Where I live, the summer time is hot, real hot, so hot that it drains the motivation right out of you and all that you want to do is hide in a dark room with the AC on high...
Summer time for me is always a last ditch effort to get back into shape so that when I don the board shorts at the pool and on my vacations not everyone will run away. So, my conundrum right now is how do I stay in shape during this 110 degree weather...
I've decided to share with you 4 items from my secret plan to retreat into my air conditioned lair for the next couple weeks and then emerge pumped up and ready to flex. (or something like that)
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It's time to break out the sunscreen, do a few crunches and get ready for a summer vacation, but where will you go? Do you have a summer travel plan yet? I do.
This summer, Sara and I are going to hit the road for a "one way" road trip. This is a cool idea that I have been hearing about lately, and I am excited to give it a try! Here's how it works, you rent a car, drive as far as you want, drop the car off at the airport, and fly home. This way, you get to enjoy the benefits of sightseeing, exploring many destinations, and hitting the open road but don't have to sacrifice added time on the road or extra driving for the return trip!
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I am addicted to my iPhone. I got it about 6 months ago and I was sure that the initial awe would where off by now but it hasn't...I use it for everything; it has become my go to device. No more laptop, no more iPod, no more digital camera, just the iPhone...When I cook, I Google the recipe, when I hear a song I like, I point at it and download it, when I run, I track my speed, distance and route.
So, you can imagine that when I travel, my iPhone is involved. I was thinking today about how "smart phones" are changing the way we travel. There are GPS apps with turn by turn directions, Apps for flight details, apps to handle entire travel itineraries and apps for just about anything else you can imagine. Below are a few apps that I marvel at every time I hit the road, hope you like them.
6 iPhone apps that I love when I'm on the move:
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If wearing blades on your shoes and swinging two axes as you climb frozen waterfalls and vertical walls of ice sounds fun read on... oh yeah, don't worry that the one rope that is protecting your life is right in the path of the very blades you yield.
If you are still reading, congratulations and welcome to the world of ice climbing. The word extreme doesn't do justice to this sport, but the truth is, it is very possible to be safe, have fun, and enjoy the thrill that can be had from scaling the temporary vertical playgrounds that winter annually produces.
If you have never been ice climbing but always wanted to know more about this elite sport, here is a great place to "break your boots in." (Just be warned, this is an extremely addictive activity with only one cure, more climbing.)
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It is time to get into shape! The holidays swept into town, tempted me with treats and the good life; we hung out, had a great time, and then they left, leaving my workout routine and discipline in ruins. I'm now 15 pounds heavier and have been thrown coldly back into reality where I remember that I used to be on a mission to lose weight, not gain it.
So, now it is time to refocus and commit. I don't do gyms (can't stand the scene), and I get bored just going for a run, so I need a workout that I can do anywhere, any place, any time... and quickly. I like workouts that don't require anything but shoes (by the way, you can do all these on the road in your hotel room).
Here are three things that I am doing to shed pounds and tone muscle that are simple, fast, and can be done anywhere, anytime. These should be great all your road warriors and avid travelers, because nothing (except the holidays) screws up your routine like constant travel.
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As the days tick away and the holidays approach, I still have a lot of shopping to do, but for once I am not stressed. Every year I hunt for the perfect gift, and then at the last minute I panic and get something that my mom, dad, sister, or significant other really won't want/need. Not this year though. This year, I have a plan. I'm going to buy them all some travel.
Let me explain...
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We are hearing a lot about the Swine Flu and other sicknesses right now, and with the holiday travel season, cold weather, and family gatherings, it is important to do what we can to stay healthy. I'm no "germaphobe," but I also am determined to avoid getting sick this season.
With all of the traveling, airports, cab rides and family dinners with my cousin James (who will inevitably have strep throat or something else terrible) I've formed a plan of action for how to keep my immune system strong throughout this holiday season.
Here it goes:
Drink water. I used to get so mad at my father when he would tell me this but now that I know the science behind it, I get it... Germs try to enter your body through the mouth and nose, your body creates mucus to help keep them out... If you don't drink water, you can't create mucus... end of discussion.
