Faster Isn't Always Better

In this modern day and age, it seems like people just keep going faster and faster. Multitasking in our society is looked at as a good thing, and the better you are at multitasking the more you can get done in one day. Caffeinated drinks are selling like hot cakes, and just in general our pace seems to be quickening at an alarming rate.
I think it's time that we, as a society, take a step back and allow ourselves to  s l o w   d o w n . . . there is nothing wrong with doing nothing. We tend to look at relaxing and allowing our bodies to rest as laziness, when in actuality a little R&R every now and again does us so much good, not only physically but mentally as well.
I understand that many people have busy lives and grueling jobs, or maybe you're attending school and have hours of homework to get done every night. But I urge everyone to just try and do things with a little more calmness; you don't need to be checking email while you're sipping a coffee and studying for an exam all at the same time. Maybe just take 5 or 10 minutes out of your day to enjoy that latte without having any other distractions detracting from the experience. I think that many people would highly benefit from this, and slowing down is something that should not be frowned upon but embraced. Let me know what your thoughts are on this topic!

Molly's Recipes: Chocolate, Peanut Butter & Banana Milkshake

This is the ultimate warm weather treat! Cold, rich and downright delicious, this recipe is perfect for a quick sweet fix on a summer evening.

Chocolate, Peanut Butter & Banana Milkshake:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk (make this recipe vegan using soy milk!)
1 frozen banana, peeled and halved before freezing
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1/2 cup crushed ice (optional)

1. First pour your milk of choice into a blender. Add the two frozen banana halves, cocoa powder and peanut butter.

2. Blend all of the ingredients together for about a minute until the consistency is very thick and creamy.

3. At this point, add in the optional ice if you want to make it a slightly more frosty and less milky consistency. Blend until the ice is well incorporated into the mixture.

4. Pour into a small serving glass and enjoy immediately!

Serves: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

This is a perfect recipe to add your own personal touch to. You can sweeten it even more with added agave nectar or maple syrup, or perhaps add even more peanut butter for some added peanut goodness! Whatever you choose to do, share it with me in the comments!

Molly's Recipes: Easy Maple Apple Compote

I was craving a warm, fruity dessert so on a whim I decided to make a sort of improvised apple compote. I think it turned out pretty delicious, so I though I'd post the recipe here. You can make loads of changes to this recipe to make it your own, so let me know what you think!

Easy Maple Apple Compote:
Ingredients:
2 small/medium apples
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Begin by peeling, coring and dicing the two apples. Add to a small saucepan along with the water.

2. Heat on high until the water begins to boil, and then reduce the heat to medium until most of the water has evaporated and the apples are soft and tender.

3. Add the cinnamon and maple syrup to the pan, and continue to cook for a few more minutes until the remaining water and maple syrup have reduced into a thick syrup.

4. Pour the apples into a serving bowl, let cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

Serves: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Photography As Meditation?

Photography is an art that really forces you to slow down and see the world in a different way. It pulls you into the present moment, and all of your attention is focused on what is happening around you instead of what happened the other day or the wonder of what tomorrow will bring. I experience this all the time when I shoot pictures, and it's one of the many reasons that I enjoy photography so much.
What got me thinking about this whole topic is because I was out shooting athletes playing tennis and softball the other day. I was taking pictures of the players, and realized that I had no idea who was winning the game that was being played right in front of me. Instead of focusing on the score of the game, or which team was performing better, I was just caught up in trying to capture the little details of the game and the players.
So, the bottom line is that photography forces you to stop, slow down and really focus on what is happening around you. Even if you go somewhere to take pictures, and you haven't pulled out your camera yet, you still have to look for interesting subjects to photograph and this forces you into the present as well. Basically, photography is like a form of meditation, and it's a form that I quite enjoy.

Review: Duolingo

Today I would like to take the time to review a wonderful little program called Duolingo. If you've never heard about it, then I shall enlighten you: Duolingo is a website where you can basically learn a new language without paying so much as a penny. By either installing the Duolingo app on your phone or going to their website, Duolingo.com, you can sign up and begin to learn a new language.
Now, I want to stress that I have no affiliation with Duolingo, in fact they probably have no idea that I exist. But I LOVE this program, and have been using it every single day lately, so I thought I better review it for you all. The main thing that I love about Duolingo is obviously the cost of it (or lack thereof). It essentially does exactly what Rosetta Stone teaches you, but it doesn't require you to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a language program. Another thing that I have really been liking about Duolingo is that it shows when you have a "streak" going; that is, how many consecutive days you have been improving on a new language by using Duolingo. By having this streak feature displayed on my Duolingo profile, it makes me want to lengthen my streak even more.
Also, both the app and the website are extremely user friendly and very easy to use. There aren't a lot of over-the-top features, it's just a straightforward program with loads of vocabulary for you to learn. They offer 5 languages currently for anyone to learn, and you can even learn multiple languages at the same time. That's a little too much for me, I'm just sticking to Spanish for the time being! But they offer Spanish, French, Italian, German and Portuguese for all to learn.
So, here is my final review for Duolingo, summed up: a free, fun, easy to use program that is very effective in teaching you the basics of a language. I would HIGHLY recommend it to any of you who want to learn one of the 5 languages that they offer, and why not? It's completely free!

A screenshot of a Duolingo account.