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I Love to Travel: Cruise Tips

So, we did it. Our first cruise is in the books. It was a short four day venture and, all in all, it was pretty great. We went from South Florida, to further in South Florida in Key West, then to Cozumel, Mexico, a day on the ship and back.

I had never been on a cruise before but there were some things I brought and I was SO GLAD! Want to know what they were? Here you go=)

Sun HatIMG_20180210_233132

I bought said sun hat in Panama. It’s literally the first (and only) sun hat I have ever bought. It’s big and purple and I love it. Plus, it worked great for the cruise. The last day we spent on the back of the ship, tanning, reading and drinking and without that hat I would have left the cruise with a sunburned face. Instead, I left golden brown face.

Scarf

I have the most beautiful, soft, Persian scarf and this, too, was perfect for the trip. Not only is it gorgeous, cashmere, and an amazing accessory. It’s also huge, warm and doubled as a great extra but also a sometimes needed (warm) shoulder cover up.

Rope or Necklace (Holder) for Your Ship Card

Little did I know we would have to have a card to do everything on the ship. Order food? Need your card. Drinks Where’s your card? Want to leave the ship or get back on? Card. Get a shoelace necklace, rope or chain to wear your card. So much easier and then you always have it with you.

Ginger or Peppermint Oil Peppermintoil

Even if you think your tummy is good, if you’ve never been on a cruise, bring something to tame your tum! I always have peppermint oil on me (or at least in some form because the allergy oil blend I use has peppermint in it) so that is good. I also have been eating crystallized ginger since I was a child..it was my Grams go to for anything tummy.

Sunscreen

Make SURE you have sunscreen. I mean, you can spend 3 times as much on board to buy some if you want, but you WILL need it. On the ship, on excursions, and any time your outside slather it on. The ship gives you ample opportunity to get in your Vitamin D, but if you’re not careful, you’ll get a lot more than that.

Literally having these things (minus anything for my card) helped so much. I was really thankful I thought to bring these items and I know they helped me to enjoy myself to the fullest.

Anything I missed? I hope you are taking the time to enjoy this life, too, and get out and do new things when you can! XOXO

 

How To Make Pumpkin at Home for All Your Fall Favorites (Starting with Pumpkin Seeds)

Pumpkin Spice or Apple Cinnamon, forever the Fall debate. Our house is both, I’m #teamapple and Nick, #teampumpkin.

But just because I don’t love (or really even like pumpkin) doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the season. In fact, I love Fall. But here in South Florida, we’re lucky if it “feels” like fall by January. So anyhow, we do fall things while overheated and sweating instead of in flannel. Such is life.

Back to it. Let’s make pumpkin! It’s easy to do and eating fresh pumpkin is beyond healthful. Here’s how and a recipe for those seeds:

How to Make (Bake) Pumpkin at Home

  1. First, cut out the stem and discard. IMG_20171007_082515 (1)
  2. Next cut it in half. (If you have a problem cutting all the way through it, you can pull the pieces apart at the end.)
  3. Next, take out the guts. Yes, this is the gross part. But you can roast the seeds and yum, you should.
  4. In a glass pan, place the pumpkin halves and 1/4″ water, flesh
    IMG_20171007_085239
    Ready for the oven

    side down, and bake for 1 1/2 hours at 375 degrees. You know when it’s done because the skin is a little burnt and the you can easily pierce the inside with a fork. (It should be a mashable texture.) Let cool.

  5. From here, you scoop out the insides, separating flesh from skin and mash it. (Use a food processor or a masher for this.) Prepared pumpkin lasts 6-8 months in the fridge and can be frozen too, for the off season.

Homemade Baked Pumpkin Seeds

You know those nasty guts you just pulled out of the pumpkin? Well those seeds, those seeds are yummy. Here’s how to clean them up and prep them for the oven:
IMG_20171007_083223

  1. First, rinse them in a strainer. Try to get most of the orange pumpkin slime off, but honestly, a little is good IMG_20171007_090855for flavor.
  2. Next, lay them out on a baking sheet that’s covered in parchment paper. (Pumpkin seeds are very sticky.)
  3. Let dry for several hours, overnight if you can.

 

Sweet Pumpkin SeedsIMG_20171008_094646

  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon coconut sugar (or vegan preference)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

For baking, again line a piece of parchment paper to the bottom of the pan. In a bowl, combine the pumpkin seeds, oil, and seasonings. Add the pumpkin seeds to the lined pan and cook at 300 for about 30 minutes.

