The Secret Life of Dreams

The last few days have been interesting. We’re under 40 days left until elections, which means just over 40 days until I leave for China. Work is sporadically getting busier, and I am slowly exhausting myself. Luckily there’s NyQuil to help me sleep at night. But even though this week has been uneventful in my personal life, minus the season premiere of The Office, I have been busy in the wee hours of the morning (yes Olivia, you can quote me saying ‘wee’).

Monday I woke up a little warm. I had just been in Paris wearing the same stunning red ball gown Blair Waldorf donned in that evening’s episode of Gossip Girl:

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wondering who that brunette was wearing the same dress as me and talking to Chuck Bass, because wasn’t I supposed to be standing on the bridge in Paris convincing him to come back to New York?

Then Tuesday I woke up shaking just a little, wiping the blue face paint off and testing my breastbone for a dagger – I had been crusading around the British Isles as William Wallace. Cornered in a castle tower, I had been betrayed and was about to meet a less than valiant end being stabbed to death.

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I’ve never seen Braveheart. Not even five minutes. I’m not really a big fan of blood, even in the movies. We can worry about my obsession with vampire TV shows later.

Then on Wednesday, I had merely gone for a swim, probably in the ocean. Seemed harmless at the time. Except when I walked into my house (Georgian style mansion? Where did you come from?) I had a powdered wig and straw hat covered with sunflowers unwillingly thrust onto my head. Then I found out that Adam was in fact next in line to rule a European principality and didn’t I know I had to look presentable? You try doing that with a powdered wig, rain boots and a towel. Not a lot to work with.

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Something like this but with sunflowers instead of Tiffany blue ribbon. That I could have enjoyed.

So I’ve done a little digging into what all this might mean. I asked Leah (both her parents are psychologists) if she thought dreams could tell us about what was going on in our lives. She thinks sometimes it works. I’m going to guess it’s working now. I tried to pick a key point or two to explore. Thanks to the Smart Girl Dream Dictionary, here are a few ideas:

Monday: Actor / Actress: To see an actor or actress in your dream represents your pursuit of pleasure. Your admiration of a particular celebrity may lead to a desire to have some of their physical or personality traits. To dream that you are an actor denotes that your hard work and labor will be well worth it in the end.
Bridge: Bridges often signify travel and transitions. Dreaming of a bridge over water suggests that you could be conflicted in your emotions. If the bridge was unstable or collapsing, it could mean problems in a friendship or love relationship.

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Tuesday: Knife: If you dream about a knife, you may be worried about a male person in your life. This dream might also mean you can solve your problems by being honest with others about your fears and anxieties.
Betrayal: To dream that you have been betrayed represents your suspicions of another person, relationship, or situation. This dream usually occurs when you have feelings of insecurities and are facing major commitments.

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Wednesday: Swimming: Dreams about swimming are related to the need to trust your instincts and look to past situations for answers to problems. They can also signify the need for nurturing or mothering in one’s life.
Mansion: Symbolizes your greatest potential and growth. If you dream about living in or visiting a mansion, you may feel that your current situation or relationship is in a rut. But have hope – your dream is a positive omen that you will someday leave your home for a better place and you will be lucky in life and finance.

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Unprepared: If you dream of being unprepared for something, it represents your fear of messing something up and failing. You may be worried and insecure that you don’t have what it takes to accomplish a particular task coming your way.

I picked the last one because while it was great figuring out that I would be a ‘princess,’ I felt completely inadequate. At the end of the dream, instead of sitting neatly in line with everyone else on big floor cushions, I plopped down with my legs stretched out right in the middle of the floor. This must be my acquiescence of my fear. Haven’t decided if it means I’m giving up yet. I do have a rekindled desire to write, and I’m hoping to motivate myself during the free time I have at work. At least to get something creative flowing again. Any ideas?

Cheers, Kate

Travel Thursday: How to Make Your Vacation Work-Out

I’ll admit, I’ve never been very athletic. I love participating in heart-healthy activities, but I hate going alone, and forget about working out while I’m on vacation (thank you 5 months in New Zealand, I think I went running 4 times??).  Glamour’s Vitamin G blog has lots of health and fitness tips, and I searched for the easy ones to pack along on vacation with you.

This easy ab workout can be done in your hotel room in front of the tv or out on the porch watching the sun rise or set. . This move targets your abs, but also–bonus–your shoulders and obliques. All you need to pack is a pair of shoes (check!) and a long, rubber exercise band. There are also three good exercises to keep your behind toned up for all those LBD’s you’ll be wearing out and around your exotic location. It might be hard to take along an exercise ball, I like leaving extra room in my suitcase, but squats and lunges can be done anywhere! Other good options: the never-fail run (if you’re ambitious), or a long walk on the beach. Just don’t go too slowly.

Glamour plus some healthy snacking tips. Let’s be honest, eating healthy foods on vacation rarely happens. This list makes it easy, like putting healthy foods within eyesight so you are more likely to choose them, and eating more frequently throughout the day. I am always a fan of the afternoon energy snack and love anything that can be thrown into a Zip-Lock baggie and brought along in my bag.

