Australia Vacation 2011

Every year I make the long journey for my vacation to visit my sister Lori and her family in Australia.  Its summer there which is the perfect time to go and escape the winters here in Chicago.

I love going there because there is so much to do and see beside getting to spend so much time with the family.  As I recover from jet leg and being back in the cold frigid winter I look back on what I did while I was there. Unfortunately I got sick right before I left Chicago.  My sister took me straight to the clinic not far from their house.  I paid a reasonable amount for the doctor to conclude I had an infection.  I was given a prescription and sent on my way.  I was pretty impressed with the health care system there.

1. Saw really cool show at the world famous Sydney Opera House called Soap.   Was amazing show and my first at the Opera House.

2. Went to see an exhibit by Annie Leibovitz at the MCA.  
3.  Watched movie from New Zealand called Boy outside at the Olympic Park.  Was a very sweet film and I miss seeing movies outside.
4. Trip to the Snowy Mountains.  Hiked up Mount Kosciusko which is the highest peak in Australia, explored Yarrangobilly caves and took a dip in a natural spring pool.What a beautiful area of Australia!

5. On the way back from the Snowy Mountains we stopped in the capital of Australia which is Canberra.  We went to the National Gallery and saw exhibit called Ballet Russes.
6. We then went up to the Central coast and enjoyed a few days at the beach! Can't get enough of the beach and we even saw a school of dolphins.

7.  On the way home we stopped at one of Sydney's famous pastery chefs Adriano Zumbo's cafe.  Wow! Famous for his macaroons.
Also made a stop at the chocolate place called Belle Fleur.  My sweet tooth is satisfied!

I am so grateful to my sister Lori and Russell, Emma, Grace, Kate (extra thanks for letting me sleep in her room), and Adam for letting me stay with them and taking me to see and experience so many fun and exciting things and just being able to relax. I miss them already!!

And I have adopted Lori's annual pick a work for the year and mine is LOVE. Love you guys!

Happy New Year! 2011 Here I Come!

                                                                  
I don't really make resolutions but I do like to like to think about the year ahead and what I want to accomplish.

1.  Smile more.
2.  Have a budget and stick to it.
3.  Have more adventures.
4.  Have more peace.
5.  Paint my bedroom a different color and reinvent my living space.
6.  Go on a long car trip somewhere I've always wanted to go.
7.  Take some martial arts classes.
8.  Take some long walks.
9.  Eat slower.
10. Live in the moment more.

Hope everyone has a healthy and happy new year.

Top 10 Music Releases 2010.

This year was a great year for music.  So much great new music came out.  I got to see a lot of bands in concert and have some great memories.

1. Innerspeaker by Tame Impala
2. Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter
3. This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem
4. Teen Dream by Beach House
5. Total Life Forever by Foals
6. The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
7. Beast Rest Forth Mouth by Bear in Heaven
8. Fields by Junip
9  Broken Bells by Broken Bells 
10. High Violet by The National

First Snowfall.

I love the first snowfall.  And this year is the first year I have been trying to run outside all year long.  So far has been really great going down to the lake front for my twice a week if I can runs.  The area I run has some of the best views of the city and being close to nature and no traffic really keeps me motivated.  So the day after it snowed I went out not knowing what to expect.  It was about 28 degrees outside the coldest out so far too.  I was amazed at how truly beautiful it was. The sky was cloudy with the sun peaking through and the few runners I did see all seemed to be enjoying it.  I warmed up about 5 minutes into the run.  My fingers were pretty cold though but at the end of the run I was feeling good.

I normally run up this hill at the end of my run but today all the kids were sledding down it so I watched wishing I had a sled! Looks like I may need to invest in one because it looks like so much fun.

Quotes

I like hearing great advice or a good quote.  So many wise and important quotes mean so much in times of joy, sorrow, celebrations, challenges to over come and just living life.

