Over the last few years I have devoted a lot of time and brain energy to figuring out how to improve my relationships and communication style. Hit play on this video to hear about one of my favorite small tweaks for improving your relationship with your partner or spouse. I had to learn it the hard way but it was worth it! And if you're in need of further relationship inspiration, check out Episode 23 (Prioriting Your Partner/Spouse) of the Edit Your Life show!
This morning Asha and I recorded an Edit Your Life Show episode on self-care and one of the points I raised was that while there are plenty of self-care options you can enjoy free or on the cheap, I believe that it’s worth investing in certain things -- particularly when professionals clearly can do a better job! For me, facials definitely fall in that bucket. Read on for my thoughts on Sway Aveda Spa, and also for info on how to get a complimentary Sway manicure!
Compromise in relationships can be hard -- really hard -- whether you tend to be in the position of wanting to win all the battles or the position of rolling over. In Episode 28 of Edit Your Life, I interview my therapist husband Jonathan about how to identify what kind of compromiser you are, the importance of being honest and articulating what you want (both to yourself and to your partner), negotiation tactics, and why it’s actually powerful to be vulnerable and ask for help.
I've been wrestling with a foot injury for a couple of months and have been avoiding professional consultation (because I'm pretty certain they'll just tell me to saw my bunions off) in favor of massage therapy and as much yoga as possible. My friend Michael recommended this Yoga Studio app to me a few weeks ago and I have used it almost every day since downloading it! Here's why I love it and recommend you give it a try. Enjoy, and namaste!
When I started my freelance career 10 years ago, my "office" was a desk in the middle of our dining room (#notoptimal). So when we moved, one of my key requirements for our new home was a dedicated office with a door. I'm blessed to have said office, but now one of my biggest challenges is that unless I have meetings, I lack both adult human contact and transition time to shift from work to family mode. Don’t get me wrong, in general, I love not having to commute, but some days, the lack of transition time is definitely a problem.
The notion of modeling behavior makes many parents feel like they’re in the perfection hot seat; that if they don’t act like paragons of humanity at all times, they’re setting their kids up for future therapy. In Episode 27 of Edit Your Life, Asha and I turn this idea upside down and discuss why embracing and modeling imperfection is a good thing and offer 8 tips for how to model imperfection, handle perfectionist kids, and use imperfect moments as communication levers.
When I posted my green smoothie video recipe, I referenced being obsessed with my NutriBullet. It's easy for kitchen appliances to quickly move to the kitchen appliance graveyard, but I use this thing every single day, and sometimes twice a day, largely because I love having an afternoon pick me up drink like this chocolate cashew milk! This recipe is so tasty and I hope you'll give it a try! It's a nice, easy way to get a protein and fiber hit.
Chores represent a double parenting win -- you’re teaching your kids life skills while taking something off your load. But this seemingly everyday ritual is a constant source of frustration for families. In Episode 26 of Edit Your Life, Asha and I explore why families wrestle with integrating chores into their routine and share 10 tips for how to get kids to do them -- and hopefully realize that chores represent responsibility and eventual independence.
One roadblock that can get in the way of habit change is the inner rebel -- that voice that pops up when you try to change your routine or make a decision, even when the change or decision is good for you or your family. In Episode 25 of Edit Your Life, Asha and I explore the concept of the inner rebel and share 7 tips for how to unpack where your inner (and sometimes outer) rebel voices come from, and how to tame those voices to move forward for positive change.
I've been meaning to post about outdoor rinks FOREVER, but every time I've adjusted my editorial calendar to post, the weather got weirdly warm! So finally, here we go! Here's a roundup of 19 outdoor spots to skate, alphabetically ordered by city/town. Check out individual links for condition updates, skate rental availability, and -- in my opinion rather critically -- snack and hot cocoa availability! And for less temperature dependent options, check out this roundup of 41 indoor rinks.
So you guys, seriously, typically I'm rather clueless when it comes to styling hair. I'm too lazy and inept to blow dry it properly and then sometimes it takes me 4 months to get around to a haircut! But I was inspired by what Maritza Buelvas and Maricruz Polito did to my head recently and decided to play around with this John Frieda Volume Curls 1.5 inch Curling Iron. And the good news is that I figured out a way to make shaggy hair look awesome super quick.
So today is National Doodle Day (in the UK anyway) and I figure it's just as good an excuse as any to inspire some creativity! I've long admired the ability of other people to create those pretty hipster doodles but I haven't ever had much success creating them myself. The good news is, there's plenty of inspiration out there, whether you want to learn to draw patterns, flowers, or even Star Wars characters. Here are 5 fun picks to try.
Money is a hard topic for so many people. There’s fear, there’s baggage, there’s “what the heck is this financial martian speak?” In Episode 24 of Edit Your Life, I interview investment professional (and my college classmate!) Sandra Gilpatrick about how to edit your financial fears. We cover common stumbling blocks, the intersecting issue of fear and time, how to gain financial confidence, favorite financial literacy resources, the three top financial goals to focus on now, and how to find a financial adviser you actually like.
Communication is everything -- and also sometimes the hardest thing. During my time in academia, I worked in a neurology unit where I saw patients lose hold of their perceptive and communicative functions. As a parent I’ve gobbled up the joys and benefits of my kids evolving and learning to communicate. As a wife, daughter, sibling, and friend, I’ve seen open communication heal wounds and silence sprout fences. And as an impassioned conversationalist, I’ve built my career around written words, video, and audio.
I was pretty excited when I came up with this 5-minute green smoothie recipe, but after the summer I became obsessed with the NutriBullet (which grinds everything so much better than the Cuisinart I was using). I've tweaked the recipe to make it even faster to prep (one minute!) and with less sugar. It's so good, in fact, that Laurel and I have been drinking this smoothie every day for, oh, the past 4 months! Give it a try -- Laurel was dubious at first but loves it!
On Wednesday I attended a fun event hosted by New Balance at MyStryde in the North End. I was interested in popping in both because I'm a runner (MyStryde is a brand new indoor running studio) and because I had never set foot on a treadmill before -- no joke! I think this has been due in part because I like running outside, and also because I've held a vision of Bill Murray a la Lost In Translation in my mind. I was convinced I'd be treadmill roadkill!
