How to Bring Autumn into Your Home

The chill of autumn is in the air even while the warmer tones of fall are here to cozy up our living spaces. Here’s a list of simple ways to bring the season indoors and spruce up your home with the accents of fall.

 

Make an Autumn Simmer Pot

Immerse your surroundings in the scents of the season by tossing some apples and cinnamon into a pot of hot water and simmering to create an inviting olfactory atmosphere. Periodically add water and feel free to experiment with fruits and spices of your choice for a warm welcome at every entrance.

 

apples and cinnamon

 


 

Wrap Your Favorite Candles

A super easy décor treat that can double as a hostess gift: scented candles. Well, sort of. Start with bought candles in thick, column shapes and use a ribbon and glue to surround them with cinnamon sticks for a fresh scent at every flame. The results are lovely to look at and sweet to the senses.

 

candle and cinnamon sticks

 


 

Press Flowers and Leaves

Stroll your yard or the local park to collect interesting fall foliage, berries, twigs, and flowers. Almost anything can be pressed if you stack enough heavy books, so get out those dictionaries and delicately place your flowers in the middle sections. Close, stack with more heavy books, and wait at least a week. Arrange your pressed treats on canvas, or board with a little glue, and you’ve made lovely objets-de art to decorate on an autumnal theme.

 

pressed flowers in a frame


 

Adjust Your Color Scheme

To switch up your home for autumn in the easiest way possible, simply add textiles in fall colors. This season’s interiors are going beyond the burnt oranges and espresso browns of past trends to add mauves, crisp whites, greys, and yellows to the palette.

Experiment!

 

colorful leaves

 

Most of the fun of interior design is to indulge your own personal visions about the spaces you inhabit. So just remember to keep it simple and use these basic guidelines to get your home into fashion in a weekend.

SWEAT by BW: Resistance Band Training

Resistance bands are some of the most versatile tools for creating a full body strength routine.  The origins of band training lie within the realm of physical therapy and rehabilitation; bands are still used extensively within those fields to this day. The bands’ elasticity forces you to maintain a very controlled eccentric phase for each exercise (this is the negative or “down” phase of an exercise). This makes it supremely effective, not only for building muscular strength, but also strengthening tendons and developing joint stability, and makes band training incredibly safe for all levels of fitness, including for those recovering from an injury.

Another advantage of band training is its concept of “accommodating resistance”. This means that as the range of motion of an exercise increases, so does the tension created by the band.  This provides a unique and powerful strength stimulus to the body by creating peak tension at the end range of a movement. (A few reps of the exercises below and you’ll know what we mean by peak tension!)

The cost and accessibility of bands (like this set from #FitChick Body Co.) also makes them great tools worthy of investing some time in learning their proper use efffectively.  The average cost of a set of multiple resistance bands is around $10-30. The amount of possible exercises you can do in band training is almost never ending. We’ve whittled down the endless pool of movements to give you the nuts and bolts to build a great full body workout.

 

Resistance Band Good Mornings

The ‘good morning’ is a powerful hamstring and glute strengthener, as well as a great move to improve hamstring flexibility.

1. While holding onto the band, stand on the band (or, rather, in it) with feet shoulder-width apart; the band should be pinned under the middle of your feet
2. Pull the remaining loop around over your head and rest it on the back of your neck
3. Soften your knees, inflate your chest and brace your abdominals
4. Drive your hips back while maintaining the same knee angle until a stretch is felt in your hamstrings
5. Once peak tension is felt (in your hamstrings), reverse back to standing
6. The repetition tempo should be slow and controlled
7. Complete three sets of 15-20 repetitions before increasing the band tension (moving on to a thicker band)

Resistance Band Pull-Aparts

The resistance band pull-aparts exercise is a fantastic shoulder strengthener and will help you build and support shoulder posture to fix and/or prevent sagging shoulders.

1. While standing, grab ahold of the band with both hands face down, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart
2. The band should be out in front of your shoulders at arms’ length
3. Brace your abdominals and retract your shoulder blades
4. With locked elbows, pull the band apart all the way until it stretches across your chest and your shoulder blades are maximally squeezed together
5. Slowly return the band to arms’ length in front of your body
6. Complete three sets of 10-15 repetitions before increasing the band tension or try executing from a more narrow grip for an added challenge

Resistance Band Side Walking

You may have never felt your butt burn as much as this little gem will get it cooking!

1. Place the band in the same position as you would for a good morning
2. Start in standing position with your feet hip- width apart, toes facing straight and forward
3. Soften your knees slightly, inflate your chest, and brace your abdominals
4. Step to the side as far as your strength allows without losing your forward toe position
5. Slowly lift up the trailing leg and return to a hip-width stance
6. Repeat for 10-15 steps in one direction before returning with the opposite leading leg for an equal number of repetitions
7. Complete two to three sets of 10-15 reps in each direction before increasing the band tension

Resistance Band Push-ups

If your pushup is becoming a stale part of your strength routine, try this more challenging banded version that will get you sweating in no time (and don’t say we didn’t warn you)!

