TheFind Blog

Long Live Routine by OlenaInStyle.com

March, April and May are often the hardest months of the working year as they usually do not offer us a holiday or a vacation break. It is easy to become depressed and stressed when all you see is work, home and traffic. Sounds familiar? If so, there is some good news: as strange as it sounds, routine can become a background of good health. If you go to bed and wake up early, sleep enough, work and eat at the same times every day, your body will definitely thank you because it likes consistency and works better on a schedule.

It is certainly important to exercise but sometimes hard to accomplish with all the work during the day and kids in the evening. Such a situation seems kind of desperate. However, it also has solid advantages. It turns out that people who have kids, a job and a spouse (or a partner who lives in the same house) have fewer chances to become overweight after 50. Sounds encouraging.

So, exercise whenever you can, take daily vitamins, eat healthy and the next time you get stuck in traffic for an hour, remember: it is not too bad. Relax and enjoy your routine until the next vacation!

Enjoy the Holidays Without Gaining Weight

How do you get through the holidays without gorging and gaining weight? It's not easy, but it is doable. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you enjoy the temptations without going wild!

1. Before going to dinner or attending a party, indulge in a salad or eat an apple. Give your body some good nourishment and some fiber to fill you up some.

2. Control your portions!
    a. Don't grab food off every tray that passes by as you're chatting with people. Pay attention to what and how much you're putting in your mouth. It's easiest to monitor if you put a few snacks on a small plate and then leave it alone.

    b. If you're sitting down to dinner: fill half your plate with vegetables (salad, side dishes, etc);  reserve one quarter of the plate for protein (meat, fish,  beans); and reserve the other quarter of the plate for carbohydrates (rice, potatoes, pasta). This allows you try lots of dishes without getting up for seconds and thirds and over doing it.

3. Wear tight fitting pants or belt. I know, it sounds funny but you'll be very aware when your stomach expands. And guess what, it's definitely time to stop when that happens.

4. Share food with a friend or loved one. Rather than indulging in whole portions, cut them in half and share. This way, you can sample more foods without taking in all the calories.

5. If you can't say no to sweets, fried food, butter, cream sauces, salad dressing, and gravies, then do your best to control your portions (once again).  Eat one fried shrimp instead of five.  Skip the butter and dip your bread in the gravy that you're already enjoying on your potatoes. Ask for salad dressing on the side and dip your fork in it before spearing your salad. You get the idea, right?

6. Get moving! If you're not currently exercising, start a walking program for yourself (take your dog, if you have one). If you are currently exercising, add more cardio fitness to your workouts during the holiday season.

Hopefully, one or all of these tips will help you get through the holidays without gaining weight. If you have any other tips or tricks, please let us know. We'd love to hear more ideas!

Happy Holidays/Searching/Shopping,
Payton

Why I Love/Hate Vacations

I have a real love/hate relationship with vacations. There are a lot of reasons why I love them and a whole 'nother set of reasons why I hate them (mind you, hate is too strong of a word for this but I'm feeling dramatic today)...

I love to get away from it all, but I hate to prepare for it. Have you ever noticed that you do 10 times the amount of work you would normally do prior to leaving for vacation? Leaving for vacation means putting in lots of extra hours so you CAN actually jump on a plane and get out of town. It's stressful trying to get projects buttoned up and in a place where you can leave them with co-workers, but it's very necessary.  Nobody likes to be the one left behind with mashed up projects that don't make any sense, right?

I loathe packing for a trip! I'm not a big procrastinator, but for some reason I will find 100 other things to do rather than pack a suitcase. I have friends who really enjoy it and take great pride in starting their packing a week before they leave for vacation. I, on the other hand, often leave packing until the last minute. Sometimes I get lucky and do it the night before, but this is a rare occurance.

I flew to Seattle Monday morning and at 11:15pm Sunday, I was still emailing people at work and wrapping up projects. At that point, I hadn't even pulled my suitcase out of the garage yet. I got up early Monday morning, fed my cats and dog and then retrieved my suitcase from the garage and proceeded to pack. I had no idea what to pack either because Washington weather is all over the place and I didn't have an activity agenda. Anyway, it's not just this trip specifically, it's pretty much all of them. I never know what to pack or what I'll want to wear on any given day. I mean really, does anyone plan which outfits they're going to wear in a given week? I usually end up packing several pairs of jeans/pants along with 2-3 tops for each. Luckily, I was smart enough to pack layers for this trip...I've needed them! I went shopping in Seattle yesterday and it poured rain most of the day, but I didn't pack an umbrella. So, I bought a cute compact umbrella in the afternoon and from that point forward, I didn't see a drop of rain! Thank you "rain gods."

