More Fun

So apparently I took my own advice last week about having fun because after I got back from vacation, I just continued to have fun.

• My very first Minnesota Landscape Arboretum visit on a beautiful fall day.
• Painting ceramics at Color Me Mine (I am NOT an artist or very creative).
• Played Phase 10 at Chatterbox with friends
• Valley Scare (haunted houses and roller coasters)
• World's Largest Corn Maze Run
• Fall fun including pig races, launching pumpkins through a cannon, laying in a corn pit, and jumping on a giant air pillow
• LYNX WNBA play off game
• Talked on a professional panel to a group of seniors at St Cate's
• 3 movies (Trouble with the Curve, Here Comes the Boom, and Perfect Pitch). All were fantastic.

Arboretum

Valley Scare

Corn Maze Run

Pumpkin Cannon

Corn Bin

Giant Pillow Jumping

MN LYNX

Pig Races

Arboretum

But the best example this week of having fun starts with "gangnam style" Below is the music video to watch so you have an idea. This guy is from Korea and made this video and it exploded in around the world. One night a couple weeks ago when I first watched the video I got out of bed at 11:15 to try the dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0

Now pause for a moment and picture an 80 year old woman doing this dance. Because that is the video you are about to watch. My best friend's grandma practiced the dance for weeks so they could do the dance together.  Three generations of women dancing to gangnam style. Amazing. She was choosing to have fun. (The video starts out a little dark but gets better).  

http://youtu.be/gR-JquF_pfk

Take a moment to read this article about laughter to remind yourself why it is so important.

http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

Happy fall, go eat or drink some pumpkin and remember to laugh.

Lindsey

Too Much Fun

This last week I traveled out East to visit my friend Kendra from Truman who live in Pittsburg and also on to visit two of my brothers in Maryland.

It has been two years since I have seen Kendra. We ate great food, drove to a beautiful lake, went power shopping, made a veggie jack o lantern, went to a birthday party, ate more great food, ate Pittsburg popcorn (amazing!!), drank tons of coffee (me), and enjoyed catching up. Too much fun.  No matter how much time passes with out chatting, we can always pick up where we left off.

Then I had my first Mega Bus experience. Now I have never been on the bus before and heard a few horror stories. It picked up at the Pittsburg Convention Center and dropped off in Frederick, Maryland. As normal before a road trip and after a large cup of coffee I have to use the bathroom. So I have about 20 minutes before we load up and I wander through the convention center...with my suitcase in tow. I end up wandering through the Pediatric Oncology and Heptology Nurses Convention to find a bathroom. They looked at me really funny....but success I found a bathroom! 

The bus was a hit. No puking on board by anyone, no screaming or crying kids. Just quiet, peaceful riding. Perfect solution.

I get to Maryland to hang with my older brother Blair and younger brother Derek. More good eating, relaxing, and catching up. 

One evening we played Monopoly. When was the last time you played Monopoly (if you don't have kids!)? I wanted to hang up the game when it started to feel too much like real life. I had $5 to my name and I was rounding the part of the board where Park Place had hotels built on it. (Rent was $900) "How am I supposed to get past all of these hotels without landing on it before pay day?" and then what happens? I get paid my $200 salary and I land on the "Pay Income Tax of $200" spot. Damn. So real life. It wasn't like that when I played when I was 10 years old.

But a big reason I went out was to run with Blair for his first half marathon. We committed to this back in the winter or spring. He did not start out as much of a runner...but I am. In my usual excited way about athletic endeavors I said 

• what a great idea!
• we can do it together
• it's ONLY a half marathon :)
• it will help you set a goal
• if you sign up, I'll come visit

And so we trained throughout the year and the day arrived. We went over pre race prep, clothing, eating, and our strategy. 

Strategy = run until you get tired and then walk.

Race morning came and it was gloomy, wet, rainy, and perfect. Us fair skinned people love the cooler weather. We started out, ran, walked, ran, walked, I took pictures, happily ran along, and encouraged him and we were already at mile 10! At mile 12 a lady walked by me and said

"You are having TOO much fun" 

She shook her head and laughed. She said.."I have been behind you guys the whole time watching you take pictures, run along, and laugh" I told her it was Blair's first race and she said "OOoohhh a race virgin...perfect" She was so funny and I guess I hadn't realized how much fun I as actually having. Such a great thing to share with my brother. And who says half marathons aren't fun???

 And we DID IT! His first (and surely not last) half marathon. We turned a non runner into a half marathoner.

So think about this? When was the last time someone observed you having TOO MUCH FUN? 