1. Place the band around your back at approximately shoulder blade-height
2. Keep a hand in each ends of the band and firmly place your hands on the floor
3. Step your feet back into a pushup position so your shoulders are directly above your wrists and your legs are straight, supported on your toes
4. Brace your abdominals and retract your shoulder blades
5. Slowly lower your chest all the way to the floor; as soon as you make contact, press back up strong to an elbow lock
6. Maintain your body in a stable position from your shoulders to your feet with no “snaking”, or, arching throughout the movement
7. Complete three sets of 8-15 repetitions before increasing the band tension
8. If floor pushups are too difficult, place your hands on an elevated surface (like a box or a bench) and execute the above in exactly the same fashion

Each of these powerful strength builders can be done individually or together as a circuit. This approach will allow for added recovery for individual muscles and, as a result, you’ll be able to push harder on each exercise and also elevate your heart rate.

How to do Vegas for People Who Don’t Do Vegas

We know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas but what if you’re the type that wants to remember everything? Maybe you’re the kind of person that wants an unforgettable itinerary instead of one to forget. It’s a common misconception that things to do in Las Vegas are usually reduced to buffets and casinos (and other gambles…). In fact, there’s a side to Las Vegas attractions that might make you a regular in no time.

 

Swim the Pools of the Strip

Encore Beach Club
Photo by: Almc1217 (Own work) under license CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Things to do in Vegas include a lot of options to pamper you like an A-lister. We know Lady Luck isn’t for everyone but poolside scenes rarely disappoint. A variety of designer visions against the desert backdrop will transform your outlook. Take advantage of some the most luxuriant pools in America at your pick of 5-star resorts. Most hotel pools don’t require you to be a guest. Simply get a day pass for a lounger or a cabana and indulge in some well-deserved R&R.

 


Head Back to Nature

Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas
Photo by flickr/Bureau of Land Management under license CC BY 2.0

Maybe a few heady days of indulgence will have you feeling like you need the cathartic effects of Mother Nature. Drive 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip for the pleasures of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: almost 200,000 acres of unique geologic formations, wildlife, hiking trails, horseback riding and picnic areas and more. The Mojave Desert landscape is positively ethereal so bring your camera to snap shots that people won’t believe are from your “Vegas trip.”

 


Get Eco-artsy

The Smith Center Las Vegas
Published with permission, photo by: Geri Kodey/The Smith Center

Fancy yourself an eco-traveler? Visit a building. Green enthusiasts and architecture buffs will appreciate a visit to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the only arts center in the nation to earn Gold LEED certification. LEED, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, awards best-in-class, sustainable architecture. These buildings manage resources more effectively, provide healthier environs for occupants and use clean energy. The gorgeous, Neo-Art Deco building is worth a visit for this reason alone but it also offers a variety of entertainment whether your taste is Broadway productions or Lyle Lovett acoustic, cabaret and more.

 


Indulge Your Inner Foodie

CarneVino_4161
Published with permission, photo by: Kelly Campbell

Las Vegas restaurants expend righteous resources to attract some of the best chefs in the world. Don’t miss out on the latest trends in gastronomy and mixology to satisfy your palate with strange and unique dishes, or even just some amazing interpretations on a classic, like pancakes. Start with a breakfast of red velvet pancakes. You’re welcome. A few pool laps later, you know what’s going to hit the right spot? Oxtail croquets. Hiking the long trail? By the time you get back downtown, you’ll be primed for Mario Batali’s world-famous, 240-day aged Riserva ribeye. If you need one last hurrah, then grab a nightcap of liquid nitrogen cocktails. Your pillow will never feel softer.

So you see, while Las Vegas is best known for certain indulgences, it’s a city that lets you define decadence however you wish. Enjoy!

Can I Be a Digital Nomad? What You Need to Know

You’re sipping a piña colada and lazing on golden-sanded shores. You’ve just finished work for the day and finally logged off. Now, it’s time to relax in some glorious haven before jetting off to the next place on your travel bucket list. Sure, it might all sound too good to be true,  but, for digital nomads at least, this scene could be oh-so-familiar. 

What is a Digital Nomad?

In a recent survey from MBO Partners State of Independence, 4.8 million Americans described themselves as digital nomads. The truth is that it can be applied to just about anybody who travels and works at the same time. They frequently move from place-to-place, never settling on one destination, AKA living the dream.  

digital nomad working at airport

Step 1: Get a Remote Job  

If traveling while you work sounds like bliss, you may be wondering how you can make it happen. The first step is landing a role that allows you to move around. Many digital nomads are freelancers who work for themselves. Of course, should you want to go down this route, it’s vital that you build a strong, stable client list first.

