Ways To Spoil Yourself On A Budget

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There is no shame in spoiling yourself every once in a while. Especially when you have kids, you need to find time to focus on you. Forget about everything else and relax and unwind, even if it is only for a few hours. You deserve it. After all it is your life too and without a little ‘me time,’ who are you? Pampering and treating yourself doesn't need to cost a fortune. Here are some ideas when you are on a budget:

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The 3 Best Rated Nutritional Diets for 2020

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There are always new "diets" coming out promising all sorts of positive health effects, but which ones actually work and have proven results? In an ocean of fad diets, it’s important to understand which diets are actually worth pursuing, what benefits you can actually achieve by following them, and which are the most effective at helping you achieve your objectives (healthier eating, lose weight, etc.).

While I am not a big fan of the word "diet" because I think it conjures up people depriving themselves of the foods they love. I am using the word here for lack of a better term. I'm using the word diet to refer to a way of eating that works for your lifestyle and your moral values. 

Here are the top 3 diets in 2020 as rated by a panel of health experts in the USA.

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In Defense of Taking a True Vacation (And Why The Blog Has Been Quiet)

Two weeks ago we embarked on our annual vacation to Captiva Island, Florida. We own a timeshare through Hilton Grand Vacations at South Seas Island Resort, and every 45th week of the year, we head to Captiva and stay in the same townhouse (we don't have flexibility in our timeshare the way many others do, but we like it that way). Being tied down to a particular week each year forces us to (and guarantees that we will) take a vacation. But is it a vacation if we are working while we are away?

This is a question I pondered extensively while I was away. One day while sitting at the pool, I saw two different people with their laptops propped up on their laps, typing away feverishly with a fruity cocktail at their side. My own husband opened his laptop at least 3 times per day to check and respond to emails. While I didn't take a true vacation this time around, I did learn the value of stepping away from work to recharge and refresh.

As an independent contractor, I don't get paid when I am not working. So for me to miss out on 10 days of work isn't feasible. Unfortunately, I have to fill some of my vacation time with billable hours to clients. It's just the nature of my job and the industry I work in. Fortunately, because I work in social media, when I am "off", I tend to do less social media in my personal life. It was on this vacation that I posted on Instagram less, had zero desire to share every detail of my vacation with my followers, and was reminded how important this quality time away with my family really is.

Vacations are just that...vacations. They are a vacation from work, from the domesticity of home life (cooking, cleaning, etc.), from the daily grind that keep us moving forward. Vacations are a time to slow down, to appreciate that our jobs give us the opportunity to take a vacation, and to re-charge so that when we return home, we have a renewed desire to get back to our daily lives.

When we returned, I had every intention of jumping right back in to the blog head first. But I still wasn't quite motivated, and the last thing I want to do is to bring you content that isn't coming from my heart and soul. In addition to all that, I've been dealing with a persistent cough that has lasted almost two months. I've been back and forth to my general practitioner who has been wonderfully patient with me as we try all sorts of medications and options. Some days I feel great, and others not so much. On those off days, I've tried to take it easy and rest in hopes of speeding up my recovery.

Finally, after two months of coughing and endless journaling of my symptoms, I think I've finally figured out that it could be exercise-induced asthma. Anyone else have it? My symptoms flare up just after exercising and take hours to work through my system. By the time I'm feeling better, it's time to work out again. Hopefully, he can prescribe an inhaler to see if it alleviates and eliminates my symptoms.

But for now, I am back and ready to dive right in. The busy holiday season is coming up, and I'm excited for lots of good holiday content and much more good stuff to come. Thanks for sticking around and for your support. So many of you emailed me asking if everything is okay since the blog was quiet, and I truly appreciate your concern. xx

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Playing Favorites: ShopRite's Wholesome Pantry Snacks

This post was written in partnership with ShopRite Stores.

I'm taking a detour from the regular format of Playing Favorites this month to spotlight a particular brand of food products that I am loving. Ever since I attended a luncheon where Robyn O'Brien was a speaker, I've been on a mission to eat cleaner, healthier. I was so inspired by O'Brien that I came home from the luncheon and swiftly took stock of my pantry and refrigerator contents. Although I didn't toss every bag item in there, I was forced to examine my family's eating preferences and decided to make positive changes.

Eight years ago, most organic foods were of the produce variety. Slowly over the years, more mainstream grocery items (cereals, snacks, soups, etc.) are now available in organic varieties. When ShopRite reached out to me offering a package of a sampling of its Wholesome Pantry line of organic snack products, I was only more than happy to give them a try.

I am certainly no stranger to the Wholesome Pantry line of products. ShopRite is my go-to grocery store, and I've been thrilled with the Wholesome Pantry products since ShopRite debuted them in 2016. To see some of my favorite post-workout Wholesome Pantry snacks, click here.

