In the winter, I tend to hibernate more, and lately, I seem to be streaming documentaries, in between the nightly rotation of news and political commentary, of which my husband never tires. There are a lot of noteworthy documentaries available on the various streaming channels, and here are three that we have watched recently.
The White Helmets. This 40-minute documentary about a group of first responders in bomb-ravaged Syria is streaming now on Netflix.
13th Also streaming on Netflix, this documentary, named after the 13th U.S.Constitutional Amendment, is about the American criminal justice system, tracing from post Civil War to current times.
Where to Invade Next Streaming on Amazon (and Hulu, I think), this was Michael Moore's look at European public policy that he would like to bring to the United States.
What are you streaming these days? Any recommendations?
Are you going for it, or are you sitting by, watching others achieve their goals and dreams? You can do it too. Channel your inner badass and make it happen.
Good morning! Happy Tuesday. It's fly day for us. We are packed and off for a mini-vacation in Paris.
Packing for a vacation is a true exercise in want versus need. And when you travel in colder weather, it gets even trickier. We're only taking carry-on luggage, so every item counts. For me, here is what is making the cut. The Bag When it comes to carry-on luggage, it has to be soft sided spinner. I like having pockets for putting in last minute items and because it's always with me, I don't have to worry about it getting tossed. And it makes for a faster airport exit.
What I Packed Because I am frequently cold, staying warm is a concern. But I also want to be able to move. No one wants to be this kid...
Luckily, I think I have found the perfect coat. It's a Land's End lightweight packable down 3/4 length coat. It has a hood and, even better, it has a belt to avoid the sleeping bag look of a normal puffer. I have had it for about a month now and so far, so good. It's warm and roomy, allowing for thicker layers underneath. Because Paris in November can be rainy, I am also bringing my Totes Bubble, thanks to a tip from Steph at Life According to Steph. I have had this for a few weeks as well, and it works great! And yes, you can bring it on-board the cabin.
When it comes to the actual packing, I opted to try out packing cubes. I read about others who had used them, so I decided to give e-bags a try, and I'm glad I did. They made a huge difference. Everything is organized and I still have room in my carry-on. My husband was skeptical, but I am definitely going to get him a set as well.
As for clothes, I am bringing anchor pieces that work together in neutral colors, like dark jeans, black trousers, neutral blouses, a black wrap dress, a black cardigan, a neutral scarf, tall black boots, and a pair of walking shoes. Because of the restriction limiting liquids to three ounces and a one-quart bag, I am a minimalist with my cosmetics...wait...who am I kidding? I am a minimalist with cosmetics anyway. Nevertheless, mascara, concealer, eye liner and a lip gloss share space with my moisturizer, eye drops, and deodorant. Throw in our camera, my vitamins, my iPad and assorted chargers and that's about it, minus the obvious delicates. My cross-body purse holds my passport, my wallet with my ID and Euros, my phone in its charging case and a protein bar...just in case. I like options, but I also know that it's silly to over-pack. No one wants this...
I am so excited to be heading back to Paris. It is one of my favorite places on earth. And what's better is that this week is about meandering hand-in-hand...there is no need to run around a sight see, since we've been there before. Paris is our forever city of love. How do you pack for a cold winter getaway when you have limited space available? What are your non-negotiables?
Today is a big deal. As a citizen of a democracy, it's important that we take accept the privilege, and the responsibility of voting. According to FairVote.org, voter turnout in the United States fluctuates in national elections, but has never risen to levels of most other well-established democracies. In countries with compulsory voting, turnout is over 80%, but here in the United States, voter turnout is about 60% in presidential elections and only about 40% in midterm elections. People vote for photos on Facebook, American Idol or Dancing with the Stars contestants, favorite movies, ice cream flavors and celebrities from pop culture. Shouldn't we vote for the issues on the ballot and for those people who represent our interests in Washington, and at our state or municipal level?
I understand the frustration of a dysfunctional government, but if the government is made up of We, the People, then shouldn't we, the people take part?
If you're still undecided, this website may help clear it up.
I Side With is an interactive quiz that, based on your responses, will align you with the candidate who most reasonably parallels your thinking in these midterm elections.
And, if you're not sure where you can vote, try this website, Get to the Polls, which will give you your voting location.
Everyone has a favorite holiday. For many, it's Thanksgiving because it's all about the food and family, without the pressure of shopping for gifts.
For others, it's all things Christmas . . .the lights, the carols, the wrapping.