Here is an article for thought. It is about healthy habits for kids. But oddly enough they can fit adults too. My favorite suggestion - PLAY. Have FUN

http://www.lifetime-weightloss.com/blog/2011/9/11/8-house-rules-for-healthier-kids.html

Have a great week. Now go out and have so fun and play.

Your One and Only Life

First of all - I LOVE fall.  Everything about it. The trees, the food, the new sweaters I bought, etc.  The leaves are turning colors and crunching on the ground.  My dogs lift their nose into the air and smell the freshness and then roll in the leaves.  

Hopefully you can all enjoy fall as much as I do. Drink a pumpkin spice latte or eat a pumpkin flavored food. It's good for the soul. 

But today's post comes from a movie I went to today.  "Won't Back Down" with Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis. It is a movie about a mother whose daughter is suffering in a failing school. She partners with a teacher to take over the school because they care about their children being treated fairly and getting an education. I won't give away the ending....but go see it!!

A quote from the movie. "What are you going to do with your ONE and ONLY life?"

WOW. Ponder that quote for a minute. What are you going to do with your one and only life? How are you going to live? What is your legacy? How will you spend your days? What are your priorities? Whose life are you going to influence? Are you taking care of yourself? Are you treating your one and only body well?  

Blog is short and sweet this week.

What are you going to do with your ONE and ONLY life?

Go out and LIVE IT!!!!!

Hmmmmmm

I have been thinking all week about what to write in today's blog. But I have been so busy that nothing funny or eventful has happened. So here are some of the ideas that flew threw my head this week:

• It's fall and I LOVE fall and everything that means. I have been eating pumpkin food and lattes like crazy. 

• I have been so busy I can't even see straight and woke up at 9am today (really late for me)

• My dogs are the most amazing creatures and the best buds a person could have

• I really don't have time to exercise, but I guess I can squeeze a 30 minute power work out

• I finished my last grad school class - EEEEEKKKKKKKKKK

• I'm supposed to do a thesis now???

• Cooking food and meals to eat healthy and be prepared is exhausting, but very worth it

• I have great friends

• I am so blessed to be able to go visit my college friend Kendra in Pittsburg next week and run a half marathon with my older brother (his first) in Maryland and be with my younger brother around his birthday and make him a cake :)

• My mom is coming to visit this upcoming weekend and I am excited to hang out with her

• Iowa plays Minnesota in football. Rivals!!

• I miss Truman (my college) like crazy every fall because that was my favorite time. Going back to school, settling in, and training for long races by running every square mile of that town from corn fields to down town

• I have mice living in my house that I do not appreciate. I am all about building community and finding a safe place to live, but NOT in my house

• I had the great fortune to discuss future career opportunities for myself yesterday and am excited to move forward with some of those

• I saw two deer walking through my neighborhood while out on a walk with my pups this morning

• I could go on and on

But the point is. SLOW DOWN. I feel like my life is going 1,000 miles per hour right now and what I really want is to sit outside and look at the pretty trees and drink coffee with a scarf and jacket on.

Take time to look at the trees, listen to the birds, and think about all the awesome things in your life. It's far better than thinking about all the negatives and the stress. 

It's more than just football........

Iowa Hawkeyes vs Northern Iowa Panthers.

My mom and brother are graduates of UNI and my younger brother is currently at Iowa. But this post is not about education, it is about football!! Disclaimer - I was never a fan....until recently.  For some reason this summer I found myself saying...when is it football season?? What??? That is not like me at all.  But after this weekend I think I have figured out why I enjoy it. 

This is the third year I have gone to an Iowa game and each one has been a different experience.  The past couple of years I have woken up at 4am to drive there and tailgate.  Play some lawn games, eat some great food and people watch.  This year the game was a little later and there was no tailgating fun.  However, we walked through all the different parking lots and observed people and behavior.  

 But what I realized is....it's more than just football.  It's about being a part of something, a group, being loyal and connected.

And of course it's about wearing underwear and boots carrying an American flag.

How cool when you even find someone wearing the same outfit as you?? Hahahaha. 

 Then you go into the stadium and it's an amazing environment with the energy and excitement and you can't help but be pumped up!!!

And then they play "back in black" and you get goosebumps when it's 90 degrees outside.

But the overall point is about being a part of something. It does not have to be football, but are you a part of a group? Church, book club, knitting club, volunteer group, etc.  We are human beings and we need to be connected.  

Here are a couple articles to spark your thinking. 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201203/it-is-motivating-belong-group

http://experiencelife.com/newsflashes/the-health-benefits-of-volunteering/

Take some time this week to think about groups you are a part of and how that affects your life and if you are not currently a member of a group - START ONE!!! 