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How I Stay Healthy & Fit While On Vacation

This week I am enjoying a week long vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware with my sisters and their families. While this vacation means a break from work and all the other domestic obligations of home, it doesn't mean a break from my normal exercise routine. Exercise is just as important to me when on vacation as it is when I am not since my eating habits are often more haphazard and relaxed when I am away. For me, vacation is no reason to check my healthy habits at the door. In fact, it's even more of a reason to keep them intact and make them a priority.

Here are the ways I stay healthy and fit while on vacation:

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Augmenting Your Looks: 4 Most Popular Types of Plastic Surgery

Most of us want to look our best at all times and often turn to plastic surgery to achieve that goal. This is true for men and women alike, as more men are now opting to undergo procedures to change their appearance for the better. Yesterday I wrote about the reasons cosmetic surgery could have a positive impact on your life. Today, we are taking a look at commonly requested procedures and what each involves.

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4 Reasons Cosmetic Surgery Could Positively Change Your Life

As I am nearing my 52nd birthday (it's less than 4 months away), cosmetic surgery has been on my mind. Having cosmetic surgery is never a decision to take lightly. Whether you are considering a non-invasive procedure such as injectables or something more in depth such as breast augmentation, the outcome of your surgery can change your life forever for the good or for bad. Right now, I'm merely considering a few injectables to combat fine lines and wrinkles. I've been talking to friends who have had similar procedures, and everyone has only awesome things to say about what cosmetic surgery can do for you in addition to improving your physical appearance.

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Is Becoming a Family Caregiver Right for You?

In a recent poll, 90% of seniors said they wanted to remain in their homes and communities for life. Seniors dislike the idea of spending their last days in nursing homes or hospitals, which they consider impersonal. In addition, those who remain in their homes tend to enjoy better overall health. Unfortunately, many cannot afford professional at-home care so adult children often become their caregivers.

My husband's cousin is slowly recovering from Pacemaker surgery and is in the early stages of dementia. Since my husband is the family member who is the most local to his cousin (his 4 children live out of state, and one of them is all the way in San Francisco), some of the care has fallen on my husband although they do have in-home care for him.

Yesterday the Hubs' cousin's daughter-in-law was in town for a quick visit. We made plans to catch up with each other at the beach. We only had about two hours to chat, and much of our conversation revolved around care for her father-in-law and how it's been a struggle for his children to agree on the best course of action. She is a nurse and brought up a few excellent points that I thought I'd share since many of us are getting to the age where we are caring for aging parents.

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How to Manage Your Pregnancy Like a Pro

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This week Emma turns 17. I've been doing a lot of reflecting on how quickly the years have passed since her birth and thinking about what was going on with me during my pregnancy. There's a lot that I forget, but there's so much that you remember about being pregnant, especially the conflicting feelings of excitement and trepidation.

It's got me thinking of all the ways I managed my pregnancy and prepared for a life that would never be the same (in a good way, of course!) To make the most out of your time being pregnant and preparing for your baby, you will have to start looking after number one. That would be YOU! Getting regular health checks, making sure that you get all the extra vitamins and minerals your body needs to support the growing life, and managing your hormonal balance and mental health are essentials to your well being during pregnancy. Here are a few other ways I handled the physical and mental changes of preparing for a new baby.

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3 Cute Workout Outfits To Motivate You To Exercise

We've all been there: we go to bed at night excited to get up in the morning to workout. But when morning comes and you pick out your outfit for the gym, that excitement turns to dread when you realize that your workout clothes just aren't doing it for you anymore.

You can bet that every time I have a fun new pair of pants, a crisp new top, and bouncy new kicks, I am ready and eager to hit the conveyer belt on the treadmill, the steps on the Stairmaster, the pedals for a spin class.

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5 Ways To Love Your Workouts

It's been 2 years since I've started exercising regularly and consistently. Prior to turning 50, I started hitting the gym 4 times per week, and varying my routines. I started jogging, doing yoga regularly, and dipping my foot into different group exercise classes to see what I liked. After a few months, I had accidentally happened upon a consistent workout routine, and I was hooked. Today, almost 2 year laters, I am regularly hitting the the gym, sometimes 6 times per week, and have let go of my fear that everyone else there is better, fitter, thinner, and stronger than I am.

Building on the mistakes I've made in the past and how I hope to keep the momentum going in the future, I've put together this list of easy tips I use for establishing a love-love relationship with your workouts.

