5 Cool Ways to Beat Summer Heat

When temperatures and prices for gas and food are all skyrocketing, it may seem like summer can’t come without cost to your health and pocketbook. If you’re struggling to find fun for the family, check out these health-conscious and inexpensive ideas for entertainment.

1. Fake a vacation: try a stay-cation
Keep your vacation bill lower by staying at home and visiting places within driving distance. Like any vacation, you’ll need to do your research. Check your city’s calendar for free events, and explore your town for places you’ve never been, including healthy eating options. Staying home allows you to be more conscious of what you are eating than when you’re in a new place with unfamiliar meal options, and it replaces the long hours of sitting in the car with walking tours of your hometown.
 2. Make a Cool Drink
An activity and a snack all in one! Create popsicles with Innergize! and fresh fruit, or experiment with new ingredients in your favorite Reliv shake to keep your body temperature down. Lemon Innergize! can also jumpstart a favorite summer tradition, the lemonade stand. Delicious and hydrating, a lemonade stand can also be one of the first opportunities to teach your kids about earning and spending money wisely.
 3. Stake a Spot Outside
Stepping out your front door doesn’t cost a thing and is one of the best ways to keep your kids from spending their summer glued to electronics. Take them to a park for time on the playground and games of tag, or hike together for exercise. You can make up scavenger hunts for plants and animals to keep them from becoming tired more quickly, too. For an evening activity, choose backyard camping complete with stargazing and sleeping in a tent. Don’t forget to use the proper amount of sunscreen and bug spray when you’re outside so your fun doesn’t turn sour the next day.

4. Take Up Family Night-In
If it’s too hot or the rain won’t stop, spend an evening indoors. For dinner, let each person pick a dish to make. If your kids are too young to handle the responsibility alone, let them shop for ingredients on a family trip to the grocery store or farmer’s market. Then, let them stir or put the recipe into the baking pan. You can add an extra challenge to see who can create the healthiest part of the meal.
 5. Shake up movie night
Host an outdoor family movie night, which prevents another night on the couch and spending money on sugar-filled movie theater snacks. Invite family friends over so both adults and kids have friends tospend time with, and ask each family to bring a healthy snack like a veggie tray or fruit salad. All you need to do is find a projector and hang up a sheet. Choose a movie from your or another family’s collection, or check out a free one from the library.

VALENTINE - SELF LOvE Month Celebration

When you say I love you ,you are making a promise with someone else’s heart. You should honor it with actions to prove it.Love is not only an emotion . Love is a verb .

 The month of February is usually focused on loving others. That's an awesome thing to do and it's very important when it comes to living a positive life -- but so is loving yourself. So, this year, I've decided that the month of February should also the time of year when we pause and remember to love ourselves as well those around us.

 Honestly, there are too many people in the world who treat others better than they treat themselves. They would never say a harsh would about someone they love, but they're quick to judge themselves and put themselves down. That, to me, is not okay. It's not okay to judge yourself and criticize yourself and, in some cases, even hate yourself. If you want to live the most positive,  present life that you can, you absolutely must love yourself. And you must do it now.

As urgent as this self-love call to action is, it's certainly not an easy task to tackle -- especially if it's something you've struggled with for some time -- which is why I'm dedicating not a post to it, but an entire month of posts. If there's one thing I truly believe in it's self-love, and it's my goal to share all I know about the topic with you this month in hope that someone -- even just one person -- will begin to see how much s/he is worth and how important it is to love him/herself.

  I want to kick off this month of self-love a day early with a few inspiring quotes about loving yourself. Though I have a lot to say on the subject, I'm no self-love expert and so I've gathered quotes on the subject that have inspired me to believe in the value of self-love. I hope you'll take these words of wisdom to heart and use them as reminders to love yourself -- no matter what.

