"The best things in life are on the other side of your fear." This is the quote I was repeating in my head last weekend, as I dangled my legs over the side of a plane from 13,000 feet in the sky. Earlier that day I was feeling mostly excited, but at this moment, I was feeling mostly terrified. Just go for it. Adrenaline pumping, I refused to look down at that second, but I took a deep breath and let go, backflipping into the air with my tandem instructor. We went flying - literally - out of the plane and into the sky.... and then, stillness. I could barely catch my breath, but I had my eyes wide open as I tried to take in everything about that moment. I gazed out at the Pacific Ocean - the ocean that I've marveled at every time I go for a coast walk, to practice sandy yoga, ... [Read More]
featured adventure post
Blogfest 2017 Recap + Trying STRONG by Zumba {IDEA World ’17 Recap #1}
Hello friends! Long time no talk. I'm back in California after a trip to Vegas last week to attend IDEA World Convention - the place to be for all things fitness! This was my fourth year attending IDEA World, and each time it has been such an inspiring place to be. This year I also attended a wonderful conference within the IDEA World Convention, called Blogfest. It's hosted by my friends over at Fit Approach, who I've enjoyed partnering with over the years for fun blogger collaborations, Instagram challenges and more. Blogfest brings together health & wellness bloggers from all over the country, and it's a lot of fun! Not only does Blogfest and IDEA World offer the chance to learn in the sessions and try new workouts, it also gives me the opportunity to connect with ... [Read More]
My 7 Favorite Hikes in San Diego County
Since I moved to California 7 1/2 years ago (cannot believe it's been that long!), I've become an avid hiker. Hitting the trails offers a workout, stress relief, time in nature, and exercise for my dog all at once. I've realized that hiking is also a spiritual experience for me. It leaves me feeling centered, grateful, and connected to the earth. I believe in the interconnectedness of everything in life, and hiking seems to always remind me of that. It's also a lovely chance to practice mindfulness. I can only describe it as losing myself for a few hours to really find myself. Hiking just with my trail buddy, my pup, also gives me time and space to clear my head. There's always so much going on - lots of noise, distractions, and busyness - but on the trails, everything sort ... [Read More]
Weekend Getaway to Idyllwild: Where to Stay, Play & Explore
Last weekend, my husband and I decided to seize the holiday weekend and take a quick road trip together. We both have been super busy and have travel coming up, so we welcomed the thought of getting to spend time together in a relaxing setting. Having done so many road trips around California, I started looking for a place we'd never been to before. I wound up finding a place we had never even heard of called Idyllwild. Located a few hours from busy San Diego life, Idyllwild is a little town nestled in the mountains with a population of under 4,000 people. It sounded like the perfect getaway spot! Where to Stay. After doing some research, I booked us a suite at The Grand Idyllwild Lodge. Described as the boutique luxury lodge, the hotel has a modern but woodsy kind of feel to ... [Read More]
Visiting Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher {Travel Recap}
Hello, hello! Today is my last recap from my trip last month to Ireland. So far I've talked about my favorite attractions & fun in Dublin and my Dublin vegetarian eating guide... and today I'm back with a recap of my visit to the Cliffs of Moher! Funny enough, I'm putting together this travel post as I'm currently 40,000 feet in the air en route to NYC. I'm heading east to my home state of New Jersey for lots of wedding festivities: I'm attending 2 friends' weddings this weekend and a bachelorette party the following weekend, and also have some bridesmaids dress shopping from my brother's upcoming wedding planned. Of course, there will be lots of family time as well. I usually try to see my parents and the rest of my east coast-based family every couple of months, but I'm ... [Read More]
Where to Eat Vegetarian in Dublin [Travel Recap]
Hello, hello! Last week I talked about my favorite adventures in Dublin on my recent trip to Ireland, and today I'm back to share a guide to vegetarian eating in Dublin. I initially didn't have very high expectations for plant-based eating in Ireland because I know that the traditional Irish diet is very meat-and-potatoes-ish, and also because of my previous experiences in meat heavy European countries like Austria and Germany. But when I started doing research on eating vegetarian in Dublin, I found that healthy eating in general is becoming more popular in Ireland. I did not have a problem coming up with a list of restaurants to potentially dine at, and I thought that I'd share some recommendations for where to eat veg in Dublin. Here are my favorite meals that I ... [Read More]
