I am a planner: I love figuring out the logistics of a trip that I'm going on months before I even set foot on the airplane that's flying me to my destination. In a lot of ways, I feel like this is a gift, because by planning things out I can often find the best travel deals, places of interest that I would not necessarily know about without planning first, and just in general I learn more about the place that I am visiting through planning for my trip.
However, there is a downside to this aspect of myself as well. There is something to be said for simply booking a flight to a faraway destination, and knowing absolutely nothing about where you are going. I feel like this way of traveling somehow makes you feel more ingrained in the culture and general flow of a place. You're no longer a tourist simply visiting and snapping pictures of the most famous sites; you need to rely on communication with people and locals around you to learn about the best places to go visit. In other words, you are more like one of the locals when you don't plan a trip somewhere.
But again, planning does have its positives as well, and I think that even a little bit of planning is a wise idea before going on any trip, if nothing else than for your own personal safety. So let me know, do you enjoy planning out your trips in detail, or letting life lead you to new and exciting ventures? Let me know!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
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!
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!
Friday, May 9, 2014
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!
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!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
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
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
Sunday, February 23, 2014
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.
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.
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