Grow Up

February 1, 2022 No Comments

My husband sent me an article called “3 Signs You Are Growing Old Instead of Growing Up” from one of the subscriptions he gets from All Pro Dad. All Pro Dad is a great website for inspiration on how to deal with different situations with your children. Although the website focuses more on men (and dads in particular), I think it can be read by all. We are all growing older, every day. So what do we want to do with our lives going forward? What are our goals for the remainder of our lives? And once we achieve them do we just stop or chase another dream or goal? Or are we satisfied and become complacent? How can we grow up instead of just growing old?

“A good way to grow up instead of growing old is to get out of your comfort zone.”

The quote above says it all. No matter how old or young you are, get out of your comfort zone. Try something new or scary. Be willing to take the leap of faith. Do what you are passionate about. Show your children, your family, or your friends that you are willing to try something that may make you uncomfortable. Grow your soul.

I have a friend who cannot swim. She is afraid of the water but she has put herself out of her comfort zone several times. She enjoys being on the water on a boat and even has a trip planned to spend six days on a catamaran sailing the British Virgin Islands. I am so proud and excited for her. If she wasn’t willing to put herself out there (with a lifejacket of course), she would miss out on the most beautiful waters and sites of the islands. How fun is that?

Jeff and I try to keep our relationship alive and young by complementing each other, staying active, and eating healthy. We want to stay sexy for each other, stay active and athletic so we can leap out of our comfort zone as we get older. We want to be able to try new things like skiing (for me), scuba diving (for us both), or hiking no matter how old we are in years. The more active we stay, the more active we can be as we age. If we become complacent in our lifestyle, those things may not be as easy, and we may not be as motivated to try new things. And anyone who knows me knows I have FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), so I definitely don’t want to grow old!

Wherever you are in your life, don’t be afraid to try new things. Pray on it. Make a list of pros and cons. Get out there and live. Life is too short. Be an inspiration for your partner. Be an inspiration for your children and grandchildren. Get out there and grow up, not old!

Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash

In Fitness and Nutrition

Insecurity

January 18, 2022 No Comments

“The American Psychological Association reports that insecurity is multifaceted. It pertains to an overall sense of uncertainty or anxiety about your worth, abilities, skills, and value as a person, conveying the message that you’re at risk or in danger of something or someone. That negative impact of insecurity could be physical, mental, or emotional. Without security, you can’t accomplish full trust or function to your fullest potential.”

Why do we have insecurity? Are we influenced by outside factors? Is there a way to feel more confident about relationships, our looks, our bodies, our talents, our jobs, and our material goods? Why are we so negative to ourselves? And how do we overcome it? Check out this website.

I try to be a positive person, and I try to count my blessings for all that I have in life and for all the amazing people I have met. But sometimes insecurity creeps in, and I feel anxious, sad, hopeless, or depressed. And that’s when I need to check myself and find ways to overcome it. I feel if you don’t deal with the insecurity it can really pull you into a deep dark place. Because I don’t want to stay in that place of insecurity, I take action to cope with it by talking to my husband, my therapist, or reading some self-help books. One of my favorite authors is SARK. Just picking up one of her books makes me smile. Her website is filled with positive thoughts and reinforcements as well. Two of my favorite books are Succulent Wild Woman and Transformation Soup.

It’s so hard when you see insecurity in others whether it be friends or family members. You want to tell them they have no reason to be insecure because you see all of their amazing qualities even when they don’t see it in themselves. They are smart or beautiful or talented. But when you feel it yourself you understand why others feel that way, too. Sometimes it’s so hard to believe that the most beautiful, famous, successful woman is insecure. We think how can she be insecure when she has it all (or what we think is “all”). But guess what? Insecurities are there for everyone. We just need to figure out how to deal with them in a healthy way.

“Insecurity is a universal experience, but not all people experience insecurity so intensely that it disrupts their life and ability to function. If insecurity is creating unwanted impacts in your mental, social, or physical health, it could be time to take action and address the issue with professional support and assistance” (written by Eric Patterson, LPC).

Somehow we need to figure out how to be more confident and count our blessings. No matter who we are, we have so much. We have our lives, our health, our families, and our friends. We have roofs over our heads, food to eat, and freedom to explore. We need to remember that every situation is just that, a situation. We need to form our response to that situation and that can be in a positive or a negative way. We create our own happiness and security. Positive self-talk, pushing away negative feelings, looking forward to the future, and focusing on the good in this world can make a huge difference.

Photo by Melanie Wasser on Unsplash

In Travel Junkie

Glenwood Springs

January 11, 2022 2 Comments

Jeff and I headed out west to visit some really good friends prior to our ski week in Taos. Although it took us seven hours to get there because of the weather and traffic, it was well worth it. As soon as we pulled into the little town of Glenwood Springs I loved it.

