Switch it Off

Like many of you, I work to be a good steward of this great earth by becoming increasingly aware of the way my lifestyle choices impact the planet. I feel great about the things my household is doing to support this movement, but the fact is that doing this 100% of the time is not always realistic. To say the least, there is certainly room for improvement in this department of my life, so I get excited when I hear of convenient and affordable ways to make a difference. That's what's great about Earth Hour.

Mark your calendars, tell your friends, family and neighbors to take part in EARTH HOUR this Saturday, March 28th at 8:30 (regardless of time zone). The birth of this day is quite impressive and certainly worthy of mass support. Check out the video below and decide to take part and Switch it off !

View the Official Video

Go On, Have Fun Already

A group of woman met for lunch to discuss their frustration with people who are just too happy, and it went like this...

" I have a friend who is always so excited to share every little thing she reads or hears, but I'm tired of hearing it". Another lady pipes in, "My mom is one of those people who get overly excited talking about a new supplement (the tenth of it's kind) that just leaves her feeling FABULOUS that she forgets she's told me this ten times before," growls another. This woman interrupts eager to tell... "I have a friend who will call me in the middle of the day just to leave a message about something that has her so excited that she can't wait until I get off work to talk about, only to have it be nothing."

The chatter circulated around the table and some point I had left the conversation and gone to that place in my head that I heard myself saying I've done that, and I just did that...oh my gosh, am I one of...and suddenly my attention was drawn the the fact that the conversation had yielded to me. Not having had enough time in my head to draw a conclusion on how I felt about all this, I grinned, shrugged my shoulders and hesitantly admitted to having done all of those things-This week.

So I'm one of those woman who fall head-over-heels in love, talk to my friends and family on the phone every single day(because typing or texting just won't cut it), I get ramped up about any new tidbit of information I learn. Every good meal I enjoy is off-the-charts, and each vacation is the best one I've ever been on in my life. After hearing these woman unable to relate to this excitement, I thought how COULD it be? How could EVERY single thing be SOOO exciting? Am I over-the top?

I've spent some time examining this very thing, and all I come up with is that I Want it to be exciting. We've all heard adults talk about the good-old-days, or the fun they had when they were a younger. My question is this, why does that have to end? While it may make us a bit nervous, we must admit that we all enjoy seeing the child having so much fun that it induces the potty dance, because for a minute we remember what that great fun was like. I think deep down we all want to share in that, we just loose touch with the how.

I enjoy making good fun in my life-even if at times I am that person others see as ridiculously excited. In fact, the next time I find myself at the table with a group of ladies who are unsure about these unorthodox levels of excitement, I've decided on a few suggestions to up their heart rate, and if I'm lucky it may offer them just what they needed to feel tumultuously charged.


Here are just a few that I personally believe will be sure help you accomplish this.


Go skinny dipping with your spouse (for those of you who are unsure about baring it all-keep in mind you are the only naked woman around-and that's hot no matter how you look at it),.

Invite your husband/wife to take dance lessons with you, or just turn on the dance music at home.

Pack a picnic lunch and discover a new feel-good spot in your area to share with your girl friends.

Jump on a trampoline with your kids (may or may not be a good idea-maybe just try hop-scotch).

Plan an travel adventure-go hiking, white water rafting, or zip lining through the jungle.

No matter what it is, it feels good to take time to re-discover things you really enjoy doing, and then to DO THEM often. Abandoning our adult reservations to have some fun is a good reminder of what life is suppose to feel like. So if your not having fun, try it. Who knows, you may enjoy it so much that you find yourself doing the potty dance!

So go on, have fun already!

Recipes for Everyday Life

By nature I am an adventurer, a thrill seeker, someone who thrives on change and new exposure. I love the challenges that come with the unknown and have had to work really hard to keep myself in the here and now.

The experience of travel makes me feel alive. Besides, as a wellness professional I support the claim that a getaway acts as a great antidote for stress, and therefor contributes to overall health (so pitch that one to your boss next time the topic of cutting corporate health care costs arises). But if we're completely honest, for many of us, our desire to travel is in part due to the fact that we live amongst circumstances that we struggle to connect with-I'm working on that, and time away can act as a chance to plug back in and get re-inspired. This is something we could all use from time-to-time. For me, traveling provides an environment that opens me to the space in my being where undeniable shifts take place. There are moments of inspiration, peace, truth and fulfillment, that I recognize as the intended state for my life. The state that my perspective is healthy and makes me willing to answer the callings to be selfless, available, and patient-to be truly alive, and living each day on purpose. Traveling has long been the recipe for accessing this place within myself, and therefor I did it often (perhaps obsessively). I would returned home only to allow every-day life to distract me from being the woman I have the potential to be. I instantly put my focus on the many ways I dislike living in Iowa (and there are MANY), and my lack of connectedness here. This meant it was time to travel! Today I'm working to find this place within myself, right here and now. A place that is independent of geography or circumstance, this translates into AT HOME and this is not going to be easy for me!) My beliefs have me examining my life in ways that I have to admit, are quite uncomfortable.I've always been one to skip steps or opt-out of addressing certain inevitable truths. However, I'm willing address this. For me, this means continually examining what can be done in everyday life to keep me feeling connected. Places of travel simply inspired me to re-connect, and while I will continue to travel, I am going to resolve to create some RECIPES FOR EVERYDAY LIFE that encourage me to be more right here and now. How am I going to do this? By doing what I do best- journeying into the unknown. This time will be a bit different however. Here's the plan...each month I'm going to (perhaps reluctantly) find ways to stretch myself to inspire growth and a sense of connection. If it goes well, I'll serve the lives of others in the process. This will come in many forms-but all must be free of charge. I'm open to the traditional volunteering, (and may warm up this way) but naturally, I'd like to try to be creative and do something different and engaging. So.....I'm open to suggestions and am open to about anything, just keep in mind I have freedom of choice and am disclaiming that right now.

Fresh Catch

Oh how I love good seafood! My husband and I just enjoyed dinner at Waterfront and it made me think to post about their Seafood Market. For those who love seafood as much as we do, the market has seafood flown in fresh each day that you can purchase-but don't think this comes without a price (although cheaper than eating out).

While in Chicago, our good friends took us to their favorite seafood spot-Bob Chinn's, and get this... they have OVERNIGHT EXPRESS that comes right to your door! Now that's a FRESH CATCH!