However, another, more secure way to go is to look for a remote role. Luckily, these job types are becoming more and more popular. A massive 43% of American employees had careers which allowed them to work remotely in 2016, according to a Gallup Report. That means that snapping up this kind of flexible role could be easier than you think.

Step 2: Choose Your Destination

You’ve decided to become a fully-fledged digital nomad. Next, comes the hard part – deciding where in the world to go. Nomad List, a crowdsourced database listing the best places to live and work, could have the answer. The site analyzes major cities around the world and looks at criteria such as the average cost of living, internet quality, fun and activities, and, perhaps most crucially, safety. 

digital nomad

Topping the list are booming urban areas such as Canggu, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Buenos Aires. Of course, when you’ve chosen a place that suits you, it’s important to do a little research online and find out as much as possible. The more you know about the place and its culture, the easier it will be when you get there.

Step 3: Finalize the Minor Details 

Once you’ve got the right role and found a city you’d like to visit, it’s time to hammer out those final details. Finding short-term lets can often be the hardest part, but you can get decent enough deals on Airbnb and Uniplaces. You will also need to pick a co-working space you can use while you’re abroad. Not only is a workspace a great place to meet fellow nomads, but it will also keep you sane when you have deadlines to hit. Apps like Croissant allow you to find flexible spaces and book online ahead of time. 

If all of the above sounds like a headache, there is another option. Travel companies, such as Remote Year and WiFi Tribe, can take care of everything from your accommodation and co-working space to flights, trips, and excursions. When you go with one of the package deals they offer, you will travel with a group of like-minded workers over the course of several months or even an entire year. Simple. 

Step 4: Meeting Fellow Nomads 

digital nomad beyond words 3

Let’s not beat around the bush – traveling to a foreign country alone is scary. Scratch that, it’s absolutely, positively terrifying. When you arrive, you’ll come up against the biggest obstacle of all. Perhaps for the first time in your adult life, you’re going to need to make friends. Thankfully, you won’t be alone for long. Here are some of the resources you can use:

Bumble BFF: The well-known dating app isn’t just for finding ‘the one.’ It actually has a friend-finding feature, too, called BFF. Create a profile and start swiping for new contacts in your area. Why not arrange a friend date?

Facebook Groups: Search groups for a ‘digital nomad’ community in your area. You should find that there are loads of options, including female-only groups. Of course, you should always put your safety first when meeting people online. 

Meetup: Want to meet interesting people who share your interests? The Meetup app is the way to go. Once you’ve downloaded the app and set up a profile, you can start searching for groups in your area, such as wine and book clubs. 

Ready to take the leap and become a digital nomad? If you’re filled with wanderlust but need to work to live, it’s the ideal solution. This brief guide should have given you an overview of the basics. However, it’s important to realize that there are many different ways you can make this lifestyle work for you. Start researching destinations and schemes today and see what you can find out. After all, there’s a great big world out there!

21 Things You Must Do When Visiting Helsinki

Forget Reykjavik, Helsinki is the dreamy Nordic city you need to visit this year. From the culinary scene to the steaming saunas, to the boutique shopping (yes, shopping), Helsinki is booming with activities.

Nestled against the sea, Finland’s capital city offers everything you need for a holiday of adrenaline-filled adventures, luxurious pampering, or a combination of the two. And with Finnair’s stopover program, which lets you stop in Helsinki for up to five days on your way to or from select European and Asian destinations for no additional fee, it’s easier than ever to visit. 

Here are the 21 things to eat, see, and do that should be on your Helsinki itinerary.