Upon our arrival, our friends had a delicious feast waiting for us. They knew we would be hungry after our long drive. We had some amazing homemade pizza, pesto-filled mushrooms, marinated chicken, Greek pepper salad, wine, and great conversation. The next morning, we got to see the beautiful mountain views from their deck in Glenwood Springs.

That day we went skiing at a local ski resort called Sunlight. I really enjoyed it. It was a beautiful bluebird day. We started on the green runs, and Jeff even gave me a few ski tips. I started feeling a little more comfortable. Clearly, he’s a better skier 🙂 Watch this video!

The resort had a great vibe. It was customer appreciation day so they had a costume contest and donut eating contest sponsored by Sweet Coloradough. They also had a DJ and everyone was dancing and playing cornhole. It became my second favorite ski resort behind Deer Valley.

Later that evening, we went downtown Glenwood Springs for dinner and drinks. We went to Riveria Supper Club. We sat at the bar until our table was ready. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The table before us stayed longer than expected so they treated us with a free appetizer and round of champagne. We didn’t mind waiting and loved the freebies! The four of us split salmon, beef stroganoff, a burger, salad, and bone marrow. We were all a bit tired so we just headed back to the house for a nightcap.

Instead of skiing the next day, we decided to go on a snowmobiling tour. We woke up to a downpour of snow. It was a blast! Jeff and I rode together. The guide led us through the trees and up and down the trails. Then we stopped in a wide-open field, and they let us free ride for 30 minutes or so. I took the sled for a few spins and had so much fun. It was a snowy day so we didn’t get to see the majestic views from the summit, but eventually, the clouds broke up, and it turned into a beautiful sunny day. We continued on our journey, and they took us on a new trail. We had a group of about 10 snowmobiles and everyone was riding pretty good so they kept us out about an hour longer than normal, which was awesome but by the end of the ride, By the end, I was frozen to the bone.

Our trip to Glenwood Springs was short but very sweet. I really enjoyed the mountain town and the beautiful views. Check out the bighorn sheep we saw on our way out of town. Sunlight was a really fun and cute local ski resort that I can’t wait to visit again.

In Fitness and Nutrition

New Year, New You

January 4, 2022 No Comments

It seems every January, people make resolutions that they don’t keep. They think it’s a new year, it should be a new me. Instead of being realistic they go for the gold and end up quitting before they even get started. This year, make your resolution mindful and realistic. Reread the post Eat Better and Move Better and focus on becoming 1% better every day. What baby steps can you make to meet your goal? The more steps you take and the more progress you see the more likely you will be to keep going.

It’s hard because, after the holidays and all of the parties and gatherings, you want to be a new you in the new year. But try to evaluate where you are now and where you want to go. Then be realistic about the amount of work you will need to put in. I am not trying to discourage you. I just want you to be honest with yourself. Whatever your new year goals are…what does it take to get there?

Do you want to lose weight? Gain muscle? Run a race? Quit drinking? Quit smoking? Eat at home more often? Eat less fast food? Travel more? Do a Spartan Race or a mud run? Hike a mountain? Ride a bike? Whatever you decide, write it down, and determine your short-term goals. Remember the end goals are like marathons, not sprints. You are not going to lose 10 pounds in 10 days. It takes time. So start small. Start with two pounds a month and by next year the new you will be 24 pounds lighter! And next year, you can continue and soon you are down 48 pounds, and you can keep it off because you have changed your lifestyle and not gone on some fad diet.

I talk a lot in this blog about how we eat and how we move. I first learned to eat healthily at Bill Lawrencen’s Personal Fitness in Meadville, PA. If you are in the area, go now, and start Dream Team. You won’t be sorry. He gets some serious results. You can also participate virtually. Check out the website. To this day, Jeff and I continue eating a lean protein, the right carb, and a healthy fat at every meal. When we eat out, we make as healthy of a choice as we can, and usually, we order fish or lean meat and veggies.

If your goal is to travel more then decide how often do you want to go? How much do you want to spend on each trip? Then make it happen. Do a little each week or month to get you there. Look for deals on airlines. Look at the low-cost carriers. Try to pack minimally and don’t pay for a seat or luggage. There are many ways to travel inexpensively. Also, look at credit cards that give you miles.

Whatever your goals, it’s a new year for a new you. Start small and take baby steps. Jeff and I had our two-year wedding anniversary on December 31st. One of our new year’s commitments to each other is that every month we will do one of the Five Love Languages. We did them the first two years of our relationship but haven’t made a conscious effort on them for the last two years. Each month we will pick a language and make a day of it. To find out your love language and that of your partner or even a family member, click here.