Well, maybe not the wrapping...
And then there's the Halloween lovers, who revel in black cats, witches on broomsticks and costumed extortionists who demand candy as payment for the threat of neighborhood mischief-making.
For me, it's all about New Year's Day. I love January 1st. For a long time, I would go to the beach and cleanse my hands in the frigid New England Atlantic in reflection and atonement for the sins of the past year. January makes me giddy with excitement of all that can be. It's a new slate on which I can write my goals, hopes and dreams for the future. Like New Year's Day, Monday mornings bring a similar excitement. Every Monday is a chance to start anew.
Diets typically start on Mondays..a detox from the culinary debauchery of the weekend before. Workouts are popular Monday activities, with the vow that this would be the one, the time for you to get your fitness on. Meatless Monday seems to be a given, but what about Tofu Tuesday? Just kidding...
What I've learned is that it's all about readiness. And readiness can happen on a Tuesday as well as on a Monday. Or a Wednesday. Or even a Friday.
Ground zero is ground zero. Babies aren't born only on Mondays; likewise goals should not begin again only on Mondays. Every day is ground zero. Every day is a new day to plan and achieve your goals.
What is it you want to do? What's stopping you?
Are you ready? I mean, really ready? Only you know. And no one can force you. You have to want it for you. Wanting it for someone else is nice, but you need to want it for you. It is all about you.
Accept it. Embrace it.
Achieving a goal, whether it's a goal related to weight loss, fitness, education, your career, travel, you name it . . .it all takes time. And planning. And commitment.
Every life is gifted with only so many Monday mornings. What if you ran out of Mondays?
I'm not saying that Monday is a bad day to start anything. Monday makes a lot of sense.
But don't put it off thinking there's always next Monday. There could be, but then you've lost a week. What is stopping your success from starting on a Thursday?
I don't need to tell you . . . life is short. We are bombarded with that message every day. As my mom always says, tomorrow is promised to no one.
Today is your Monday morning. Even though it's Tuesday. Make it count.
Travel is an amazing and transformative experience, but it also can be overwhelming, for novices and seasoned travelers alike. Jet lag, hectic schedules, and culture shock can create tension and anxiety that keeps tourists from fully experiencing the beauty and wonder of a trip abroad, or even, at times, domestic.
Travel has a sweet spot...the key is finding yours.
Learning from others' mistakes can help you avoid your own travel pitfalls and better insure that your own journey will fulfill, or even exceed, your own expectations.
Here are three common travel mistakes that, in hindsight, may become travel regrets, and how you can avoid them.
Wait...where am I? When you're visiting a new city for the first time, it's exciting to see the places you've seen only on television or in movies. Perhaps you bought a guide book or looked up the must-see locations online. As tempting as it is to try and fit in everything, refrain. You may end up exhausted and cranky, overwhelmed, and feel like you're only moving from place to place, snapping photos of landmarks that you passed too quickly to truly remember. And, if you haven't seen everything, you have a reason to go back. Don't look at your travels as some grand checklist or "Been there, done that." Live like a local and less like a tourist.
I wish I had tried that... When you travel abroad, or even out of your home region, it may be tempting to stick to what you know. If you have dietary restrictions, I empathize with why this makes sense. But, if you are able to eat, throwing abandon to the wind, so so. Go off the beaten path and eat where the locals do. Nothing sends me farther away than when I see an "American menu" abroad. Even in the most tourist driven areas of Spain, you can enjoy the Menu del Dia, and experiment with flavors and culturally adored comfort food. Why search out pizza when you can experiment with tortilla española. Even if you don't like it, you can be assured that, more than likely, it was properly prepared and cooked, not simply cut out a bag, standardized across a chain or franchise of restaurants.
What a waste...I never even used that... It's tempting to pack options. With variable weather and dining options, it's hard to know exactly what you will need when you travel. Here's what I learned. Overpacking is a nightmare. Worst case scenario, you buy something in your destination and you end up with a souvenir. It's a win-win. Unless you are traveling to the most remote areas of civilization, I can almost guarantee they have what you need. If sizing is an issue, I appreciate your concern, but nevertheless, you may be carrying that bag around...at least at the airport. Think before you pack. Take out everything you want to bring. And then, aim to remove half of it. Bring your most versatile items that can serve double duty. And truly consider what you need versus what you want. Less is more. And you'll feel like a packing ninja!