21 Things to Do in Helsinki

  1. Sniff, swirl and sip natural wines at Baskeri & Basso.
  2. Explore Helsinki’s Central Park. The mystical forest park stretches across the city from north to south. Pro Tip: If you visit during the colder months, the park transforms into a winter wonderland which is best explored on cross-country skis. Rent a pair at the Paloheinä Recreational Center.
  3. Melt your worries away at Lonna, a traditional Finnish sauna.
  4. Tuck in at night surrounded by modern luxury at Hotel Lilla Roberts.
  5. Love Marimekko? Learn all about Finnish design culture at the Design Museum.
  6. Or make a day out of museum hopping with visits to the Helsinki Art Museum and the Helsinki City Museum
  7. Smell the hops and have a Finnish craft beer at Bryggeri. Whatever brew you order will go well with one of their pretzels. 
  8. Take an icy plunge in a fresh pool at Allas Sea Pool and then warm up with a steamy soak at the floating seap spa. 
  9. Take a 15-minute ferry ride to the islands of Suomenlinna, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Fortress of Suomenlinna.
  10. Indulge in vegetarian comfort food at Yes Yes Yes!.
  11. Slurp the salmon soup at Kauppatori in Market Square. The famous market with a variety of food and craft stalls is also a good place to buy friends and family (or yourself) souvenirs. 
  12. Briefly get out of the city with a day trip to charming Porvoo. Roughly 30 miles from Helsinki, the historic city is known for brilliant red houses, cozy cafes and funky shops. 
  13. Listen to Finland’s emerging artists at Semifinal.
  14. Take a trip back in time at the Tram Museum
  15. Dance the night away at Los Cojones (the place is small but dancing on the table is allowed if not encouraged). 
  16. Spend an afternoon or a day wandering around Helsinki’s Kallio neighborhood. From its market square of Hakaniemi to its vintage shops it’ll be hard to tear yourself away from this part of the city.
  17. Stop by the Central Railway Station and marvel at 1919 National Romantic style building.
  18. Surround yourself in Art Nouveau architecture with a walk through the neighborhoods of  Katajanokka, Kruunuhaka or Eira.
  19. Put the pedal to medal cycling around the city by renting a city bike for the day or week. 
  20. Dine at the farm (hydroponic that is). Ultima grows a majority of its ingredients inside its restaurant thanks to an on-site hydroponic farm.
  21. Escape the bustle of the city with a walk around the bay in Töölönlahti park.

3 Simple Attitude Adjustments for Better Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is all in your head.

But closing your eyes and visualizing an empty inbox or a completed to-do list isn’t quite enough to take you from stress-emailing under the table all through dinner to a full night’s rejuvenating rest free of work-themed dreams (or nightmares).

One of the worst side effects of work creeping into your personal life is all the feelings of negativity and guilt: they somehow seem to slip right past the five o’clock cutoff to accompany us on our commute home, through family hour, couch potato time, and straight into bed with us, where we wake up the next morning to their screaming with the voice of a menacing alarm clock.

If you want to leave work at work, you need to unwind your mind and put work in its place.

Me-time is a lost cause when all you can think about is office time. Try these three simple attitude adjustments to start your transformation from overworked, overstressed corporate burn-out to balanced, whole person with respect and reverence for your own personal time.

 

Attitude Adjustment #1: Swap prescriptive thinking for descriptive thinking

In our hectic professional lives, we devote unrecoverable quantities of time and energy to fretting about what we should have already done or really ought to be doing right now, realities and constraints of the current situation be damned.

Most of us are should-ing all over ourselves by late afternoon: I should’ve had a shorter lunch, how did I spend an hour and a half on that meeting, I ought to have finished this project an hour ago… But that kind of prescriptive thinking, prescribing what we think ideally should be happening despite the circumstances and constraints around it, is just making us more neurotic and stealing our time.

Handsome man working

The attitude adjustment: drop the prescription and switch to descriptive thinking, simply observing your situation without judgment and reporting to yourself on it: “Today I expected to spend one hour on this project. It took nearly three hours.”

Avoid the knee-jerk reflex to wag a mental finger in your own face, and instead take a dose of reflection: Why did this take me three hours? Did I forget to set aside time for research, preparation, etc.? Did something happen outside my control to change my schedule today? Was I maybe just not feeling particularly motivated?

These questions are infinitely more useful than berating yourself for not living up to your ideal reality. Should focuses on a past that you’ve already lost control of, while descriptive thinking is all about observing what happened today to better take on tomorrow.

 

Attitude Adjustment #2: Switch time management for energy management

Every day gives you the same 1,440 minutes of opportunity, and no matter how you “manage” those minutes, you’ll never budge that total by a single minute.

All the to-do lists and productivity hacks in the world are impotent against traffic jams, alarm clock malfunctions, gregarious coworkers, and the flu. Instead of starting your work day focused on managing your time, try looking to that other precious resource that you do have some control over: energy.

women working

Just as circadian rhythms like sleep determine our day-to-day physical cycles, we’re also subject to shorter biological rhythms that occur multiple times within a day: ultradian rhythms. And where you find yourself in the throes of these constantly-revving rhythms largely determines your energy levels at any given point throughout the day.

The secret of energy management is finding the rhythm of your own rhythm and moving to it instead of trying to overcome it.

Ultradian rhythms come in cycles of about 90-120 minutes from an energy peak to an energy trough, and those highs and lows are higher and lower at different times of day: Morning people get their most creative and productive work done after a crack-of-dawn yoga session, whereas for others the lightbulb only switches on at 4:00 in the afternoon while the rest of us are slumped over a desk in a pile of empty Starbucks paraphernalia.