For Pumpkin Pie-Spiced Pumpkin Seeds, click the link. Yay, Fall!

Like this recipe? Check out my other books, and watch for more to come!

Want a paperback copy? Reply in the comments and I’ll send you one!

Don’t Forget To Follow Your Dreams

Remember when you were little and all around you, you were told you could be whatever you wanted to be? Well, let me tell you something. You still can.

I’m not saying it’s easy and I’m not saying to go spend every last dollar you have, but please, don’t forget to get out there and live!

About a year ago I found myself in the middle of jobs and feeling a little frustrated. I needed to feed my soul, not just my bank account. So (with the help and support of my hubby,) I did.

I had already been blogging a bit and it came easy to me. I like to talk so I have a lot to downloadsay and rather then blab to Nick all day, I started writing and sharing. It wasn’t easy and it didn’t come right away, but soon I had secured my very first, remote, freelance writing position! I still write for this 80s website in which I started and will write about the 90s too, come this fall.

I find myself working four (part-time) positions, and I couldn’t feel better about it. You see, I never wanted (nor excelled) in a 40 hour work week, at the same job. I always preferred multiple endeavors (and income streams) and it turns out, nothing has changed.

But all the sudden. I work from home, with a schedule that’s mine to make, and (almost) more work then I know what to do with. And well this may not be your dream, I just want to encourage you to remember YOUR dream. And make it happen.

imagesHow do you do this? Well, you have to figure out what it is you want. What do you love to do? What do you do everyday, “work day” or not? What makes you smile? Laugh? What do you loathe? Dig deep and make sure to be honest with yourself.

Find ways to indulge your soul. Do more of what you love. Want a new job but don’t know where to start? Do something on your own, at home or whenever you have time, unpaid, and dive in. If you start a blog, make sure to post more than once a week. Want to become a personal trainer? Talk to someone at your gym and see what they have to say. You can further your education with free online courses (some even taught by Harvard!) Whatever you do, remember this is your life. Don’t waste it.

The thing is, for me, I laugh at myself. Why? Well, everyday, I like to write, cook, and workout. The weekdays are filled with this (and tapings.) But then, so are the weekends. I find myself always wanting to do these things whether it is a workday or weekend day. A holiday or vacation. For instance, I’m on a train in Norway, right now, on vacation. And what do I do? Write.

As for my other jobs, because I know you’re wondering, here you go.

  1. I write for LT80s (liketotally80s.) Like I said, it’s remote (from anywhere I want) and freelance, making it fit into my life, my way. Also, starting in the fall, I will be writing for the same boss for another website he’s procured, noduh90s. As an 80s baby and a 90s kid, both of these writing gigs are nostalgic and fun.
  2. I work as a mystery shopper for A Closer Look. This job is too fun, fully reimbursed, sometimes includes a bonus, and includes write offs. The company has “shops” all over the US and even into Canada. Taking in a great meal, visiting the dentist, or even having a drink at the bar are all things that you can do with this company. Love it.
  3. I work for Trust Review Network. This job sends me products (again, fully reimbursed) to try out and write a review on. If you share it, you make more money. If you tape yourself doing a video, you make more money. In a couple of months, if they are happy with my work, I will make more money. Pretty awesome, huh?
  4. I test recipes for HelloFresh. As a part of their taste makers program, I am sent recipes to test and try (most of which I already have the ingredients for as I am an avid foodie and cook) and then I complete a short, concise survey, and I’m done.

Oh, and did I forget my blog? I guess that’s five jobs. Not to mention I have written four self-published (mostly cookbooks) in the past year as well.

So, that’s that I guess. And the thing is, since starting vacation (a little over a week ago,) I have received next to no work emails, stressed phone calls, or anything. It has been over IMG_20170821_125717two years since both Nick and I have taken a non-work vacation, and it’s a true and honest vacation this time. What a blessing.

But here we are, on the train, working. Haha. Happy Monday!

Want to see my books? Check them out!

Want a paperback copy? Reply in the comments and I’ll send you one!

Healthy Travel Tips: Tip Two

IMG_20170604_173802Have a salad each day for a meal.

I know, soup and salad is my favorite so it’s easy for me to say that. But salads are really tasty and so healthful for you!