What are your healthy vacation tips? Any snacks that have to come along or any exercises that you do no matter where you are? Here’s to a happy, healthy vacation!

Cheers,

Jenna Kate

DIY At Home Spa Day

I thought it would be a nice, mid-week break to put together some easy DIY spa treatments. Pull out your kitchen cabinet, a DVD of Pride and Prejudice (I just got the Kiera Knightly version in the mail!) and relax. Maybe you can even get your guy to join in! Here are my top 5 at-home spa treatments.

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1. Soft Hands: TV-Friendly Hand Salve : Combine a few spoonfuls of cold cream, 2 drops of tea tree oil, 5 drops of lavender oil, a spoonful of olive oil and a banana (for a fruity smell) in a blender. When the consistency is smooth, slather liberally all over hands and cuticles. Then slip hands into a pair of yellow rubber gloves—yes, the kind you use to scrub the tub with. For the softest hands ever, I like to sit down and watch TV with my lotioned and gloved hands underneath a heating pad so that the heat will help my homemade salve penetrate my skin that much more. India-Jewel Jackson, GlamBlush, Posted on Glamour.com

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2. Silky Hair: Olive Oil Mask: Summer time means salt water and sun combine to make frizzy, unmanageable hair. To combat this, comb through your hair a couple of tablespoons of good olive oil and then cover with plastic wrap or a shower cap. Leave for fifteen minutes then wash clean.  Anya Merryfield, NZ Girl

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3. Tight Pores: Indian Tomato Tightener: This simple recipe only has 2 ingredients: 1 small or medium unripe tomato (the greener, the better) and 1 tsp. honey.  In a blender, puree tomato and honey to a thick pulp. Cleanse your face well and exfoliate with your favorite product or washcloth to ensure pores are open. Using two fingers, gently massage the pulp into your face. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then rinse off with cold water. Put leftovers in Tupperware and place in the fridge; they’ll last for up to a month. This mask benefits skin by tightening pores and removing excess oil (tomato) and naturally moisturizing (honey).  Shobha SoHo in New York City, Posted on TheNest.com

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4. Smooth Feet: Bedtime Piña Colada Callous Treatment: Even if rough feet aren’t a big problem for you, this foot soak sure sounds yummy. In a foot bath or large, clean bucket, pour in 2-3 cups pineapple juice. Add in ½ cup coconut milk and stir well. Soak for feet for 8-10 minutes and rinse well with warm water. Gently rub a natural pumice stone across any rough areas. Towel dry and apply your favorite moisturizer while feet are still damp. For extra softness, pull on a pair of cotton socks to wake up in the morning  Barbara Feiner, Organic Authority

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5. Touchable Skin: Sweetheart’s Chocolate-Honey Scrub: In a rubber mixing bowl, combine 2 cups honey (100% pure is best) and ½ cup grape seed oil. Stir in 6 Tbl. grated unsweetened chocolate (or dry cocoa powder) and 2 cups kosher salt, mixing completely. Consistency should be grainy and thick. Apply scrub to your skin and gently massage all over your body. Remove with warm, damp towels or rinse off in shower. Makes two treatments. The National Honey Board and Christopher Watt Esthetics in West Hollywood, California, Posted on TheNest.com

Have any other DIY at home spa recipes to share? Post them in the comments! Happy DIY spa day, and have a happy Hump Day!

Cheers,

Jenna Kate

5 Healthy Reasons to Pop a Cold One

I’m a good Southern girl and I drink beer. Today, MSN posted up a list of five reasons why it’s healthy to pop a nice cold beer. And I fully support this list.

Not only is this reason number one, but this is also a really good fact to know: beer helps prevent osteoporosis. I’m lactose intolerant, and have never had a drop of milk in my life. Maintaining a healthy level of calcium to prevent osteoporosis is hard. At least I know that drinking beer may be helping if only a little. The article recommends an ale or pale ale, but didn’t comment on if ‘light’ beers make a difference in their healthiness. Granted the experts recommend no more than two beers in a sitting, but I’ll still be sure to add a seasonal summer ale to my next grocery list.

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What’s your favorite seasonal beer? Do you agree with any of beer’s healthy traits?

Cheers,

Jenna Kate

Weekly Newscap 7/9

Back on schedule for our weekly newscap. This week we had quite a few goodies, including this fantastic photo shoot for Vanity Fair from Annie Leibovitz.

(Monday we were closed) Tuesday: We were all still reeling from a very patriotic weekend. To help our communities we helped in a prison fundraiser, got into the Pittsburgh Zoo for $5 by sporting our mullets, and lost to the 16-time national pit spitting champion.

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Wednesday: Women all over are ruling the world, burning cash and getting a DUI for driving under the influence of vanilla extract. While men are told to just ‘cut your hair.’ 