While I'm ranting about what I hate, I'll add that I'm not wild about flying or about long road trips in the car. I'm not afraid of either activity, but I can't stand sitting for long periods of time! I think I have a bit of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). I get super restless and just want to jump up and run as fast as I can! The flight to Seattle was pretty short, it was only 2 hours so I did alright on this flight. We visited the Space Needle, rode some amusement park type rides, grabbed lunch and shopped around and then got in the car for a 2 1/2 hour trip to Port Angeles. The only fun part of this leg of the trip was driving the car onto a ferry. So, I caught a break and was able to run around the ferry for about 20 minutes before being "sentenced" to more time in the car! (I know, I'm a tortured soul at times.) Admittedly, this is nothing like visiting my Grandma in North Carolina -- that's a 6+ hour flight usually with a layover and then a 2 1/2 hour drive to her house. That's just too much for me to handle, sorry. She wonders why I haven't been there for so many years.

Anyway, once I get to my destination I'm a happy camper. I love getting out of the chaos that goes with living in the Bay Area. I love having no real agenda (which is strange for me, as I'm a very scheduled person in real life). I love to hang out and not stress that I'm not doing laundry or working or insert whatever action item you want, I'm not stressing about it. I love to shop wherever I go! That's always a plus and a favorite activity for me. I love sightseeing and playing the role of tourist (even though it's cheesey and stupid, I just have to do it). Along with being a tourist, I always have to take photos with statues and stupid things that you find around most towns (that I would never take photos of or with otherwise). I love visiting family and friends, but I usually wish that we lived closer so we could spend more time together.

In the end, I typically have mixed feelings about going home. I love to go home because I miss my animals and any family/friends that I leave behind, but I usually don't want to leave whomever I'm visiting because we just didn't get enough time together. If I'm not visiting anyone then I'm usually game to go home after about 4 nights of being away. At that point, I really start to miss sleeping in my own bed.

I think that about covers my major loves and hates of vacations. How do you feel about vacationing? Do you love it hate or love/hate it? Do you have any other loves or hates that I didn't mention? I'd love to hear about them, so please share!

Happy Vacationing/Searching/Shopping,
Payton

Best Friends Week -- Travel Ideas

There are few things in life that trump taking a trip with your best friend or a group of friends for that matter. Hanging out in your home town is one thing, but traveling to a place where nobody knows your name can be a whole 'nother story! You know the saying (and now ad campaign) "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Well, let's just say you could apply that to all your trips with friends..."What happens in ________, stays in ________. If your friends are like mine then you know that the over-embellished stories will follow! So, they may not exactly *stay* in said town, but that shouldn't stop you from letting loose and having tons of fun!

I think the best trips are created to match your mood, don't you? If you're feeling like laying low and being pampered, then you should go for a spa weekend. If you feel athletic and adventurous then you should go backpacking, right? Let's go with this theme for some fabulous travel ideas based on mood...

Your Mood: Over-stressed and in need of pampering
Your Adventure: Napa Valley for a spa weekend

Take a trip to beautiful Napa Valley for a weekend of wining, dining and fabulous spa treatments!  Take the Wine Train to create an experience to suit your mood. This ride can range from a nice lunch and a tour of wineries up to a Murder Mystery Dinner on the train with you and your best friend in costume to play along. Follow up your wine train adventures with a rejuvenating mineral or mud bath, soothing massage and a fabulous facial.

Your Mood: I feel like conquering the world
Your Adventure: Camping in Yosemite and hiking Half Dome

Hiking Half Dome is a safe way to conquer a mountain without having any technical climbing skills, but at the same time getting to the top makes you feel great! You'll need about 12 hours (give or take) to hike up, hang out at the top, and hike down again so eat a hearty breakfast and pack a good lunch before you go! For those that are experienced, you can actually rock climb up the other side of Half Dome instead of hike and rely on the cables. Best of luck!