By monitoring, understanding, and responding to your body’s own natural energy levels, you can mindfully ask yourself the right questions and deduce how to strategically apply your limited energy. Sometimes better work-life balance is as simple as moving that hour-long email session from your energetic morning hours to the energy-deprived afternoon.

 

Attitude Adjustment #3: Round up with the Rule of Quarters

Hofstadter’s Law is ridiculously simple yet infallibly true and unavoidably relevant to time management: Everything you plan for will take longer than expected.

And the Rule of Quarters is an equally simple and potent way of compensating for our inability to expect the unexpected. Just add 25% to every time estimate on your schedule.

check time watch
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

One hour meeting at noon? Give it an hour and fifteen. Four hours needed to prepare your presentation? Let’s call it five.

For extra efficiency, follow the spirit of this law more closely than its letter. Round everything up to the next hour or logical increment. (Your 35-minute commute is really closer to an hour anyways when you include parking, polite morning hellos, and making a cup of coffee at the office.) And when you feel like your estimate still might be cutting it close, don’t be shy about allotting an hour and a half for the hour-long task.

Indeed, overestimating is where the true bliss of the Rule of Quarters can be found. When you expected your errand to take an hour, planned for an hour and fifteen, but it only took fifty-five minutes, you’ve suddenly gifted yourself a surprise 20 minutes!

accounting working woman
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

The mental separation of work and life is just as important or more than the physical separation of leaving the office and heading home. This week, whenever you catch work stress creeping into the after hours, try checking it with one or all of these three attitude adjustments and get the down time you need and deserve.

SWEAT by BW: Booty Building Workout

Glute training, or “booty-building” as it’s affectionately known in the fitness world these days, is all the latest craze, and its popularity is not without merit.  Developing the glutes, upper hamstrings, and all of the powerful hip extensor muscles of the backside will not only give you a firm and toned posterior, it will help in injury prevention and create the stability and muscle tone needed to improve posture.

Booty-building has also received a huge pat on the back and validation from the physical therapy community.  Glute activation is one of the most significant themes in developing better posture and alignment in the hips and pelvis.  Orthopedic pain and many dysfunctional movement patterns can stem directly from our inability to activate the glutes in basic exercises and daily activities.  This is compounded with the typical postures we find ourselves forced into in the modern workplace and during activities like driving which leave the glutes weak and flaccid.  This also leaves the function of our hips weak and unstable, and since the hips are the center of all athletic functional movement, reclaiming that function should be a primary goal of any exercise program.

We live in a much more enlightened age of exercise than we once did.  In a world where strong is the new skinny, people have embraced a well-developed backside.  Perhaps the popularity of booty-building lies in a simple observation.  The fastest, strongest, and most athletic people on the planet tend to have well developed backsides!  Just take a look at major sporting events like the Olympics: sprinting, gymnastics, field and court sports have little in common except that the best in those sports clearly are using their backsides to perform!

If you want to simultaneously develop an athletic-looking backside as well as create a stable and balanced posture, these four booty-building movements should be a regular part of your program.

Hip Bridge

The hip bridge is probably the single most effective glute exercise out there.

1. Start by laying your upper back and shoulders perpendicular across a bench

2. Walk your feet out away from the bench until your ankles are directly under your knees and your shins are vertical

3. Start with your hips up in a bridge position to ensure proper muscle engagement

4. Make sure your abs and ribcage are braced down and your butt is squeezed hard!

5. To begin the movement, slowly lower your hips and torso together in one line until your butt points approximately toward the ground (or until stable depth is achieved)

6. Drive your hips back up powerfully to the starting bridge position and squeeze for 2 seconds

7. Complete three sets of 10-15 repetitions

For an added challenge, place a weight (barbell, dumbbell etc.) at your hips while performing all sets and reps.

 

Deficit Reverse Lunge

The classic reverse lunge is a stand-out in the myriad of leg and glute strengtheners, but the addition of the deficit puts this already great movement into overdrive!

1. Stack plates or identify a small block approximately 3-5 inches high

2. Stand on the elevated surface with both feet

3. Breathe in and brace your abdominals

4. Step backwards with one leg and soften your knees until the back knee lightly “kisses” the floor

5. As soon as floor contact is achieved, bring both legs back together on top of the elevated surface

6. Complete three sets of 10-15 repetitions per leg

For an added challenge, hold weights in your hands (dumbbell, kettlebell) while performing all sets and reps.

 

Single Leg Deadlift

The single leg deadlift simultaneously develops amazing hamstring and glute power while imparting incredible balance and coordination.  You’d be hard-pressed to find a more all-in-one exercise!