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Thursday: Our poor Paul had death threats from some Angry Argentinians for supposedly predicting Germany’s wins – and losses – during the FIFA World Cup. And we witnessed some passive aggressive fashion from Miss LiLo in court for violating her court order to go to counseling sessions.

Friday: Jesus was in the house. A New Hampshire water park has had a record summer after discovering their Lifeguard flag contained the face of Jesus. Then, an Alaska man attempts to walk on water to escape police, and a woman is held hostage after refusing to live Jesus’ Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

  

A Toast to your Health

After 5 months of Cadbury’s Caramello bars, returning to a healthy body has become really important to me. Self recently put out a list of ‘12 Cheap and Healthy Foods:’

- Brown rice
- Raisins
- Snap peas
- Green tea
- Broccoli
- Plain yogurt
- Bananas
- Black beans
- Whole-wheat penne
- Apples
- Lentils
- Sweet potatoes

The only problem for me is my allergy to yogurt, but otherwise not eating these foods would be a matter of personal preference. I love this list for lots of reasons. Sweet potatoes are my ultimate comfort food. From now on I’ll just have to watch the butter and cinnamon sugar I normally pile on top. I’m a fan of apples and bananas as well, and I think fresh fruit is really important. The thing is, I’m really not sure what the heck a lentil is. I’ve tried to look it up online, and from pictures it looks like a weird bean, but I still have no idea (pictured right). I did find interesting ideas for lentil soup, lentil salad, and lentil cookies (which look really healthy) on The Food Network. So between your yogurt snack pack and broccoli alfredo, you can have an afternoon treat that’s healthy for you. I also found a really yummy recipe for lamb kabob with broccoli lime rice. Something to try!

Yogi… Bear

While hanging out in West Chester, I got a one month membership at the YMCA. They offer over 20 fitness classes every day, including some great yoga classes. I’ve tried just about all of them, and can comfortably say my abs are sore.

At a gym like the huge YMCA here, I have had the same instructor only once or twice over the last week. This is great because I can really figure out which instructors I like, and which classes I’ll keep going to. The 10.30 yoga stretch class on Wednesdays has a friendly older instructor named Jane who is excited to show you extra tips after class. The 9.20 Monday yoga class instructor is great at explaining ways of modifying each pose. Thursday Vinyassa yoga instructor loves trying new music for class, and last week I experienced Tibetan bells, even as I cried through my tense muscles. During Tuesday evening yoga, the instructor jabbers along about exploring each pose. There was no music to drown out her ‘yogi’ comments since all she brought was the soundtrack to Glee. I couldn’t help but laugh imagining Yogi Bear in a downward dog position.

I’ve really enjoyed testing out all of the courses. Even though I’m only here for a few weeks, I’m trying to go to as many classes as possible to stretch out five months of hiking and extreme sports. Going to the morning classes gives me Tuesday and Thursday off to spend some time on the elliptical, working my hip abductions, and attending core and cycling courses. I’ve got a week and a half left before I head back to DC then to Florida for Easter, so it’s important to push my body back into gym mode. Not that I’ve ever been an avid exerciser. On the flight back from Auckland to LA, I sat next to a Dutch personal trainer who told me it takes on average 17 months to make exercising a part of your routine just like brushing your teeth. At least I have week one under my belt.

K’s Can Be Deceiving

The US always seemed like the center of the world, but we are one of the few antiquated places still using the empirical system. I went for a jog the other day and ended up going roughly 11km or 5 miles. All I could think about is how long each kilometer felt. We grow up knowing metric measurements are smaller than empirical, but it still felt like it was taking ages. I usually go on the Waitangi-Haruru Falls walking track because it’s hilly, well maintained, and a measured 5k. Usually I see 20 or so others hiking along, but the woods have a way of pulling you in. After only a few solo minutes you feel like you could follow this path back in time to old New Zealand. It helps that there are some pretty views and a massive waterfall at the far end.

I’ve also had the pleasure of becoming addicted to Cadbury’s chocolate caramello bars. They come in 55g, 110g, and 220g sizes. Thinking I was being thrifty, I would buy the biggest bars and freeze them. They never lasted more than a day or two, even though I had tried to convince myself it was for the whole week. Luckily they don’t come in kilogram size.

Running became my retaliation against Cadbury’s. Thinking about the presidential fitness test we did in middle school, I decided to clock myself. I actually hate running, so I mostly power walk (arms and everything) and take an average of 9 minutes 35 seconds per kilometer. This speed leaves me happily satisfied with my workout 6-10km later. But as I approached the track today, I decided to run for it. One kilometer later I was unhappily breathless. 7 minutes 20. That is roughly the time I got running one mile ten years ago at age 13. That’s depressing.

While running will never be my athletic preference, it was still a nice work-out. Most people use simple measurements to observe the world around them, all based around the weight and volume of water. Perhaps kilometers would feel shorter if I had grown up on metric, and maybe someday we will switch over. But for now, I`m happy with the eccentricities of empirical and will be even happier to drive on the right-hand side of the road back in America.