Health

How Regular Exercise Makes My Life So Much Better!

No Comments

It might seem like a bit of a stretch for me to say that getting regular exercise simplifies my life in a big way – but it does. In fact, it makes a huge difference. But first, I want you to know that getting regular exercise is not my natural state of being, and it may not be yours, either. Since I was a little girl, I always preferred curling up inside with a good book, rather than getting outside and being active. My mom intervened and insisted that I join school sports teams. I did, and that taught me the value of getting regular exercise. But I will readily admit that I don’t always stay on the exercise wagon. Oftentimes I’m really disciplined (and I feel great), and sometimes several months will go by with no exercise at all. I can definitely tell the difference when I’m exercising regularly […]

Continue Reading

Mindfulness, Travel

Why I love Havana

5 Comments

Falling in love with Cuba If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive and yet almost transcendent travel experience, head to Havana, Cuba. We visited Havana not long ago, and fell madly in love with the soul of the place – it’s like no other. The juxtaposition of good and bad, light and dark in Havana is on display everywhere: on one hand, there’s the seductive music in the streets, cute 1950s cars, and beguiling, friendly, playful people. And on the other hand – in the same hand – is Cuba’s abject poverty and poignant past, now in crumbling ruins. Havana’s history dates back to the 1500s, and has been variously taken over by the Spanish, French and British – and the gorgeous blend of architecture shows this exotic mix. It reminds me of a crumbling Paris, France or Barcelona, Spain. Indeed, in its heyday, Havana was called the Paris of […]

Continue Reading

Finances, Home

Why I Don’t Let ‘Stuff’ Pile Up

No Comments

Don’t you love it when you’ve finally gotten your home in order? You can step back, take a deep breath, and everything is organized into closet bins and divided drawers. But what happens next? Ugh. It’s so easy for everything to fall apart and pile up again. Why is that? And what can you do to stop it? I’ve mentioned before that I have been a relatively organized person since grade school, but that doesn’t make me a stranger to ‘stuff’. I can remember the stacks of papers, books, mail, and other stuff that littered the dining room table as I grew up. The open floor plan of our house placed the ‘formal’ dining area just inside the entry way and on the way to the kitchen and main family living space of the home. This made the dining room table the perfect dumping ground for everything. I don’t mean […]

Continue Reading

Home

Planning: The Key to Simplicity in the Kitchen

No Comments

I have a love-hate feeling about cooking. After a long day at the office, standing at the stove for another 30 minutes or more is the last thing I want to do. (Disclaimer: I do need to be honest and disclose that more often than not on these long days, my husband makes dinner for us and insists that I relax – aren’t I the luckiest?) We both hate grocery shopping. However, on the more ‘chill’ work nights and weekend evenings, I love the cathartic, almost relaxing feeling I get from being creative in the kitchen. I never really change my mind about grocery shopping, but it must be done! I also love finding delicious, healthy recipes to try. My “tasty goodies” Pinterest board is my most-pinned to, and I add more almost every week. It’s stuffed with yummy recipes. But as many of us know, Pinterest is a hub […]

Continue Reading