1. Place a light bar or dumbbells in each hand

2. Balance on one single leg

3. While keeping your hips and shoulders square to the ground, hinge at your hips, reaching one leg backward until a gentle stretch is felt in the back of the balancing leg

4. Return slowly back to standing position with both legs together for balance

5. Complete three sets of 8-12 repetitions per leg before adding heavier hand weights

 

Dragon Step-Up

This unique looking movement places great stress on the glutes while at the same time creating flexible hips and ankles for the ultimate in flexibility and strength!

1. Identify a step box that places the thigh at greater than parallel when one foot is on top

2. Standing to the side of the box, step your outside leg in front onto box. Press up to bring your inside leg to standing position on top of box.

3. Once you’re on top of the box, slowly step the same leading leg behind the other leg off the box. Bring your trailing leg back to standing position on the floor.

4. Repeat this process back across box in the other direction.

5. Complete three sets of 20-30 total box cross-overs

For an added challenge, place a light weight in your hands at chest level.

These exercises are fantastic as workouts in and of themselves but can also be easily added on to the back end of a classic leg training day in the gym.  For more intensity, try doing the above exercises in a circuit style.  The compound effect of circuit-style glute training will increase the impact of all of the movements individually.  But watch out for extreme DOMS (delayed-onset-muscle-soreness!) and build to the task over multiple workouts.

Moving Abroad: One of the Scariest, Craziest, and Best Decisions I Ever Made

One day, not unlike any other, I got a call from my husband that would inevitably change our lives forever. There was a job opening for a position in England and he wanted to apply for it. We both thought that it would be an amazing opportunity for us and for our children to try something new and experience a completely different culture. We decided to go for it and let fate decide.

About a week later, he called me and told me that he had been selected for the job. I was equally thrilled and anxious. I’ve always wanted to visit England, but living there would be quite different. We only had three months to prepare for our move and there was so much to do. After we got the big stuff out of the way (passports, visas, and travel plans) I started to feel more excited than anything else. Finally, moving day came and we were on our way. The actual trip over went better than I had imagined. Our infant and toddler rocked the long flights, even with delays and sleep deprivation.

passengers plane blue
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

As we handed our paperwork to the customs officer, it really set in: I live in England. I’m thousands of miles away from everything and everyone I know. We wouldn’t be seeing our families much over the next few years, unless it was on a screen. I suddenly felt displaced and alone. Maybe I would feel better after I got some rest and regained my bearing, I thought.

When the jet lag finally wore off and coffee was enough to pull me out of the haze I was in, I started transitioning to my new life in England. We started looking for a house and a car. There was definitely a bit of culture shock at first. Everything was smaller here. Looking at houses and cars made me panic for a moment. Are we going to find a place that works for us? Are the kids going to be happy? Was moving here the right decision?

Then I realized that I needed to stop comparing everything and just see it for what it is. Things weren’t wrong, they were just different. The second house we looked at was in a small village and had an amazing view of a big potato farm behind it. Unlike the first house we looked at, it wasn’t on a busy,  narrow street. It was also walking distance from my son’s new preschool and a nature preserve. We fell in love with it almost instantly.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

This is an old country, brimming with historical sites and beautiful architecture. However, the layout of the roads is just as old and was designed with horses in mind. I was actually warned upon my arrival to watch out for horses because they’re worth more than my car: no joke. Many roads are barely wide enough for two cars. Parking is scarce so it’s common to see people parked halfway on a curb anywhere along the road. When driving, you have to weave around them, pedestrians, and cyclists while hoping that the drivers coming at you have had enough tea to keep their reflexes sharp. After awhile, it’s become second nature and I’ve honestly wondered if it’ll be just as weird switching back to driving on the right side of the road when I go back to America.

Once we settled in a little, I began to fall in love with England. The skies here are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Breathtaking blue skies and big, fluffy clouds provide the perfect contrast for the bright green, open fields. Every time I look out at the view behind our house, especially at sunset, I feel serene and content.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Of all the places to move abroad, I’m glad I went to England first. There’s a wide variety of accents and, while they use many words and phrases that I’m not used to, it’s still less of a dramatic difference since they speak English. I keep forgetting that I’m the one with the foreign accent now. Most of the locals don’t seem to care at all and almost all of them have been very friendly.

There are castles, cathedrals, Stonehenge, Shakespeare’s home, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace… the list of things to see and do here goes on and on. It’s also just a cheap train ride or a quick flight to many other places in Europe. I love that my kids get to explore these places rather than just reading about them in a book. Also, my son gets the experience of attending British school for the first few years. My daughter is just learning to speak, so it’ll be interesting to see if either of them pick up a British accent.

I miss my family and friends all the time, but I also feel like this is the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m so glad we went for it. If you’re considering moving abroad, I would tell you to let go of the fear of the unknown and take the leap. You won’t regret it.

