5 Local Adventure Ideas

In getting healthy, it's also a great idea to keep yourself stimulated.  Adventures or any switch from your normal routine are great for expanding your horizons: challenging you beyond where you ever saw yourself going and improving both your confidence and faith in your body.

Here are some ideas for adventures you can take today that will get your blood pumping and spice your life up a bit.

1) Get a Groupon for a local adventure at a discounted price! Some examples of things that come up in my area (San Diego): kayaking, paddle-boarding, whale watching, plane flying lessons, and hot air balloon rides. The possibilities may surprise you.

Paddle Boarding works on Lakes and Bays as well!

2) Take a road trip with a friend this weekend - the catch? No GPS allowed (until you're turning around to come back home).  Just drive! Pick a road, go for it, and stop every time you see something interesting.  Take pictures the entire time, and make a scrapbook when you get home.  You'll never forget this spontaneous trip or the memories you made on this adventure.

3) Sleep under the stars.  If you have a pick up truck, fill the bed of it with pillows and blankets and sleep outside! If you don't have a pick up truck, your back yard works just as well.  Make it a mini camping trip - tell scary stories, roast marshmallows, make hot chocolate, anything you want. It's your adventure, do with it what you wish!

4) Print a list of local restaurants, close your eyes, and pick one.  No cheating! Unless you've been there before, go to the first one you land on. Trying new places may give you a whole new perspective on your local community, (and you may even find a new favorite restaurant).

5) Learn a new skill.  Pick something interesting to you: Want to try surfing? Take a lesson. Scuba Diving? Get certified. Cooking? Take a class. You'll make new friends, try new things, and maybe come out with a new passion. 

More ideas:

• Painting
• Sketching
• Skateboarding
• Swimming (learn a new stroke)
• Sewing
• Actually do something you've pinned on Pinterest :)
• Golfing
• Bartending
• Learn how to use basic Microsoft Excel functions
• Learn some phrases in French, Spanish, Mandarin, etc.
• There are just so many more...

If you have ideas for how to take a local adventure, leave them in the comments.  There's nothing more stimulating than trying something new!

20 Ways to Take a Break

Sleep deprivation and exhaustion are two of the biggest struggles we all face on a daily basis.  Here are some ideas for slowing down, taking a break, relaxing, and rejuvenating your body.

 

1. Go to a park

2. Eat a meal - in silence

3. Wander around your neighborhood.

4. Find a fully in tact leaf, put it under a piece of paper, and gently rub over it with a crayon.

5. Take a close-up picture of a flower

6. Take a nap

 

 

7. Read or write poetry

8. Go for a run or bike ride

9. Call a friend and catch up

10. Walk to a coffee shop and get a cool drink

11. Mute/Turn off all electronic devices

12. Find a body of water, and take deep breaths.

 

 

13. Eat outside

14. People-watch at a local hotspot

15. Watch something funny

16. Sing (by yourself to your favorite song)

17. Take a bubble bath

 

 

 

18. Have a glass of wine

19. Pick flowers and make a bouquet

20. Light a candle

 

Do you have any other ideas for how to go about relaxing or taking a daily little break?  Leave them in the comments! Everyone could use ideas for how to slow life down a bit.

 

 

 

 

Cinco de Mayo - The Healthy Way

Source Healthcare Staffing is going to focus on the "Healthcare" in Source Healthcare Staffing this month. This is how we are going to make May better than April.

The first installment? Cinco de Mayo, the healthy way.

The secret ingredient to 'healthify' all your Cinco de Mayo food? Avocados. Avocados are a superfood, as we've said before, and absolutely delicious.  I put them on almost everything.

So without furth ado, here's a list of ideas and recipes for food to make to keep your holiday fun without ruining your health (any more than a dozen margaritas would anyways).

Tacos
Tacos are one of my favorite foods, and can easily be made healthy while remaining tasty! Another perk: If you're having a fiesta, you can leave ingredients out and let your guests make them for themselves! This easily cuts your prep time in half.

Disclaimer: I strongly dislike corn tortillas, so if you do too, try some wheat ones!

 

Your taco meal - left to right:

• Sour cream (use in moderation)
• Salsa
• Sliced Olives
• Shredded Carrot
• 2 Avocados (mashed with lemon, salt, and pepper to taste)
• Diced tomato (optional)
• Red peppers (Optional)
• Shredded Lettuce
• Black beans (not pictured, but I do love the black beans!)
• Taco Meat
• 1lb Ground Turkey
• 1 taco seasoning packet

You can also substitute the taco meat with grilled fish cooked with lemon and pepper (tilapia, mahi mahi, cod - the choice is yours)

 

Salsa

• 1 white onion
• 10 green onions
• 1/2 red onion
• 5 ripe tomatoes
• Handful of cilantro
• Jalapenos (to taste - this is your spice!)
• 1 squeezed lemon/lime

Throw all of these ingredients into a blender and enjoy!

 

Guacamole

Guacamole is one of my favorite foods.  It goes well on all Mexican foods, Pizza, Bagels, Toast, you name it!

Ingredients:

• Avocados (I use about 1 per person)
• 1 squeezed lemon/lime
• 1/2 tsp. Garlic (minced)
• Salt (to taste)
• Pepper (to taste)
• Salsa (Recipe above: optional)

Margarita
No Cinco de Mayo would be complete without a good margarita.

A pure margarita is pretty skinny, but also pretty sour.  If you can't handle the sour, add a little bit of simple syrup to sweeten!  The proportions of the ingredients are 3-2-1, so keep that ratio and you'll be good to go!

• Ice
• 1 1/2 ounces of 100 percent agave blanco tequila (I use Espolón or Herradura)
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau

Enjoy your Cinco de Mayo the healthy way, and let us know if you have any other ideas for a healthy fiesta in the comments!