Tough Mudder

This last weekend I went to Cascade, Wisconsin for my third Tough Mudder event. I did my first one last summer and it was by far one of the most challenging athletic events I have participated in. This one was no different.

The weather was perfect. Around 50 degrees at the start and maybe 70 when we finished. The course was great and we were rocking! 

There is nothing like finishing a Tough Mudder. 

Jessie went all the way across the Funky Monkey monkey bars....




AND I conquered my nemesis - EVEREST. A skateboard type ramp that you have to sprint up and hope someone grabs your hands and then you swing your feet up and they pull you over. In Wisconsin last year it took me 4 times and in Minnesota in May the rain and mud and short runway made it so I had to eventually just walk around. So this was redemption - 1st time!!! It was amazing. 

I have to say....it was a different experience this time because it was just the two of us. At both of the previous Tough Mudder events, we had friends to help us on obstacles. But this time we got ourselves over the huge 10-12 foot Berlin walls without help and conquered our events. 

But what I wanted to focus this blog post on is my experience at Culver's. When in Wisconsin..you eat at Culver's! We stopped Saturday night and the teenage staff there was awesome. When was the last time you saw teenagers work really hard, be very nice and accomodating, and go out of their way to assist you? They were so nice and helpful we decided to stop on the way back home. The manager at that time made sure the Green Bay (yuck) game was on for the customers, a girl came around to our table and asked if we needed refills, and another girl was sweeping the floor. I sat there in shock at how hard these kids were working. What is sad is you really don't see this very often anymore. I went right home and sent them a comment card to show my appreciation. 

I found this blog post on the web and it is exactly what I'm talking about from my experience at Culver's. It is from "Motivation Shots from the Doc" 


Unfortunately, most of us have grown up in a negative culture where it’s much easier to tell people what they did wrong rather than praising them when they succeed.
Research in the United States found that 65% of employees received no recognition for good work in the past year.  Similar research in other countries of the world shows comparable results.
Other research has shown that the number one reason people leave their job, and customers take their business elsewhere, is that they don’t feel appreciated.
And if you think about it; many people leave their partners for the very same reason!
If customer’s leave an interaction with you or one of your team feeling better than they did before, then they’re much more likely to:

• Come back
• Recommend you to other people
• Spend more with you.

If one of your team feels better after an interaction with you then they’re much more likely to pass that feeling onto a customer.
“The way you treat your staff is the way they’ll treat your customers” – Karl Albrecht
If you give five positive comments to one negative comment to the other people in your life, then you’ll have:

1. More happy customers
2. A workplace that’s more productive and more fun
3. More friends
4. Better relationships
5. A healthier, happier and longer life

Remember – “Hand out warm glows, not dampeners.”

Next time you see or experience something positive, tell them!! The benefits will far outweigh the time it took you.

Have a great week and as always, if you like my blog, please do me the honor of sharing with your friends and family.

Lindsey

List on a Stick

So people always ask me "which fair is better - Iowa or Minnesota?"  I always say "the Iowa fair is more about the fair with some eating and the Minnesota fair is about the eating with some fair." 

As I prepared for eating at the Minnesota fair, I of course recruited friends. More friends = more food to eat. So I ended up with 3 friends for a total of 4 people to eat.  We decided that we should make a list because there were so many good foods. Then I had a brilliant idea. 


LIST ON A STICK. Everything you eat at the fair is on a stick, why not our list? So our food list went onto a stick.

Now I felt like I was ready. 

And we brought food stickers to put on when we ate a food.  Since there was a lot of sharing happening, you could only trade out one of your foods for something else if approved by the group. The best part of "list on a stick" was the ability to put it up in the air if you lost your friend and they could see you. Simply brilliant. And who doesn't love stickers?

Of course I started with turkey to go. No bun - they give you extra meat. Protein to start me off before grease, sugar, and fat.

Here are a few more pics for fun that chronicles the food. 

The final picture shows how many foods we ate. Now you might start to think ..... these girls are sick. Their goal is to eat as much as possible? Not necessarily...but there was so much good food to eat. Poutin (fries, melted cheese curds, gravy), turkey, cheese curds, breakfast lollipop, deep fried slider, fudge puppy, bacon ice cream, cookies, deep fried Oreo's, just to name a few.

The point of today's blog is not about fair food, but about prioritizing and organizing. I used to be an incredible list maker and for some reason I really got stuff done. Not everyone operates this way. But man...we felt accomplished when we (almost) completed our list. 

Below is a link to an article about why lists help us. 

I think I'm going to start list making again. How about you?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101056819

As always, have a great week. And if you enjoy my blog, please do me the honor of passing it on to your friends and family.

Lindsey