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Three Ways To Live A Healthier Lifestyle

It was during my forties that I turned my focus to living a healthier lifestyle. My 20s and 30s were pretty carefree as far as my health goes. I was young and reckless and didn't think too much about taking the best care of myself. But now that I am in my fifties, I can't be as careless about my health. I have to prioritize exercising, eating right, and self-care. Here are the 3 ways I focus on a healthier lifestyle in mid-life.

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3 Healthy and Delicious Smoothie Bowl Recipes To Kickstart 2019

New year. New you. Amiright? That's all great and good, but how exactly do you get there? Taking the first step is overwhelming. Eating right, exercising regularly, practicing mindfulness. It's all so daunting.

I'll be the first to admit that from Halloween until New Year's Eve, it's a slippery slope. Lots of food and lots of booze makes for a not so favorable situation come January 1st. In addition to my regular exercise routine, I like to add in a few detox recipes that nourish my liver to rid me of toxins and help jumpstart my digestive system to help me reach my health goals.

A friendly recently shared her love of Reveri frozen treats with me, and at first, I was skeptical. It's been hard to find a non-dairy ice cream that I've loved whether I'm eating it alone or adding it to my favorite smoothies. She let me try it alone and she made a smoothie with it. One taste, and I was hooked.

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How To Make Time For Mindfulness Over The Hectic Holiday Season

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With just a couple of weeks left in the year and just over a week to go until Christmas day, a lot of us will be winding down for the holidays over the coming days…at least in theory. Many of us (especially those in the gig economy) will be rushing to finish year-end work projects and holiday shopping and preparation before the holidays. Christmas shopping these days is like a dress-rehearsal for the stage production of Battle Royale. 

In this backdrop of noise, movement, chaos, confusion and inevitable mess, it’s important for all of us to afford ourselves a little time to come back to center. To reorganize our minds and rise above the chaos and calamity. Here are some ways I do exactly that:

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How to Care For Your Health as You Age

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Last year when I turned 50, I made a pact with myself to take better physical care of myself and to prioritize self-care (everything from skin care to clean eating). Aging is inevitable, and it's only natural that our bodies go through a process of wear and tear. While I can't stop that process, I can take steps to delay it.

I approach my health more in the context of going on vacation, in that I know I only have a limited amount of time to enjoy my trip, and as a result, I squeeze the most out of it. We often become complacent and live as if we are going to be around forever. Unfortunately, we aren't but you can extend your life span by staying in good health. My mantra is always "prevention is better than a cure."

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Tips For Dealing With Common Childhood Ailments

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As a parent, seeing your child in pain will be one of the worst things you can be put through. Their    discomfort becomes your discomfort, especially when there isn’t much that can be done about it. Thankfully, nowadays, it’s rare that you’ll find a medical condition without some sort of solution. 

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Tips To Help You Get Through Tough Times

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Life isn't always going to be hearts, rainbows, and sunflowers. Everyone hits bumps in the road whether it is your job, your home life, or even problems with family. It's important to remember that you are not alone. Everyone at some point or another is bound to go through difficult times or already has. Last month when my husband's sister passed away suddenly, I found myself experiencing a roller coaster of emotions and feelings. I felt helpless and hopeless, at times. But taking a step back, and paying attention to yourself during these times is one of the best things you can do.

Here are a few of the ways I was able to come out on top of the situation:

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5 Things Every Healthy Home Needs

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Now that the kids are back to school, one thing is certain. They will come in contact with thousands of germs on a daily basis. What seems like a little sniffle could easily turn into a full blown cough and cold within a few days. Thanks for modern technology, there are hundreds of devices and gadgets which can be used to improve and create a safe and healthy home for your children whether they are toddlers or teenagers. Here is a short list for a few items you should consider buying to insure your family stays well and good all winter long.

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5 Tips For Loving Your Workouts

It's been 18 months since I made the commitment to get into a regular a fitness routine. When I turned 49, I became hyper aware of my midlife status and rather than dread getting older, I decided to embrace it. My first step was getting to the gym and learning to love my workouts.

Building on the mistakes I've made in the past and what I had hoped to accomplish in the future, I've put together this list of easy tips for establishing a love-love relationship with your workouts.

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Tips For Dealing With and Preventing Hearing Loss

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In the current age of being plugged in to our phones, tablets, and other electronic devices 24/7, it's not surprising to hear that hearing loss is on the rise. Our devices have replaced radios and TVs, and the majority of us do our listening with earbuds, which means our hearing is likely being compromised. Nobody likes to be told that they have experienced some hearing loss, but the truth is that it is fairly common.

If you're experiencing partial hearing loss, your first concern is most likely that you want to avoid experiencing complete hearing loss. There are plenty of steps you can take to ensure that you look after your hearing when you have been told you've had some hearing loss.

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