Gothenburg: The West Coast Gem of Sweden

ABBA. Ikea. Swedish meatballs. Many of us think we know Sweden, but there’s a whole lot more to this scenic Nordic country than you think. Head to the west coast, where you’ll find Gothenburg: a huge city with endless opportunities for adventure.

Let Nature Heal You in Gothenburg

In Gothenburg, you’ll find a peaceful openness that’s hard to come by elsewhere. Its many parks and gardens are the perfect setting for leisurely strolls and picnics. The Gothenburg Botanical Garden is home to 16,000 species of plants, and its greenhouses have the largest collection of tropical orchids in Sweden.

gothenburg botanical gardens

If you want to enjoy Gothenburg like a local, make your way to Slottsskogen — Gothenburg’s main park. Aside from dreamy views, you might run into elks, Gotland ponies, Gute sheep, and other friendly creatures at their zoo.

Cap it all off with a visit to Jonsered Gardens, which dates back to the 1800s. It’s green as far as the eye can see, and every photo you snap promises to be 100% Instagram-worthy.

Get Active

Gothenburg is a dream come true for cyclists. Regardless of your fitness level, you’ll love biking through the woods, around the lakes, and along the coast. Stunning country roads line Gothenburg’s beaches and fields. People traveling on foot also love the many trails, paths, and city streets.

gothenburg walking trail

Many locals will tell you that Gothenburg is the place to be for rock climbing, too. Take a boat to the island of Hönö for bouldering or visit the cliffs of Utby for the ultimate experience. If you prefer a more controlled environment, they have plenty of indoor rock climbing, too.

Don’t forget that the archipelago (which is made up of over 20 islands!) affords the best opportunities for unforgettable time spent on the water. Grab a paddle and give canoeing, paddleboarding, or kayaking a try, whether you hit the archipelago, the city canals, or the inland lakes.

If you want to try your hand at reeling in the next big catch, Gothenburg is the place to be — with its lobster safaris and fishing tours.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

If you want to kick back and loosen up, Gothenburg has a wide selection of bars to visit. Bar Centro is known for wines made from organically-grown grapes. Somm is another local favorite for dozens of luxurious libations.

You’ll undoubtedly get hungry on your Gothenburg adventure. Start by hitting up some of the city’s most popular breakfast joints. Kafé Magasinet serves sourdough bread from their in-house bakery and freshly ground organic coffee — the makings of a breakfast fit for royalty.

De Matteo is a local coffee shop chain known for their breakfast buffet, carrying bread, cheese, jam, porridge, juice, and coffee.

We’re not drooling. You’re drooling.

Being surrounded by so much water, you can expect the seafood in the city to be unparalleled. Fiskekrogen is where locals go for a delectable seafood platter and fishcakes. If you want a really fancy experience, head to Restaurang vRå, which seats only 40 guests and combines traditional Swedish ingredients with Japanese flavors. The sushi and raw food experience is unlike any other.

Discover More Things to Do

Whether you have kids to entertain or you’re just a big kid yourself, Liseberg (Scandinavia’s biggest amusement park) is a winner. Enjoy its many rides, carousels, and concerts.

Satisfy your inner artist and visit the Gothenburg Museum of Art. Its Nordic collections date back to the 15th century, and you’re guaranteed to experience countless historic works of art.

Do museums pique your interest? Make your way to Universeum and it’s like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale. All under one roof, you can explore a rainforest, enjoy an enormous aquarium, and play witness to its many exotic animals. While it’s certainly family-friendly, any adult can get happily lost here for hours.

No matter what your style is, Gothenburg has something for you. The city’s nightlife is alive and well. Lounge(s) is a local favorite, made up of several rooms and floors, all of which are built to entertain, right up to the rooftop. You’ll never get bored with the club’s variety of decor, music, and bars. It’s like visiting multiple bars without ever needing to leave.

To better immerse yourself in the city’s history, visit Valand. It’s one of Gothenburg’s oldest nightclubs, where people have been cutting loose since the 1900s. Admire the old artwork and dazzling crystal chandeliers.

If you want to step outside the box, Yaki-Da is the place to go. The club is famous for its extravagant coffee bar, which presumably helps keep you awake to hang out on the dance floor longer while taking breaks to enjoy the open-air terrace.

To all nature-lovers, nightclub-goers, foodies, and beyond — Gothenburg will never let you down.

If you want to learn more about the Nordic countries, read our article on Reykjavik, Iceland.

Surprisingly Good Things That Can Come from Divorce

According to the American Psychological Association, around 40% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. While that statistic accounts for nearly half of all marriages in this country, what’s not telling of this percentage is the number of former spouses who are happier for it. If you’ve had a divorce or are going through one right now, it’s normal to experience grief, feel ashamed, or flood yourself with what seems like a never-ending barrage of questions, especially with cultural norms to worry about and religious expectations to uphold.