 Self-Love Inspiration

"The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely."
Carl Jung

 "Self-love is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting."
William Shakespeare

 "To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance."
Oscar Wilde

 "Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are."
Kurt Cobain

 "A person's worth in this world is estimated according to the value they put on themselves."
Jean De La Bruyere

 "We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies."
Roderick Thorp

 "Do you want to meet the love of your life? Look in the mirror."
Byron Katie

 "Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

 "Just as much as we see in others we have in ourselves."
William Hazlitt

 "You, as much as anyone in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."
Buddha

 "Do not wish to be anything other than what you are."
St. Francis De Sales

Contemplating.......... LoVe

"The most fun is coming up with the possibilities"

Sadden Me Softly
Posted by contemplatinglove in Poetry

Any way you say it it’s still going to pain me
And I don’t know why
and I don’t know
how
but the sadness crept in slowly
and I felt the urge to scream and I felt
the tears waiting on the corners of my eyes
but I did not let them fall
I’d never let them fall
this isn’t me anymore
not this pain, not this sadness
I am whole
immense
strong and weak
and past and present
I am softness and ice and
blood and heart
and you cannot reach me
only sadness can

Ode to my Sin 
 Posted by contemplatinglove in Love

I never knew what exactly you tried to fix in me
but it worked
And I changed and my world collapsed and you rebuilt it again and again
for me, for me only, for you loved me
With the fire and the passion of a mad man
You didn’t care if you were going to be part of it
You only wanted to save me
and you did
So I chose you
over every reason and over every virtue
because what changes your life
stays within you
A sin against all reason
and a sin against all truth
but not a sin against the heart.

 Cause and Effect
Posted by contemplatinglove in Relationship

Push and you will be resisted
Convince and you will be resented
Love and you will be hated
Cherish and you will be detested
Chase and you will be avoided
Beg and you will be cursed
Want and you will be ignored
Hope and you will be left alone

“The most fun is always coming up with possibilities,” - See more at: http://www.nycmedialab.org/blog/2013/11/contemplating-the-big-big-question-of-organizational-change/#sthash.XD3pDKUo.dpuf

“The most fun is always coming up with possibilities - See more at: http://www.nycmedialab.org/blog/2013/11/contemplating-the-big-big-question-of-organizational-change/#sthash.XD3pDKUo.dpuf

“The most fun is always coming up with possibilities - See more at: http://www.nycmedialab.org/blog/2013/11/contemplating-the-big-big-question-of-organizational-change/#sthash.XD3pDKUo.dpuf

“The most fun is always coming up with possibilities - See more at: http://www.nycmedialab.org/blog/2013/11/contemplating-the-big-big-question-of-organizational-change/#sthash.XD3pDKUo.dpuf

“The most fun is always coming up with possibilities - See more at: http://www.nycmedialab.org/blog/2013/11/contemplating-the-big-big-question-of-organizational-change/#sthash.XD3pDKUo.dpuf

End of Year Check-In … 2013 is nearly over and were looking ahead of 2014!

Setting small goals and meeting them is one example. However, setting big goals also can be helpful.

Setting large goals for the year, for example, can help you to think about the big picture. And, once you meet those goals, it can be useful to think about all you have done so that you can develop motivation to move forward. The trick is to set reasonable goals and reasonable expectations for meeting them.

The end of the year is a great time to go back to your big goals and see all that you have accomplished during the year.  As I was looking over what I did for last month, I was a bit down because most of what I did was to continue to revise works in progress. It can be hard to see the progress I am making when all I have to say for November is that I revised a chapter and an article and they are still unfinished. To pull myself out of that slump, I decided to look at all I have done over the course of 2013. And, it turns out I have some major accomplishments to report.

 I find looking back over my accomplishments to be rewarding. It also gives me energy to move forward and keep up momentum for next year. “People are working a little longer at their primary career, and even in retirement they’re saying, ’I could have 20, 25, even 30 years in retirement,”’

ETI Travel and Tours - Travel & Leisure and Travel Agencies and Ticketing

ETI Travel and Tours - Travel & Leisure and Travel Agencies and Ticketing

25 Ways to Travel Cheap

People always ask how I have the money to travel as much as I do. Well here are a few secrets, my friends! Hopefully you can learn from a few of my mistakes and benefit from some of my tips!
1.     The obvious way: travel on budget airlines. When I traveled around Southeast Asia, Air Asia, Jetstar and Tiger were insanely cheap – and I’m talking $65 flights from Bali to Phuket. I couldn’t express how much the phrase “you get what you pay for” applies to these, however, but they [usually] got us where we needed to go.
2.     TRIPADVISOR. TRIPADVISOR. TRIPADVISOR. We booked every single hotel after first reviewing them on tripadvisor.com. This website is absolutely essential to get the best value. From splurging on a 5 star hotel in Bangkok (Oriental Residence - best hotel I’ve EVER stayed at) to an amazingly clean & ideally located $25 hotel in Phuket (Simpletel Hotel) – Tripadvisor NEVER let us down. We also always booked through Agoda.com to get discounts and acquire points, instead of going through the actual website.
3.     HAGGLE. This obviously can only be done in some countries but it’s possible to pay $25 instead of the advertised $75 to spend the day white water rafting in Bali with transportation, all equipment and lunch included. Just see the advertised price as a suggestion and you’ll probably end up paying half that amount, at most. Don’t be afraid to be ballsy, they love taking advantage of foreigners.
4.     Get a little bit of exercise - since it’s usually free and it’s good for you, duh. Go on hikes and check out the natural beauty in every country. Walk places instead of taking cabs/buses and absorb your surroundings. Go jogging on the beach. Swim in the ocean. (Evidence below that the best things in life are free.)