To round out your meal, order a side of chicken wings or fruit. Want more reasons why salads are the best meal around, here’s six:

  1. Salads are full of vegetables, making them one of the healthiest things you can eat.
  2. Salads can be vegetarian, paleo, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and more, so you can add them to every day eating for everybody.
  3. Salads can be topped with just about anything from lean protein to fruit.
  4. Salads are full of fiber and therefore great for digestion.
  5. Salads are ethnically diverse so you can have a Greek Salad one day and an Italian Salad the next.
  6. Salads are delicious.

Maybe number six should have been number 1 because salads are so yummy! At any rate, this tip is easy to do and will help you feel your best, whether busy at home or on the go traveling.

Watch for more travel tips on my blog and my new (healthy tips) book, coming soon!

In between meals, I make sure to have healthy, grabable snacks on hand all the time. Here are some of my favorites:

These are like healthy fruit roll ups, but flat. I could eat these everyday.

Just yum.

Healthy Traveler’s Tips: Tip One

Take advantage of healthy options offered around you (sometimes they’re even free!) If you’re staying at a hotel, look for healthy snacks and drinks that are provided.

Fresh Fruit 

Bananas and apples are often complementary during a hotel stay. Usually these are found in the hotel lobby or gym. It’s (literally) easy to grab and will last a few days sans refrigeration, making it a perfect on the go pick.

20161023_110315Bananas and apples are great “pre-workout” foods too. Grab a piece of fruit, lace up your shoes, and head outside to explore.

4 Reasons To Eat An Apple/Banana Each Day:

  • Both fruits are very nutrient dense foods with lots of vitamins and minerals. They will fill you up with good for your body carbs.
  • These fruits make great snacks. Their goodness provides the vitamins and minerals that help your body run at its best.
  • Did you know these fruit give a caffeine-free energy boost? Because of their easy to digest carbs, apples and bananas fuel your body almost as fast as you consume them.
  • Eating naturally high fiber foods is the best way to keep fiber in your diet. The fiber improves your gastrointestinal health too.

Drinks

Hot water for tea, coffee, and water are sometimes complementary as well. The coffee, tea and hot water are located in or near the lobby. And for chilled water, most hotel gyms have a water cooler or at least a bubbler. (For non-Wisconsinites, a water fountain LOL.)275px-A_small_cup_of_coffee

Some hotels have fruit water too. If not, limes, lemons, grapefruits, and oranges travel well, so if you like flavored water, keep some around so that you can have fruit water whenever you want.

Healthful living is possible whether you are constantly on the go or a constant homebody. Watch for more healthy tips and tricks to come!

Want healthy delicious snacks to keep in your purse or pocket? Here are a few of my favs!

 Lara Bars are delicious and their flavor is spot on!

 This popcorn is soy free and GF. You’ll love it.

 

 

5 Workout Tips For The Beginner

Working out is great for your mind, body and soul, and my favorite stress reliever. If you don’t have a regimen or want to get started, this can be a great way to go.

Tip 1: Stretchimages

Make sure that you feel limber each day – especially if you are working out or feeling tight. Neck, back, and core moves are a great start. Even leaning side to side and twisting can help. Keep everything moving each day for an all over good feeling in the body.

Tip 2: Walk

imagesWalking starts young and continues into old age for most of us. If you start taking a walk daily, it can be such a great way to get into the rhythm of a daily workout..it can even be a great workout in itself. Long distance treks on flat land and getting in some hilly walking or hiking is great too. You use different muscles for each movement and are sure to start scorching some calories.

Tip 3: Body Weight Workouts

Body weight workouts are a must, even for runners or lifters. When you are starting out, body weight workouts begin to train your muscles and prepare them to be used on a regular basis. Planks, push ups, squats and lunges are some of the best moves. Watch for my body weight circuits to come out for some great routines!

Tip 4: Stop If It Hurts

In my opinion, there is no validity to the phrase, “No pain, no gain,” so just don’t. I am all for pushing yourself and setting goals but if you are hurting or just feeling wiped out, call it a day. You can (and should) come back tomorrow to give it another try.

Tip 5: Be consistent!

With work, schedules, life, relationships, friendships, kids, events and the daily’s, life is busy! It can be such a struggle to find time for the necessities of life much less adding in time to do something more or different, but for a workout, you just have to! Making time for activity in your day, whether it be a walk or a full hour in the gym, is essential. Keeping on the move and staying active is so important. Consistency is the most effective way to create a workout pattern in your everyday.

Final Thought

The most important part of staying active is to move in ways that you enjoy daily. Do what feels good and makes you happy. That way you can be consistent with it and it will feel like you were always a regular when it comes to working out. Good luck!