Travel is a transformative experience. As someone blissfully infected with wanderlust, I can vouch for the power of the journey. But making mistakes, like the ones above, can diminish the experience and prevent people from taking chances on longer, more extensive trips. Knowledge is power. Note people's success and learn from their mistakes and set off on your own journey. And then inspire others to take that first step themselves. What travel advice would you offer novices?
I love, love, love Sarah Jessica Parker. Yes, she is a style icon and a go-to for all-things Manhattan, but I also love that she is intelligent and humble.
So when I saw that she invited Joe Sabia into her home and did this interview for Vogue, I had to watch. And, they're fun questions, so I decided to answer them myself...well, most of them.
1. How long have you been in the area? All of my life, except for 3 years in South Florida.
2. What’s your favorite season in New York City Boston? Late Spring
3. What’s your favorite activity in New York City Boston? Walking
4. Would you ever leave New York City Boston? Yes...it makes coming back that much better.
5. What are three words to describe living in New York City Boston? Eclectic, stimulating, familiar
6. What’s your favorite movie? The Way We Were
7. Favorite movie in past five years? Midnight in Paris
8. Favorite Hitchcock film?
9. Favorite TV show that’s currently on? Scandal or Chopped.
10. What’s a book you plan on reading? A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg
11. A book you read in school that positively shaped you? To Kill a Mockingbird
12. A book you read in school that you never rarely think of? A Tale of Two Cities
13. On a scale of one to ten how excited are you about life right now? 9
14. iPhone or Android? iPhone
15. Twitter or Instagram? Instagram
16. Vine or Snapchat? Neither
17. Who should everyone be following right now? @MindBodyGreen
18. What’s the coolest thing in this room? This picture we got at my bridal shower. It has photos of places with our names and then, in the middle, a sign that says, Share the Road.
27. What’s the hardest part about being a mom? I'm not a mom, but I'm guessing the hardest part comes is not being a not-mom. Not-moms have great lives too.
28. What’s your favorite band? Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers
Taken during Meeting of the Minds in Key West, Florida
29. Favorite solo artist? Jack Johnson
30. Favorite lyrics? You say it best when you say nothing at all.
31. If your life were a song, what would the title be? Happy
32. If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be? Barbra Streisand
33. If you could master one instrument, what would it be? Guitar
34. If you had a tattoo, where would it be? Ankle? Not sure.
35. To be or not to be? To be.
36. What’s Oprah like in person?
37. What number of question was this?
38. Dogs or cats? Both
39. Kittens or puppies? Both
40. Dolphins or koalas? Both
41. Bird-watching or whale-watching? Whale watching
42. What’s your spirit animal? Manatee
43. Best gift you’ve ever received? My life and all the blessings that come with it
44. Last gift you gave a friend? Wine
45. A person you want to have coffee tea with? My Nana (who died in 1997)
46. A historical figure you’d love to have coffee with? Pablo Picasso
47. How do you like your coffee? 2 Truvia or Splenda and a tablespoon of sugar-free French vanilla coffeemate. If it's iced, extra skim and 3 Splenda.
48. Can I play a note on this piano?
49. What’s your favorite curse word?
50. What’s your favorite board game? Scrabble
51. What’s your favorite country to visit? All of them.
52. What’s the last country you visited? Spain
53. What country do you wish to visit? All of them.
54. What do you see in this image right here?
55. Can you write down your favorite word that starts and ends with the same vowel? Evolve
56. What’s your favorite color? Blue
57. Least favorite color? Brown
58. What color dress did you wear to your prom? Red
59. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds, but pearls too, because they're my birthstone
60. Cheap shampoo or expensive? Affordable
61. Blow-dry or air-dry? Both
62. Heels or flats? Flats
63. Can you give an impersonation of someone?
64. Can you do the same impersonation with a British accent?
65. My friend outside this window would love to ask you a question?
66. [Holding two different colored dresses] Which should I give my girlfriend?
67. Pilates or yoga? Yoga
68. Jogging or swimming? Jogging
69. Best way to decompress? Quiet time
70. If you had one superpower, what would it be? Teleporting
71. Can you describe an experience you felt most nervous? I always get nervous speaking in front of parents at Open House. I can speak in front of hundreds of teenagers...no problem. But parents in a classroom? Yikes!
72. What’s the weirdest word in the English language? The spelling of colonel.
73. Last question: Is this the strangest interview you’ve ever had? Yup
Pick a question(s) and share your answers with me. I love learning about my readers!