5.     Do a little bit of research. A lot of cities will have free festivals (Melbourne had at least one a month) or free museums (the Te Papa museum in Wellington, New Zealand is AMAZING. The colossal squid is out of control.) Research how far your hotel is from the airport & the best way to get there – a quick Google search can turn your $80 cab ride into a [slightly-longer] $4 bus ride. Research if tipping is the custom so you don’t unnecessarily tip your servers in Australia who are already making $25/$30 an hour.
6.     Use public transportation. I come from California where the public transport system is essentially non-existent in most cities so everyone has a car. AKA walking down dark, shady subways to catch a train with creepy crackheads shouting obscenities at innocent passer byers did NOT seem appealing. However, how can you argue with $56 a MONTH for unlimited use of the bus, tram & train in Australia (MyKi is essential)– as opposed to $60 a week spent on gas. Public transport may not be the most convenient or the easiest alternative, but it definitely will save you ridiculous amounts of money. Or just get a bicycle and you’re being even more eco-friendly, along with gaining multiple perks (I go  on about this in another post ;)).
7.     Don’t check luggage!! This is important for several reasons: First of all, you will save HUNDREDS of dollars. It’s anywhere from $25-$50 to check luggage so you can do the math if you’re catching a lot of flights. Learn what the essentials are so you also don’t need to drag around a ton of luggage when travelling.
8.     Pay attention to exchange rates. Try to get good rates on different currencies and get it before you go to that country. Call banks and see if they have the currency you need. If the rate is good, get enough for the entire time you’ll be there. This will also help you budget your money because you’ll only have an allocated amount you’re supposed to spend in each country. (Don’t exchange money at airports, the rates are usually terrible.)
9.     Get a Charles Schwab bank account or one that will also let you withdraw money on any ATM with no fees. Charles Schwab is an example and you can use any ATM in the world. That means no $5 fees every time you run out of money at a bar and need to withdraw a little bit of cash.
10.     Groupons/Scoopons, Living Socials, etc. Superb way to find hidden gems while getting awesome deals. These were especially helpful in Australia where there are hundreds upon hundreds of dining/drinking options that are also twice as expensive as in America. Sign up and get a couple emails a day to get a 3 course meal for $15, a scuba certification class for $150 or a 5 night stay in Fiji for $200. Need I say more?
11.     Pregame. I know what you’re thinking and NO – you are not too old to pregame. As much fun as it is to spend $18 on every single cocktail while out each night, try drinking a bit before so you only need to buy a few social drinks at the bar (I’ve perfected this strategy during my college day). Unless, of course, you’re in the Philippines where beer is sometimes 80 cents.
12.     Work while you’re abroad. I know, I know – who wants to work while you’re on vacation. My philosophy: you’re life can be a vacation if you work even just a little bit the entire time. If you want to be somewhere a little bit more long term, then get a side job at a bar, café or wherever your calling may be. You’ll make friends, meet the locals and really get a taste of the culture from different perspectives. And you’ll obviously be making some money to fund for the next adventure. It’s a win-win situation.
13.     Use Craigslist or Gumtree or whatever site where people can buy & sell essentially anything. I used it to buy a used bicycle and enjoyed dozens of amazing bike rides around Melbourne. Before moving away, I posted it back on Gumtree and sold it for the same amount I bought it for. BOOM.
14.     Eat the local food. More often than not, those slightly dodgy-looking hole-in-the-wall places will be the most delicious, authentic food you can get. And also the cheapest. We did make the mistake of eating dog in Thailand (which I would never ever EVER recommend) but it’s all part of the experience, right?
15.     Negotiate with cab drivers BEFORE getting in the car (if they refuse to use a meter, which is almost always around Southeast Asia). They can spot tourists a mile away and would LOVE to up their normal fee by 300%. See Tip #3.
16.     Blog-stalk. I love reading people’s blogs but one of the more practical benefits is that you can get a first hand take on other people’s experiences traveling where you’re about to go. I blog-stalked like crazy before leaving for Korea and thankfully brought a sufficient amount of deodorant as I was advised since it’s a rare find in this country.
17.     If you’re like me and over pack and then also buy way too many clothes abroad, you’ll have to figure out how to get all of your stuff back home. We debated sending a package back but this can be pricey (we’re talking $200 for a 30 pound package from Australia – US). Instead, we packed everything in a giant box and checked an additional bag at the airport. It was still $100 but at least we wouldn’t have to wait weeks for it to arrive. The fun part is lugging around 4 carry-ons and 5 checked items between the two of us.