Clean hands. Your hands touch an awful lot of surfaces every day, and they also touch your eyes, mouth, nose etc... So keep them clean, and try not to touch your face too much. Wash those puppies like there is no tomorrow, keep a little bottle of sanitizer with you if you have to!
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In the "spirit" of Halloween, I decided to do a little research into old Ghost Towns around the country. I naturally assumed that there would be plenty in the old, Wild West, but was surprised to see that there is a spattering of ghost towns all across the United States. There were so many to choose from with incredibly interesting stories, but I going to focus on three.
I'll start with Dudleytown, Connecticut; hidden among three smaller mountains in the Appalachian Mountains. Many people know of the town because of the haunted forest nearby. Dudleytown was never a thriving metropolis, far from it. At the height of its day in the early 1800's, the town supported 26 families. During the Civil War, the families that survived the small pox and yellow fever supplemented their farming by cutting and burning wood for charcoal to sell to surrounding communities. Dudleytown is reportedly not known as haunted, rather that the whole area is possessed by demonic forces having the most active paranormal activity in the world. Evidently a curse was brought from England over to the town by the founders and caused the residents to lose their minds and commit murder among other things. Today ghosts, poltergeists and dark creatures roam the area. It must be true because Dan Aykroyd from the movie "Ghostbusters" has called it the "scariest place on Earth".
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Lately, it seems that every time I sit down to eat someone is asking "is the food local?" Where do you get your tomatoes? Are apples in season right now?
Not long ago, price ruled the market, and people just wanted to get their produce, fruit and meat for the lowest price... but, things are changing, and fast!
Where it was once "cool" to not eat your veggies, it is now "hip" to not only eat your veggies, but grow them too... or at least know where they come from. The garden is cool again, understanding seasons is in and eating exclusively local meals is the bees knees.
Why?
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I was out for a mountain bike ride the other day with a friend and I had an epiphany.
I hadn't been on my bike since I had my accident and as I rode down a steep single-track trail, the movements and techniques I used to know started to flood my mind. I had started the day off quite cautiously but as these memories of riding came back I felt myself let go and "enjoy the ride." I had remembered how to "find the line."
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If you enjoy the thrill of cliff jumping into deep water, rock climbing, or any combination of these two activities, read on.
I'm a baby when it comes to rock climbing in the heat. When the temperatures rise up into the mid 80's and beyond, I lower and call it a season. There are however, a few exceptions to this yearly summer climbing hiatus. One exception is deep water soloing, a summer activity that is quickly gaining popularity and for a good reason. It combines the challenge and thrills of climbing with the excitement and anticipation of cliff jumping.
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Truth is, most dogs do well with cars... but not all dogs. My dog used to be a terror on wheels, he hated the car. Every time we would get in he would do everything that he could to clamor his way from the backseat to the front and sit on my lap while I drove. He would be shaking with fear and not very excited about the objects flying by. At first, I thought that his sitting in my lap was cute, but once he grew and gained some weight, not so cute!
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Have you been putting off that much needed trip to Mexico where countless beach destinations and a culture rich in history is just waiting to be explored? Well, the waiting is over. On May 15, the U.S. Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted the warning against non-essential travel to Mexico due to the swine flu outbreak.
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If you're like me, you can't wait to get home from work, and you can't wait for the weekends. It's not that I hate my job; it's that I love my dog.
I have a big happy golden retriever. He sits at home and waits for me all day while I work, and every day when I come home, I see his face in the window. He runs in circles for about 5 minutes moaning and saying his hellos as his whole body wags from side to side. Trust me; it's a pretty great welcome home after a hard day.
Needless to say, when the weekend rolls around, it's play back time. We take runs, hang out at the dog park, and he comes along in the car everywhere we go. On Fridays, he is extra happy to see me and on Monday morning, he hangs his head and sits by the door. There is no doubt in my mind that he understands the weekly work cycle, but, weekends belong to him, and I plan accordingly.
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