travel

I’m not one of those fitness girls that doesn’t eat. Healthy, yummy food is how I reward myself. On my road trip to fit with Tri-State Ford, I’m finding great places to nosh post-workout. I’m venturing to hidden gems in my 2015 Ford Escape to celebrate Tri-State Ford’s “Where To Now?” adventure and sweepstakes! Being on the road over the summer and fall has been magnificent. I’ve logged a lot of ME-time in my Ford Escape on my way to run in the woods HERE and to find balance HERE. Now, I’m looking forward to spending some quality time with a friend. The scenic route is a must as I think about all the things I have to catch my friend, RJ, up on. She and I are both self-made, independent women. So we talk about everything from relationships to business. We’re all about empowering each other. It’s easy to get lost in thought when you’re driving, which is why I’m relieved to have the 2015 Ford Escape’s SYNC 3 easy-to-use navigation system to keep...

The Croton Aqueduct in Croton Gorge Park, NY is a sight to behold. I teamed up with Tri-State Ford on a "road trip to fit" in my 2015 Ford Escape and this was my 2nd stop. My adventures are part of Tri-State Ford’s “Where To Now?”  sweepstakes! So what did I do at the Croton Aqueduct, a historic water distribution system that has beautiful cascading waterfalls? Yoga, of course! In case you don’t know its backstory, the aqueduct is how NY once got its drinking water. Searching for a little Zen, I decided to roll my mat out. I remember when I first tried yoga. I’m never doing this again, I thought.  The practice of contorting into pretzel shapes was not my bag. I looked around the room at the other fit women in class flowing gracefully and I wondered, what am I missing? Now it’s so obvious to me. I was missing patience, self-acceptance and balance in my life. When I finally approached yoga with an open heart, that’s when things started to...

You're like Flat Stanley, whaaaa? But yes, I have a FLAT approach to skincare that I want to share with you today that literally saves my life every time I travel. Maybe you're like me...maybe you're not, but I can't seem to avoid packing everything I own when preparing for a trip. I worry that I won't have what I need and as a frugalista, I don't want to buy what I already own while away from home. Does this sound familiar? Even if it doesn't (and if so, I'm jealous that you've mastered being a sane packer), I think this tip might come in handy. Also, it's worth the read considering I'm giving away some skincare swag. So here's my Flat Stanley Skincare Secret: I seek out skincare that's packaged flat and in single servings. I like the idea of using it then pitching it. The lighter my toiletries bag gets, the better! Fact of my life: my toiletry bag + makeup bag + hair dryer and roundbrushes = most of the weight in my suitcase. I know, I'm a sad, sad girl. But seriously, have...

There's no place like Hawaii! My plan is to visit a different Hawaiian island every year until I've been to them all. I traveled to Oahu last year. Going to the Big Island this past February was my 3rd time back to the wonderous state and I used a new online travel guide service called Localfu to navigate my way around like a local. If there's something you should know about me it's that I avoid tourist traps at all costs! I like to uncover the healthiest and most active things going on in the places I travel to, and I always prefer to go off the beaten path. I'm a curious cat, which often gets me into the thick of things. That's me picking a noni fruit...unaware that they're the most disgusting of Hawaiian fruits to eat raw. It was a sour experience unlike the rest of my trip. What follows are my Big Island, Hawaii chronicles with Localfu... The way that Localfu works is really quite simple. You create an account and then enter your travel location. It helps if...

I'm 35 years old and what makes me a strikingly different person than my 20-year-old self is that I care a lot more about my health. With the exception of an ocassional late night Insomnia Cookies order, I take waaaaaay better care of myself now. God, if I could go back and undo all the terrible things I did to my body and skin in my 20's I'd be in a time machine in a heartbeat! And I'd smack myself silly before getting into all those damn tanning beds! If I had only known to do what works for me now. Oh well, stupid 20-year-old self, good thing you no longer run the show! One of my best pieces of advice for women in their 30's is to always stay hydrated. It really doesn't matter the time of year or season, we need water for our bodies to function effectively, to lubricate our joints, revitalize our skin and have good poops. There are more reasons but these are my favorites. In fact, I'm going to share 5 hydration tips with you that never fail me. But since I like to tell...