18.     Suspend your cell phone for the duration of your trip (AT&T will allow you to do this at $10/month. Other services let you do it for free).
19.     Cancel your gym membership (Tip #4 will negate this loss).
20.     Sell your car (it’s amazing what no car insurance or car payments will do for your wallet).
21.     Work out your housing situation to where you don’t have to pay rent while you’re away (this is where family members come in handy – you might spend some time crashing on their couches) & finish leases or sublet your place.
22.     Pay off credit cards before you leave – if you’re spending money to go on a long-term vacay, you probably shouldn’t have debt, anyway! (Easier said than done, right?)
23.     Before, in between, and after traveling: sell/give away/throw away your belongings you don’t need. Traveling really makes you realize what’s important in life. So give away that half of your closet that you never wear (if you survived without them for a year, you probably don’t need them). Sell the furniture that you’ve kept in storage for months. Yes, you’ll need stuff when you get back but it’s amazing how much you can minimize if you really try.

SOME EXTRA [SUPER]-POOR MAN’S TIPS:

24.     Sleep at airports. Yes, I’m serious. Here’s my logic: if you have a flight early the next morning, what’s the point in paying for another night at a hotel you will barely spend any time in? PLUS – you don’t have to wake up early to get to the airport since you’ll already be there. Another win-win my friend. But please research and make sure the airports are open 24/7 because they WILL kick you out and force you to sleep on the beach, which isn’t as fun as it seems.
25.     If you exceed the weight limitation on your carry-on bags (which is a LOT easier than it seems, especially if you follow tip #7), wear the weight. Wear multiple layers and you can easily wear half the weight in your bag (this is actually pretty convenient if you’re sleeping on the beach & need to keep warm because Tip #24 didn’t work out so well). Or, you know, you could just pack light, but where’s the fun in that?

Now that you’ve saved literally hundreds and hundreds of dollars, you can loosen up the purse strings and splurge on the amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that would normally be out of your price range. Being frugal is always good, but even better when it allows you to spend $270 to go scuba diving in the great barrier reef or $600 to to go sky diving in New Zealand. BAM.

NEW DAY, NEW HOPE - A BRIGHTER TOMMORROW

All too often, we tend to spend too much time looking back in the past with misery and failures, instead of living our lives, we give the past too much importance over who we are now, as opposed to what and who we were during the time that we are still ok. Lets not forget that there is still tomorrow, a new hope for a bright future. Let me share some light words to inspire us that there is still a bright shiny day ahead of us, a positive bright future:

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”
― L.M. Montgomery

 “Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson,

 “Today is a new day. Don't let your history interfere with your destiny! Let today be the day you stop being a victim of your circumstances and start taking action towards the life you want. You have the power and the time to shape your life. Break free from the poisonous victim mentality and embrace the truth of your greatness. You were not meant for a mundane or mediocre life!”
― Steve Maraboli

“Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.”
― Douglas Pagels

 “Have you ever seen the dawn? Not a dawn groggy with lack of sleep or hectic with mindless obligations and you about to rush off on an early adventure or business, but full of deep silence and absolute clarity of perception? A dawning which you truly observe, degree by degree. It is the most amazing moment of birth. And more than anything it can spur you to action. Have a burning day.”
― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration 

 “Every new day is a once in a lifetime event. How much more exciting would our lives be if we embraced this truth and lived accordingly?!”
― Steve Maraboli

As I sat in the cafe along with my Nieces and Nephew, I began to think that I still need a hope for tomorrow. They are still there to rely on me for their bright and positive future. I know that I need to work on it and strive to be a better one again. The future is not only for me but for the people I loved most - My Family.