The Cure To Boredom Spring/Summer 2015

Adventure To Do List Spring/Summer 2015

It is the first day of  spring! It's time for a new adventure list for Spring/Summer. I must admit, I didn't do so well  on my fall/winter list. Of ten items on my list I only managed to check off two things. I was disappointed in myself but I realized it was much harder to get out in the cold weather. I will do better on this list and I will return to update my last two lists. I have every intention of crossing each of those items off. For those new to my blog; I decided to do a seasonal adventure list for every six months. The list is my cure to boredom. The list is compiled of things I want to experience this season and as I cross something off  I will share it with you. I will share information about the experience, my photos and my revelations as I did last Spring/Summer season. Unfortunately, I decided to skip doing an update for the last list since I did so poorly. However, I highlighted the things I did not complete in red and updated the items I was able to complete on the original post. I am feeling very positive about this new list though.  Here is my adventure list for Spring/Summer 2015. 

I took this photo during my visit to Longaberger Homestead last Summer.  The restaurants at the location are in 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio'.

My 'Adventure To Do List' is in no particular order. 

1.  Visit Canton, Ohio (completed 7/20/16)

2.  Go Camping

3.  Visit a new winery or brewery each month 

4.  Take a food tour out of town (completed 9/26/15)

5.  Learn to make sushi

6.  Take a ride on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler in Marietta 

( left over from last spring/summer list)

7.  Taste Durian ( left over from last spring/summer list)

8.  Check out five new restaurants from 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio'

9.  Take a short creative class.

10. Take a scenic train ride (left over from my fall/winter list)

I can not wait to dive into this list. Last year I completed  seven of the ten items from my Spring/Summer list. Two of the three items I failed to complete have been added to this new list. I have some making up to do after my fall/winter season's two of ten. I hope you will join me in this. It isn't just a check list, it is an opportunity to learn things about yourself. Doing these lists have helped me expand my horizons, face my fears and improve my patience. Most of all I am really enjoying my life.  Stay tuned for my updates. I hope you will also share your lists with me. We can cheer each other on. Think about it, what do you want to accomplish this season? What are things you have always wanted to do, big or small? Start your list!

Until next time,

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!

Kris, 

Curing The Winter Blues

Every year, no fail, I have a hard time fighting the 'winter blues'.  The days are shorter. It is too cold to spend a lot of time outside. The opportunity for the necessary sunlight it takes to get the daily recommended vitamin D, is just about non existent.  Unless you are into winter recreational activities, you find yourself hibernating for four months. You binge watch all of  your favorite shows, maybe even a few shows you thought you weren't even interested in and you eat lots of unnecessary food which turns into lots of unnecessary weight.  This is my situation every winter. Though I attempt to schedule things to do on the weekends and some weekdays during the winter, sometimes those hibernation habits still take over. It is hard not to give in when everyone around you is so comfortable with not doing anything because ''it's cold''. There is a reason why people are happier in places with warmer climates and recreational richness. Since I don't plan to move in the immediate future and winter's end isn't close enough, I decided to address the 'winter blues'. There are a lot of us who feel so terrible during the winter that life literally seems like a slow moving, terribly written, depressing film. So what can be done about it? How can we deal with this?

In front of the Motor Cycle Hall of Fame Museum on Saturday

I write often about what I refer to as the 'Cure to Boredom'. Usually I refer to creating lists of things that I want to experience so that I am consistently exposing myself to new things and creating memorable experiences. The 'Cure to Boredom' happens to also be part of the cure to the winter blues. Most of us don't have the luxury of staying someplace warm to return once the season ends, that is something I strive for in my future. With that said, what we can do is make a conscious effort to make plans that will keep us busy. The body needs stimulation and so does the mind. Before the season began, I vowed to hike this winter, which still has not happened. There is still time. January activities were a little slow after the holidays but I  have managed to make plans the last three consecutive weekends. I took a road-trip to Troy, Ohio to see the rock band Tesla February 7th. I spent Valentine's Day jamming to live music by Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Tyga at their 'In Between the Sheets' concert tour,  and this past weekend I went into my Groupon storage to redeem brunch at one of my favorite places, (Superchef's) and finally checked out the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington.

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum

Helpful Ways to Beat the Blues

Make a ' To do List'! If you find yourself struggling this winter, intentional activities are important. Make a list of things you love to do or new things you want to try that are season friendly. I love to go to museums, so this winter I planned to check out some museums I have never visited and visit new exhibits in museums I frequent. New things I want to try happen to be winter activities like building a snowman, sledding and snow tubing. Some of those items I mentioned I included in my seasonal 'To Do List'.