1. Life is either a great adventure or nothing.  by Helen Keller

2. "When you reach a fork in the road take it." Yogi Berra

3. “Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth.” by William W. Purkey

4. "Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over.” unknown

5.  "Life is way too precious & beautiful to let anyone hurt me, make me sad or feel worthless, take my happiness away." Janice Peurrung

6.  "Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you" unknown but heard this a lot from my tour guide Stephen when I traveled through Europe in my early 20's.  


7. "I just think with my heart" Kate Field


8.  "With Love you find strength, with passion we find joy, in our lives we persevere, we keep going we can fly" Lori Field Peurrung.


9.  "Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.  Gilda Radner


10.  I've always liked the serenity prayer and never knew the author Reinhold Niebuhr wrote this extended version.  


      God, grant us the...

Serenity to accept things we cannot change,

Courage to change the things we can, and the

Wisdom to know the difference

Patience for the things that take time

Appreciation for all that we have, and

Tolerance for those with different struggles

Freedom to live beyond the limitations of our past ways, the

Ability to feel your love for us and our love for each other and the

Strength to get up and try again even when we feel it is hopeless.

Birthday and Halloween weekend

My birthday just happens to fall the day before my favorite holiday Halloween.  Who doesn't like Halloween.  Watching scary movies, eating candle apples, dressing up and eating my favorite candies mini butterfingers and Reese cups.   I normally take the day off and do something fun.  This year it fell on a Saturday so I took Friday off and decided I needed some kind of pampering.  I read about this Korean bath house called King Spa And Sauna.  I was just going to enjoy all the sauna rooms and baths but decided I needed a scrub.  I got the best scrub/massage and felt like I had been on a vacation when I left after 3 hours.  That may become my new birthday ritual.

Bear in Heaven

Friday night I went to a concert with some friends.  I had not yet been to this new venue called Lincoln Hall and heard great things about it.  Was one of the best venues to see lives music.

On Saturday I went to my favorite places in the city called Garfield Park Conservatory.

 Dinner with friends made my Birthday complete.
Thanks everyone for all the Birthday wishes!!

cold season

You hear this is the time of year for flu shots.  I am considering getting one this year. I got a cold that has been going around.  Here are some tips to prevent colds and if you get a cold how to feel better.

I try and do these all year round to stay healthy.

1.  Wash hands, wash hands and wash hands.  Have plenty of lotion and purell hand sanitizer on hand.
2.  Drink more tea.  Especially green tea which has many healthy things in it.
3.  Get plenty of sleep.
4.  Try to keep stress to a minimum.  I do yoga to help with this.
5.  Exercise even if its just walking.
6.  Eat well.  I don't think eating lots of chips and dip and cookies count. But I'm all for comfort foods in the colder months.  I take a one a day vitamin to make sure I get all I need.
7.  Laugh A LOT! May not ward off a cold but it will make you feel better.  And break stress which will help.
8.  Do something fun or pampering for yourself.  Once a day if not once a week.
9.  Drink plenty of water. I do that all year round but in winter its pretty dry so its important to stay hydrated.
10.  I eat more garlic in the colder months. I pretty much put it in every thing I can.   Supposed to be good for warding off colds...and vampires!

If you do get a cold:
1.  Don't panic.  Hopefully when you start to feel it you can do some things to keep it short.
2.  Have plenty of kleenex.  I love the ones with lotion in them!
3.  Take extra vitamin C or drink Emergen C or eat more things that are rich in C.
4.  Get plenty of rest and take it easy.  Which means slow down or stop working out if you have a fever.
5.  I try not to take over the counter stuff but I give in if my symptoms are bad and I need to function or sleep I will take them.  I found an old hot toddy recipe that works well at night.
6.  Drink water and tea...lots of it!  So many good teas out there for colds.
7.  I like to take a steam either at the gym or at home.  Yes I turn the hot water on and sit in the bathroom.
8. If you have a fever or feel run down best to take the day off of work.
9.  If you do stay home wear most comfy warm clothes.  Read, watch movie or TV, stare out the window and nap.
10.  Be patient and kind to yourself.
11.  Oh and chicken soup!!!!!