But divorce doesn’t always have immediately elicit the negative. In fact, many people post-divorce find that life outside of their marriages has been filled with the exact opposite. Many divorce papers aren’t filed because the marriage was unhappy, toxic, or because infidelity or abuse was involved. There are even those out there who can look back on their marriage and recognize it as a good thing that came to a mutual end. Whether your marriage ended voluntarily or whether it was something you never wanted out of, here are a few reasons why divorce isn’t the end of the world or your joy, from a few people who came out better on the other side and have never felt happier.

Self-discovery and a new lease on life

One common benefit that people post-divorce comment on is having more time to themselves. While that might seem obvious, we sometimes unknowingly put our needs and goals on the back-burner when we’re consumed in our relationships. When Rebecca, a small business owner from Dallas, married her longtime best friend, they later realized that they were both good people who were just better off as friends.

“He was such a big part of my life and still is, because he was my best friend before he was my husband so we spent years hanging out and just being around each other all the time. When we got divorced I had to learn how to re-build my own identity. I found that in solitude I was more comfortable exploring and pursuing my passions because I didn’t feel like I was letting him down or being selfish, and because of that I’ve been able to build a fulfilling career and life, and still keep my best friend by my side.”

Forgetting the eggshells and being comfortable in your own skin again

Sometimes in marriages, you find yourself morphing into the person your spouse wants you to be. And while partners can definitely inspire positive changes in your life, sometimes it’s over the things that aren’t broken.

“I realized I was trying to change so much about myself to fit into his ideal of ‘perfect’, and I was starting to blame myself for the things I couldn’t change. I didn’t feel comfortable having a fresh face around him, because of my acne and hyperpigmentation that he always asked why I wasn’t able to get rid of, as if I wasn’t trying every product or diet suggestion out there. I couldn’t be real and talk about things like chin hair, blackheads, or passing gas because I wasn’t supposed to have or be doing any of those things. It was stressful trying to be this “perfect” person, and never feeling good enough. It feels amazing being able to be myself and feel beautiful again, every part of me – good or ‘bad’.” – Marianna, Lifestyle & Beauty Blogger

 

Getting to nourish other important relationships in your life

It’s not unusual to neglect certain relationships when you’re married, especially when your partner becomes your everyday and all-in-one person. For Carolina, a Worship and Children’s Ministry Leader from San Diego, it took the end of her marriage to bring her closer to her family and her faith. When her husband left her for another woman, she was devastated and alone for the first time in over a decade.

“Not only was I lost, I was completely blindsided. I had an estranged relationship with my siblings due to a loss in our family years earlier but I had no one else to turn to and I desperately needed their support, so I swallowed my pride and reached out to them. My divorce ended up being the reason we were able to reconcile and are closer than we’ve ever been. I started going to church again and began relying on God to fill the voids in my life. I soon learned that He was the one person who wouldn’t leave me, no matter what. Sometimes we can’t understand why things happen the way they do at the time, but there is a blessing to be found in the heartbreak. I gained true faith and my family back.”

Finding confidence and learning to lean on yourself

If you’re suffering from a marriage that ended due to infidelity or abuse, it’s easy to think that that’s a blow you might not ever be able to recover from. But women all over are turning these lemons into lemonade. Jessica, a Self-Help Coach and Writer from New York, spent months feeling unworthy after finding out that her husband of over 14 years, and dad of their 4 kids, had been unfaithful for almost half of their relationship.

“I felt like a joke. I struggled to even find the energy to get up in the morning most days, even with four bright-eyed babies staring up at me. Then one day, a light in me had switched. I realized I was capable and that there was nowhere to go but up, and I was going to show my children that if I could conquer anything, they could. It was at rock bottom that I found my inner strength and learned to love myself again. I had this toxic mentality that the way people treated me showed me how I should value myself, which was a complete lie. Now I help women all over the country realize their worth and eliminate negative self-talk. I love every second of what I do and I now proudly brag that I’m in a committed relationship with my career!”

Becoming a better parent by being a happy parent

Two people parent better when they are both in better places themselves. Constant bickering and unhealthy conflict handling create a hostile environment for children and one they’re likely to follow in. For Teresa and Taylor, Software Developers from Las Vegas, they made the decision to end their marriage for the sake of their children because of their toxic relationship and inability to get along. They now have joint custody of their children and feel much more successful as co-parents.

“Our children now have the benefit of growing up in two happy households”, they say. “It’s really made all the difference and we have a much better relationship with each other now that we’re not at each other’s throats all the time.”

A lifestyle magazine inspired by author Sylvia Day