Whatever your goals, I wish you a safe, happy, and healthy new year and new you! Stay strong and be inspired each and every day!

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

In Adventures with Gram

Christmas Without Gram

December 28, 2021 No Comments

2021. Our first Christmas without Gram, our matriarch, our Babcia, our sweet little lady. In her younger days, she was the baker. She made everything from spaghetti sauce, to pumpkin rolls, to vanilla cream pie, to pierogis. She was the last to sit down and the first to get back up and make sure everyone had what they needed.

Christmas without Gram was different. Even though we continued on with many of Gram’s traditions, we missed her smiling face at the end of the table. We missed telling her to sit down and eat. We missed her telling us to put more filling in the pierogis. We missed taking pictures with her in front of the tree. We missed everything about her.

We tried to be present this Christmas without Gram, and we tried to honor and cherish her. We talked about her as we rolled the pierogi dough and decided what to fill it with. We talked about her as we shopped, knowing she would have loved the HUGE Christmas tree at the mall. We asked her to watch over us as we did our traditional “happy thought” on Christmas Eve.

Gram had such an impact on all of those who were lucky enough to have met her. The students from Alliance College still send cards and letters. They share stories with us of both my grandparents. The friends we have from Pennsylvania talk about how much they miss Gram. Friends from Florida talk about how much they enjoyed meeting her and loved seeing her on the boat so many times.

Even though we had Christmas without Gram, I realized how much she is there in all that we do. I realized how much of an impact she had and continues to have on my niece and nephew. Gram’s heart was huge, and I see her light shining through those little ones every day. They smile, they giggle, they laugh. They love making pierogis and baking cookies. This Christmas, we made gingerbread cookies, and they had a blast cutting out the shapes and decorating them. Gram would have loved it. I see Gram’s spirit, as well as my sister’s, shining through in them.

My goal is to keep Gram’s spirit alive by passing down our Polish traditions. I want to show the kids Christmas is not about the presents but about being present in the moment and enjoying each other’s company. It is about Jesus, his birthday, and all that he gave up for us. It is about the Polish tradition of Wigilia. It is about Christmas Eve Mass. It is about waiting all week to open your presents. It is about making pierogis and cookies. It is about spending quality time together with those that you love. It is about driving around and looking at the beautiful and “tacky” Christmas lights.

Although we have several old traditions, we also have new traditions that we are passing on to the kids. They get a gift from their mom every Christmas. My mom has continued her parents’ tradition of getting Lladro for the grandchildren. Gram and Gramps got them for us for 15 years. My mom has started that tradition for her little ones. Jeff and I started the tradition last year of the Christmas snowmen. Jeff built them a cardboard snowman and the kids get presents for each part of the snowman. We try to get them an activity, some clothes, and a toy or game.

In the end, Christmas without Gram was still beautiful and wonderful. We enjoyed the time with the family and the kids. We loved making the pierogis and the mess in the kitchen with our holiday baking. We loved having a family game night. Even though Gram wasn’t with us on Earth we know she was with us in spirit.

In How We Move

12 Days of Christmas Workout

December 22, 2021 No Comments

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Equipment Needed

kettlebell or dumbbell
set of dumbbells
step

Weekly Wednesday Workout

You will do today’s workout, you will do the moves like the song of 12 Days of Christmas. You will start with 1 rep. Then do two then one. Then three then two then one. Work all the way up to 12 and down to 1.

Movements:

1 burpee
2 push-ups
3 thrusters
4 sumo squats
5 kettlebell swings
6 lunges
7 rows
8 abs of your choice
9 squats
10 step-ups
11 curls
12 kickbacks

How to Do the Moves

For the video of movements click here. Remember there are always modifications. Let me know if you need help or suggestions. Don’t forget the warm-up. Make this workout work for you!

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash

In Travel Junkie

Copper Mountain

December 14, 2021 No Comments

As you read previously, every month from January through March, there is an airline ski week. The 2021 season has begun! This year the ski weeks are Copper Mountain, CO, Taos, NM, Telluride, CO, Squaw, CA, and there is an international ski week in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. My husband has been going for almost 10 years now, but I am just starting my fourth season.

The second ski week of my life was in December 2019 at Copper Mountain. It wasn’t an official ski week but we had opportunities for discounted lodging and ski lessons. I participated in a few lessons and learned a lot! It was very helpful. That week is a bit more low-key. Three airlines get together, have an ugly sweater pub crawl, a white elephant Christmas exchange, and camaraderie. It’s a wonderful week.

