Book Reviews How-To Tips Reinvent Yourself

Self-Care:  How Best to Manage Stress and Anxiety in this Post-Pandemic Era

Since the pandemic, my stress levels have made me rethink how I want to live the rest of my life and how best can I manage aging in the healthiest way possible. This of course requires making significant behavior changes as well as being more informed about your body and emotional state of mind.   I recently caught the BA4 COVID strain and even though I am fully vaccinated and boosted, it was indeed a bad flu experience that I would not wish on anyone.  Over the last  6 months, I read several books, magazines and articles on self-care intending to build a wellness plan for me in this post pandemic era. Here is what I have learned …

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My Photography Wanderlust

A Visit to the Lakota Sioux Tribe Reservation at the Badlands National Park

I recently came across an article about the Lakota Sioux tribe and immediately experienced a flashback of a group project that took us to a reservation in the Badlands National Park near Rapid City, South Dakota in 2019. Driving through the Badlands was a photographer’s dream, especially for an urban dweller. Meeting and learning so much from this American Native tribe was a phenomenal experience and one I would love to repeat.  Here’s why….

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My Photography Wanderlust

Visiting Cuba: Is Now a Good Time?

Good news for Cuba, President Joe Biden on June 1 of this year has finally gotten around to revoking a series of restrictions on flights to Cuba that were imposed by Donald Trump allowing US airlines to fly to all of Cuba’s airports. Unfortunately, this falls short of fully reinstating the Obama administration policies towards Cuba.  A bit disappointing for folks who would like to travel freely to the island. I was fortunate to visit Havana, Cuba in 2017 when President Obama had lifted US restrictions, allowing travelers to independently travel to Cuba without being part of an authorized travel program….

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Wanderlust

Eight Magnificent Cities to Visit in the South Region of Spain –Costa del Sol

Back then, before we knew what the word COVID meant and the disruption that it caused the world, I had taken a 12-day road trip through La Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun or Sun Coast) a region in the south of Spain comprising of  coastal towns and communities along the coastline. We visited eight cities….loving its people, its culture, and its history. I plan to go back to Spain and travel to the northern side of this awe-inspiring country in the near future.   If you are interested in traveling to Spain, here are my favorite places with tips and photos to hopefully inspire you to GO soon….

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Wanderlust

Best Greek Islands to Go Island-Hopping in Any Year

Now that Omicron it’s on its way out, countries are loosening their travel restrictions as they gradually recover from the pandemic.  For some countries, tourism represents over 30% of their gross domestic product.   Commercial ads are working overtime to incite you to book something soon.  How about Greece?   In 2018, I went island-hopping to four of Greece’s majestic islands. Frankly, I yearn to go back and visit the ones I missed. Are you itching to travel this spring and summer? If so, here are my picks with tips and photos to hopefully inspire you to GO (this year or any year).

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How-To Tips Reinvent Yourself

The Relevance of Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries 

As I become a year older this March, now my 69th birthday, I am a bit perplexed at how fast time moves and changes who we are. None of us are quite the same person we were a year, 5 years, 10 years ago. We keep changing and adapting our minds and bodies without realizing it. Frankly, I don’t feel 69 and I kind of don’t enjoy being called a senior unless there is a good discount for it. I remember not making a big to do about birthdays. In fact, many birthdays I would just go about my workday, not paying much attention to this yearly ritual. But……

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Shoppers Guide

Shoppers Guide: 10 Tools for Planning Your Life in 2022

Another year to think about how best to balance your professional and personal life…this time in 2022.   Are you frustrated with not being able to keep deadlines?   Are you feeling a little disorganized, disoriented, or overwhelmed? How can we best juggle both personal and work to create that life balance we all hunger for? Many of us who are working remotely whether part or full time are concerned about how our personal and work responsibilities are overlapping. There is no ‘perfect’ work-life balance, but there are ways that we all can manage the chaos without pushing aside our own well-being…..

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Shoppers Guide

Shoppers Guide: 20+ Holiday Gift Ideas for Friends and Family

The Holidays are here and it’s time again for gift giving to family, friends, and colleagues whose love and friendship are part of a special bond. Gift giving is a wonderful way to celebrate life, love, and friendship by demonstrating your appreciation of each other. However,
shopping for gifts may not always be as pleasurable when dealing with the craziness of retail malls, online shipping, and indecision.    We curated the following list of gifts under $50 to help reduce the stress that comes with shopping. There is something here for just about every interest, whether they love books, clothes, wine, travel, or much-needed gadgets to get through the day…

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Serving Humanity

 Bon Jovi Community Kitchen: Fighting Hunger One Soul at a Time

New Jersey is so lucky to have two of this nation’s most prolific rock stars; Bruce Springsteen and John Bon Jovi, both living in New Jersey both great humanitarians. Bon Jovi is on a mission to fight hunger using the concept of what is known as a collective or community kitchen now in two cities: Red Bank and Tom Rivers. Through the Bon Jovi Foundation, he has established the JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurant… a very cool place to have a meal….

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