Our Dining Room

Although I may not be a design pro, I have found it extremely therapeutic to piece together various rooms in our new home. In our dining room I was going for a rustic beach look. This is what I created and how it stands before the upcoming kitchen remodel (window coverings to come...)


  

(Images via traveltalkteach)

Happy Friday!!!

Forgive Yourself Today ♥

"When you hold onto the past with bitterness and anger and don't allow yourself to experience the present moment, you are wasting today. If you hold onto bitterness and grudges for a long time, it has to do with forgiving yourself, not the other person. If you hold onto old hurts, you punish yourself in the here and now. Often, you sit in a prison of self-righteous resentment. Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy? Forgive yourself and stop punishing yourself."- Author Unknown

Happy Thursday!!!

Monday Mood Modifier

Everyone needs live plants in their home and most importantly a money tree. The braided money tree is a fixture of Feng Shui and symbolizes good fortune. For those like myself that lack the "green thumb" this is the perfect starter plant because it is difficult to kill and requires little water :). Not only are live plants beautiful, research has shown that they have healing powers. Studies on hospital patients found that patients exposed to live plants experienced a decrease in blood pressure, reduction in stress and reduced muscle tension. Additionally, patients were found to have a quicker recovery and needed less pain medication when they had a view of greenery and plants. Brilliant!

Here are some photos of my money tree and a succulent that I received as a housewarming gift:

(Money Tree from Ikea)

Happy Monday!!!

Aquarium Therapy

Need a new way to help reduce stress and anxiety??? Head to your local Petco with a few dollars in hand and invest in some fish! Studies have revealed that simply watching fish swim in an aquarium can help reduce blood pressure, stress, anxiety and increase ones' ability to relax. Furthermore, research on Alzheimer's patients who were exposed to aquaria were shown to need fewer nutritional supplements than those patients who were not exposed. Fascinating huh?

These little creatures not only have significant health benefits, they also add unbelievable colors and aesthetic value to your home. For a grand total of $12 I got a beautiful glass fish bowl, a turquoise Beta fish (to match my color scheme), turquoise and blue gravel and some fish food! I named my fish "Vida" with the intention of getting his sister "Pura" as in "Pura Vida". Unfortunately Beta's are fighter fish that need their own territory so Pura will have to have her own bowl or wait until the hubby builds a divider for Vida's bowl. Vida lives in his little bowl on our entry table:

Happy Sunday Funday!!!!

This is why I love traveling...

China never ceases to amaze me...

http://www.wimp.com/vegetablemarket/

These are some photos of my drive through Guatemala with a similarly absurd highway setup. The local market is so important that they only leave room for one car to drive through the center of it at a time :)...

Are you puzzled about why you are cranky???

This article provides a great reminder about things you can do to avoid those unbearable moods and crankiness.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/healthieryou/6-surprising-reasons-cranky

Happy Sunday!!!

Secrets to Increasing Your Energy...

Here is some fabulous and extremely helpful advice from my talented friend and guest blogger...Paula Ryan, MS, RD. Miss Paula tailored this blog entry to me and my lack of energy :) Please contact her for your own personalized health advice!

Find the Energy you need to make it through the Day

Paula Ryan, MS, RD

Healthiest Regards

Does your workday feel like a Sprint Triathlon, rushing from one event to the next? Are you exhausted half way through the day? Here are some tips that will get you to that end-of-the-day finish line.

Get enough sleep

How many hours of sleep do you need to feel refreshed and ready to go in the morning? I need 8 1/2. Some need more, some need less. Be honest with yourself and get the rest you need.

Don't go Crazy with Caffeine

Too much caffeine in the morning can result in an energy "crash" a few hours later. Limit your coffee consumption to 1 or 2 cups in the morning, or switch to tea which usually has a little bit less caffeine per cup.

Exercise

Whether it's in the morning before work, at lunch, or after work, exercise is a must. The health benefits related to exercise seem endless. You'll feel better when  you are done;  you will be proud of yourself for your accomplishments.  Find the time; it's on your list of things to do; it's THAT important.

Eat small meals frequently

 Don't get too hungry or too full. Eat every couple of hours.  Each snack or meal should be made up of whole grains (complex carbohydrates), a lean or low-fat protein, and a fruit or vegetable serving.

Don't Skip a Meal

Your body needs energy to function. If it doesn't get the fuel it needs, you may begin to feel drained as your body searches for energy to use to get through the day. Skipping meals may also lead to unhealthy snacking or overindulging at your next meal.

Drink your fluids

Have some water available at your desk. Limit your soda and juice consumption. Even a small amount of dehydration may lead to fatigue.

Take a multivitamin + minerals

Because we aren't perfect, and sometimes you won't get 100% of what you need from what you eat.

Eat the good fats, limit the bad fats

Eat foods that are low in fat and very low in saturated fats. Fish is a great source for good fats. If you don't like fish, try it again. (If you really don't like it, take a fish oil supplement.) Too much fat in one meal slows digestion and may make you feel sluggish. Stay away from too many fried foods, pick grilled or broiled instead.

For more information or for personalized nutrition advice, visit HealthiestRegards.com