Your Mood: Rough & tumble
Your Adventure: Horseback riding at a Dude Ranch

Dude Ranches can be found all over the United States. Once you get out on the ranch and start working the cattle, it won't even matter what state you're in because you will be so far removed from what most of us know as reality. With that said, you're just a well off to choose a ranch that's close to home and give it a whirl. I guarantee that it will be unlike any other vacation you've ever had (unless you work on a cattle ranch already). It would be wise to take a few horseback riding lessons before you go so you can focus on working the cattle and not on how to ride a horse.

Your Mood: Marathon retail therapy
Your Adventure: A multi-day trip to the Mall of America

Many people say that retail therapy cures everything. At the very least, it makes you feel better temporarily, right? If you're a believer then you'd more than likely enjoy a multi-day trip to fabulous Minnesota for a super marathon in the Mall of America! This is a 4-story mall folks with 520 stores, 50 restaurants, an indoor amusement park with more than 30 rides, an aquarium, a flight simulator and so much more. It's the only mall that I know of that offers a visitor's kit and travel packages. Major bonus: no sales tax on shoes and clothing!

Your Mood: Adventuresome
Your Adventure: African safari

Venture to beautiful South Africa for a wonderful safari where you'll encounter all kinds of wildlife and amazing discoveries. Depending on the safari you choose, you may venture out for most of the day and return to a thatched hut at night OR you may camp out every night. It depends on what you want out of the safari, but do whichever you prefer. Do you want to help hunt for your dinner or do you want to sit down and be served?

Your Mood: Up for a good challenge
Your Adventure: Train and compete in a triathlon

Training for a triathlon is a great way to spend time with your best friend. The longer the distances that you plan to race, the more training that's required. In addition to being a great bonding experience, a fabulous challenge for your mind and body, it's also the perfect excuse to travel to new places. Triathlons happen all over the world. Find one in a place you'd like to visit and book your trip! Be sure to arrive several days prior to the race so you can acclimate to any climate changes and try to stay at least an additional week after the race so you can enjoy the area.

Your Mood: Need for speed
Your Adventure: Cedar Point Amusement Park

If you're a roller coaster afficianado then you must make your way to Cedar Point in Ohio! They boast a whopping 17 roller coasters which is more than any other amusement park in the world. What more could you ask for from an amusement park? I know, more roller coasters, cheaper prices and a multi-day pass. I couldn't agree more!

Your Mood: Relaxing day/party night
Your Adventure: Cabo San Lucas

Take your adventure to the beaches of Cabo San Lucas. This is a great place to relax by day with your best friend on the beach. Enjoy your time gossiping, drinking and playing in the water. If laying on the beach isn't your speed, you can take a variety of stimulating boat rides. Top off your relaxing day by bar hopping and dancing the night away.

I could probably write another week's worth of posts about traveling with your best friend, but I think this gives you some really good ideas of places to go and things to do. If you have any other ideas to contribute, leave a comment and I'll add it to the list. Enjoy!

Happy Traveling/Searching/Shopping,
Payton

Best Friends Week -- More Things to Do

Okay, so yesterday I introduced the concept of this week being "Best Friends Week," right? I gave a few ideas of things to do with your best friend. Well, now it's time to get down and dirty and create a list of things to do with your best friend! You're welcome to comment to add to the list (and I will), so please feel free to contribute!

