

2.  Make Time to Move
This area I do quite well in.  If I am not be-bopping around the city with or without my son, I am working out, or... something.  I spend very little time in front of the t.v. (but a tad more on the computer ;))

3.  Eat Real Food
Clean eating... when I put my mind to it, I can do it!  It's just that my mind is not always in it.  I have room to improve here.

4.  Reach for Water
This seems so simple.  Yet, I find this one so difficult!  I can work out daily and follow a strict diet plan, however, drinking 1/2 of my body weight in ounces is the hardest part for me.  It's not even that I am choosing other drinks instead.  Most days, I don't drink a total of my body weight.  I know how important water is for you and how bad it is that I am not drinking.  This is the one that I want to improve on the most!

5.  Listen When Your Body Talks
I am not keen on rushing to the doctor's, but I do try to pay attention to how my body feels and accommodate it accordingly.  It's important to be in-tuned with your body.  You know yourself best!

6.  Love Those Vegetables
And I do!  With a clean eating plan, it is easy to eat the required amount of veggies for the day.  This is such a great time of year as well for getting fresh veggies!  My favorites come from my father's garden.  I'm so psyched because I finally have some outdoor space and have tomatoes and peppers growing, yay!

7.  Invest in Fitness and Health
Between workout programs, shakes, healthy foods and now... natural skin care products, I do!  I even been choosing to spend my money here rather than on clothing, crazy!

8.  Remember to be Grateful
There is little that want or wish for.  And there is no one else's life that I would trade for.  I believe that if I want something, get up and go get it.  I am happy with my life and therefore appreciate all of the many blessings that I have.  

9.  Slow Down to Smile
Sometimes difficult in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of a busy day, but... this ones seems to go hand in hand with being grateful.  We all do need to slow down, take a deep breath, be grateful, and smile!  Life is good.  :)

10.  Rest
I learned this best when I was taking care of my son on my own.  If it meant leaving the laundry until the next day, then I left it.  If it meant, leaving things for the weekend to tackle, I did.  I rested when I needed and didn't overexert myself unnecessarily.  What I do need to improve upon here is going to bed at an earlier time.  Ironically, I go to bed earlier when I am on vacation and don't have to wake early the next day than when I am working.  

This is how I fair in these 10 ways to help improve health and happiness.  My goals:  drink more water, be more consistent in clean eating, and wake up earlier!  What about you?

Mind, then Body

Sticking with the theme of cleanses, I thought that a post about food would be appropriate to follow yesterday's about clutter.  I don't know about you, but my Facebook wall has exploded with meal plans, recipes, and selfies of before and after shots to showcase what clean eating can do for you.

I am a naturally thin person.  I have never had to worry about what I ate, let alone diet.  However, about a year and a half ago I noticed my waistline growing.  I first noticed it right after the holidays, in January, and at first thought that perhaps I ate way more Christmas cookies than I realized.  But by the time March rolled around and I still felt heavy, I knew it wasn't the cookies, it was something more.  I was bloated.  My waistline varied greatly not only from day to day, but even hour by hour.  There were times my belly looked as big as it did when I was 5 months pregnant!  That wasn't okay!
So, I decided to do something about it.

I had the p90x home workout program and loved it!  I felt fantastic after completing it the year before and so I didn't hesitate to buy the newest version, p90x3 to help get myself back to me.  I even added on the Shakeology meal replacement to help with any digestive issues I was having.  Well... I wasn't that impressed with either and I didn't see the results that I did with the original or what everyone else seemed to have that also used this program.

Fast forward to May 2015.  I had ruled out lactose intolerance and a gluten allergy (on my own, why go to a Dr.?) but still felt bloated, not all of the time, but enough where I was not happy with how I looked.  So, I decided to try another Beachbody program, the 21 Day Fix Extreme.  The extreme program was the newest and I wanted the extreme over the original because of the lack of results I saw with the p90x3 program.  Along with this program came a meal plan, a portion controlled extreme plan which consisted of clean eating.  I figured for 21 days, why not?  I gave it my all.

The results?  First, I have to say that I love Autumn, the instructor and creator of the 21 Day Fix.  The workouts were new and fresh and I was sore for 2 weeks straight!  Loved them!  As far as the meal plan went, it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be.  It was doable.  I was never hungry and by the end of the 21 days, my waistline looked like I wanted it to!  I definitely got what I put into the 21 days... literally!  I filled my body with nutritious and healthy food and my body responded by looking healthy and I felt healthy too!  Mentally, that made me feel happy and proud and sexy!

I finished this program about 3 weeks ago and the bloating has not returned.  I wasn't a horrible eater to begin with, that is why it wasn't that difficult for me to do this,  but I am a snacker.  Cutting out those extra sugars made a world of difference though.  Now I just need to find and maintain a balance of healthy eating and enjoying my cake and eating it too every once in a while.

Physical clutter in our surroundings can wreak havoc on our lives in many ways, but our own personal clutter, as in what we put into our bodies can do the same.  Our colon, kidneys, liver, and skin... all work so hard to protect us.  If we help them,  just a bit, that can make a huge impact on how you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.

For me, when I began my journey towards happiness, my first step, as I shared yesterday was to declutter.  It was far easier to declutter my apartment than my mind.  But after I decluttered my physical space, I worked on my mental health.  It wasn't until 2 years later that I felt I was in a healthy enough mental state to move on to the next goal.  That is when I started to workout with the first p90x program.  You need to have a healthy mind first, otherwise you can diet and workout from morning until night and you still won't be satisfied with your results.

It's not about numbers (the scale, your clothes, your waistline).  It's about being healthy... mind and body.  It's about you being the best version of yourself and loving yourself for who you are!