In 2019, we weren’t able to find anyone to watch Gram so as you know she goes where we go. I didn’t realize how high the mountain was but she had no trouble with the change in altitude. She was such an amazing woman.

Last week we went to Copper Mountain again, and it all came back to me. The memories, the fun times, the shot ski’s and the missing her. She loved the snow and the Christmas lights. She would have been so happy to see it all again. The holidays are always hard when you have lost someone but the first one without them seems to be the most difficult. And here we are coming up on Christmas without Gram. Although I am excited to see the kids and my mom, I am going to miss sweet Gram supervising us while we try to make some Polish pierogies. (Although this is not her recipe, it is very similar.)

Copper Mountain is a great ski resort and mountain. They have plenty of green and blue runs which are the easiest and it isn’t really a confusing mountain. All the ski runs are together for the most part. All the greens are on one side, the blues in the middle, and the blacks (the most difficult) on the other end. There are a few parts where they mix but it makes it easy for those who do not want to get stuck up high on the mountain with no easy way down.

I have improved my skiing over the past few years. I think I have now skied 33 days in my life. Woo hoo! I am feeling a little more confident but when I start going fast, boy, am I scared to death of wiping out! I do love it. I love the different places we go and the opportunity to see the amazing views from 10,000 feet in the air.

Hopefully, I continue to improve and do well. Being up so high is absolutely breathtaking with the snow-capped mountains. It really is something special. Even if you don’t want to take the chance of skiing down the mountain, going to a mountain top resort and staying a few days to drink hot chocolate is absolutely worth it.

In Inspiration

No Duty

November 23, 2021 No Comments

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.

~James Allen

Photo by kevin Xue on Unsplash

In Family

Thankful

November 23, 2021 No Comments

November is the month to take a look back on the year and give thanks for all the blessings around you. This month I have been publishing daily inspirations to remind you to take a moment and be thankful. One of my favorites is “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have” by Friedrich Koenig. This is the best time of the year to stop and reflect on what you do have and to be thankful for it. Don’t compare yourself to others. Be happy for what you do have.

This year we have had a lot of ups but we had a major down in that we lost sweet Gram in February. I still look back and am thankful for all of the time that I got to spend with her, and I don’t regret it one bit. I still feel sad that she isn’t here with us to enjoy the snow falling in Pennsylvania or the wind blowing in her face on our boat rides in Florida. I miss her being there beside me every day asking “What is this?“. It still hurts my heart that my little buddy is no longer with us. But I know I can’t stop living because she is gone, and I need to be thankful for all of the moments that we had together. I know she is happy in heaven and enjoying dancing her polka dances again with Gramps.

Jeff and I are very blessed, and we often talk about how lucky we are. Some of the blessings we are thankful for are…Thankful that we had Gram. Thankful that we have his two boys and they are growing into wonderful young men. Thankful that we can create memories with our little niece and nephew, and my mom. Thankful that we can spend time with Jeff’s mom. Thankful that we have amazing friends in every city that we go to. Thankful that we are healthy and active. Thankful that we have a house over our heads and a job to provide for us.

For the past few years, Jeff’s family has come to Florida for Thanksgiving. Although I miss Thanksgiving with my family, I do enjoy Jeff’s family, especially his sisters. One is older and one is younger than me. I was the oldest but somehow my sister was the one I went to for advice. I miss her more than anything and would give it all to have one more day with her. But now I have two new sisters to go to when I am feeling down or need advice or want to share some crazy life event. I wish both of our families could celebrate Thanksgiving together and maybe someday we will. But for now, I will be thankful for my sisters and the fun times we have shared, and looking forward to many more to come.

We have a really wonderful time celebrating Thanksgiving in Florida. For 41 years, I spent Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania or Virginia. Although both are wonderful places for Thanksgiving, it’s different in Florida. We run Turkey Trots, go on the boat, have Thanksgiving dinner on the pool deck, and head to the beach for Thanksgiving Day. And it’s different that we are now the hosts. It’s a week of eating, drinking, and sharing good times together. There is no schedule and no agenda. We enjoy the days and the laughs and can’t wait until we can do it again.

Here is a little Thanksgiving acrostic poem from our family to yours:

T- Thankful

H- Happy

A- Appreciative

N- Nourishing

K- Kinship

S- Surrounded by family and friends

G- Grateful

I- Inspiring

V- Valuable

I- Irreplaceable

N- New Beginnings

G- Generous

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Week! Be thankful, be blessed, be strong, and be inspiring!

In Inspiration

Thankful Heart

November 22, 2021 No Comments

The thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.

– Henry Ward Beecher

Photo by @ramu_aladdin on Unsplash

feelingblessed