1. Shop online (at TheFind.com, of course!)
2. Shop at the mall
3. Try a new restaurant/cuisine
4. Go to the movies (try a premier or opening night of a really hot movie)
5. Check out a "B" movie
6. Get a makeover
7. Go to the salon together for new hairstyles
8. Clean out your closets and swap clothes (donate the rest to charity)
9. Buy new furniture and assemble it together
10. Have a garage sale
11. Host a tea party
12. Go out and support your favorite local band
13. Attend a concert
14. Try a new sport
15. Join a yoga class
16. Join a gym (and actually go workout regularly)
17. Go ice skating or roller skating
18. Learn how to play ice/roller hockey
19. Go rock climbing
20. Train together for a running, walking or cycling race
21. Train for a triathlon
22. Join Weight Watchers or a diet center of choice
23. Attend a monster truck show
24. Go check out Nascar
25. Get in the driver's seat and race go-carts
26. Hang out at the beach
27. Host a bon-fire party at the beach
28. Adopt a puppy and enroll in puppy training
29. Take your dogs to the dog park (after they're trained)
30. Buy a right hand ring
31. Go wine tasting
32. Go beer tasting
33. Hang out in a biker bar
34. Take tennis lessons
35. Take cooking classes -- sushi anyone?
36. Take a jewelry making class
37. Take a pottery class
38. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
39. Tackle house work (or spring cleaning) as a team
40. Write a story or book together
41. Go golf or learn to golf
42. Make fondue
43. Go out and sing karaoke at a bar
44. Play laser tag or paint ball
45. Have a TV or movie marathon at home
46. On a rainy day, go out and stomp through puddles
47. Learn how to knit or crochet
48. Join an online community and get involved
49. Join a dating service (if you're single)
50. Go on a blind double date (again, if you're single)
51. Have a spa day
52. Go for a manicure & pedicure
53. Be an animal/mammal trainer for a day at a participating zoo
54. Go on a ride-a-long with a cop
55. Tour a fire station
56. Have a sleep over and stay up all night
57. Host a game night (play all night, if you can)
58. Go to San Francisco and play chess or checkers against someone on the street
59. Play pool with pool sharks
60. Go to Coyote Ugly and dance on the bar (among other things)
61. Go out for a nice dinner and a play/musical
62. Go out for a nice dinner and the opera or ballet
63. Go to the flea market and haggle 'til you get what you want
64. Sell things at the flea market
65. Host a "Cook for the Cure" dinner (Susan G Komen foundation)
66. Take a trip to the wine country
67. Go camping in the Sierras (or destination of choice)
68. Go horseback riding
69. Make crafts and sell them at a craft fair
70. Host a cookie exchange
71. Paint ceramics and give them to one another
72. Sneak "drinks" into a movie theater (21 and over only, pls)
73. Create match.com profiles for one another
74. Brush each other's hair
75. Shop for engagement rings
76. Ghost or Guest blog on one another's blogs
77. Redecorate a room in one another's house
78. Host a poker party
79. Create a time capsule
80. Scrapbook together and/or host a scrapbooking party
81. Go to farmers market
82. Create a secret sorority or fraternity
83. Give each other nicknames
84. Make a comic book of your adventures
85. Host a pleasure party
86. Host a fake bachelor/bachelorette party
87. Learn how to fly a plane/helicoptor
88. Go skydiving
89. Take a beer or wine making class
90. Visit a convalescent home (take your dog)
91. Have a belching contest
92. Make Christmas ornaments
93. Take a Santa picture together
94. Make chocolate truffles
95. Scrap each others cast off clothes and make a quilt
96. Shop for books for one another in a used book store
97. Find a festival (music, art, wine) to attend
98. Go hot tubbing and/or skinny dipping
99. Take pole dancing classes
100. Take a spontaneous trip without luggage
Reader Contributions start here...
101. Hang out drinking a great bottle of wine
102. Go surfing
103. Watch sports on TV all day long

So, what do you think? I'm sure there are plenty of things on the list that you have done, but are there any you haven't done? Do you have more ideas to contribute? Comment now and let us know!

Happy Adventuring/Searching/Shopping,

Payton

Do You Jog with Your Dog?

You may think that the title of this post is a funny question to ask, but I'm curious...do you jog with your dog? If so, how far do you go and how many times a week do you and your four-legged friend get out together? If you don't, why not? Running's good for you and your dog, right? But, the truth is that many of us dislike running. Some would even go so far as to say that they hate running (I prefer walking, personally). Or, maybe you don't have time to take your dog out running. Is that it? Or, even worse, perhaps you don't have the energy!

If you're not an ever faithful running partner for your dog, then I have the super, ultra deluxe gadget for you (or, your dog actually)! Have you heard of the "Jog-a-Dog?" I hadn't either until a friend sent me a link. I think this is a fabulous invention. Sure, it's pricey, but think of how much more your dog will love you if he/she gets to run everyday! Furthermore, you won't have to take your dog out running if you hate it, don't have the time or the energy. 

So, what do you think? Who's up for some doggy indulgence?!?

Happy Running (for your dog),
Payton