Take care of your body! Exercise always helps improve the mood, the endorphins alone will make you feel better. If you create the list I previously mentioned  to include physical activities you will kill two birds with one stone.You can also add some items in your diet that help boost metabolism and boost energy. Dr. Oz suggests ginger tea and chilli peppers. Try to get your vitamin D when you can help it. It isn't something we can get easily through foods, our bodies produce it when we are exposed to sunlight. Spend time outside when it isn't as cold. Try a Vitamin D supplement with approval from your physician or a portable florescent light that mimics the same results as sunlight. 

Inhale! Several sites and sources have suggested treating 'the winter blues' with scents. If you Google aromatherapy, lots of sites including blogs and magazine, will give you lists of scents that help with energy and depression. They also provide oil blend recipes that will help with what ever combination of things you are dealing with. I use peppermint oil to boost my energy as well as for numerous other issues like; migraines and body aches.

I hope this has been helpful to you!

Until next time,
Be blessed! Be free! Be Adventurous!
Kris,

The Cure To Boredom Fall/Winter 2014

Adventure To Do List Fall/Winter 2014

It's that time again!  It is time for a new adventure list for Fall/Winter. This past April I decided to do a seasonal adventure list for every six months.The list is my cure to boredom. The list is compiled of things I want to experience this season and as I cross something off  I will share it with you. I will share information about the experience, my photos and my revelations as I did last season. Here is my adventure list for Fall/Winter 2014. 

The Bridge to Beauty: A photo I took while hiking in Hocking Hills. 10/12/14

My 'Adventure To Do List' is in no particular order. 

1.  Go Snow Tubing

2.  Build a fabulous snow-woman (completed  3/1/15)

3.  Go on a Columbus Brew Adventures Tour
 (any one of them)

4.  Take a scenic train ride

5.  Visit the A Christmas Story House & Museum

6.  Take a nature walk at least once a month

7.  See the Lion King Broadway Musical
(completed 10/11/14)

8.  Check out three new restaurants from 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio'

9.  Learn the art of Upholstery

10. Get comfortable driving 

( I am almost 33 without a license!)

If you haven't created an adventure list before, start one today. See how many things you can experience this season. I have read in many sources including Forbes that when you write things down, you are more likely to do them. If money is an issue with your to do list, there are discounts all over the place through services like Groupon and Living Social that help make some of these things more feasible. So start your list and enjoy the season!

For my last list click here.

Share! What is on your list? I would love to know. Maybe you will inspire me to add more to my list.

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable! 
 Be adventurous!
Kris,

The Cure To Boredom Part II

AdventureTo Do List Spring/Summer 2014

From my 2013 Adventure List African Wildlife Safari Park 6/28

A couple posts ago I wrote a post about my cure to boredom. I spoke about how I create lists of things I want to experience, research the topic and then set up a plan to make the thing on my list a reality. Last year my list was more about others than myself. List 2013 included taking my nephew to The African Wildlife Safari Park in Port Clinton and the Marblehead Lighthouse. It also included introducing my sister to the Shores and Island of Lake Erie, Ohio for her 30th birthday. Since I planned my sisters weekend I made sure to include a few places I had yet to explore myself in all the times I'd visited Port Clinton and Put in Bay. This year I have broken things down into seasons. I wanted to share with you my adventure list for Spring/Summer 2014.  I just finished this list last week and it isn't a very daring list. It is mostly comprised of places I recently read about and places or things that I have been meaning to do the last two summers.  However, I did include one activity that scares me a 
little. 

My 'Adventure To Do List' is in no particular order. 

1.  Go Canoeing (In spite of me not knowing how to swim.)

2.  Use my Picnic Basket 

3.  Go on the Short North Columbus Food Adventures Tour 

4.  Take a ride on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler in Marietta

5.  Visit downtown Yellow Springs

6.  See Beyoncé & Jay Z on their On the Run Tour (ticket purchased for Cincy date 6/28)
7.  Take a nature walk at least once a month in Ohio's many parks
8.  Taste Durian (a fruit from Thailand)
9.  Check five restaurants off my 'Eating Your Way Across Ohio' book
10. Go to a Columbus Clippers Game

If you haven't created an adventure list before, start one today. See how many things you can experience this season. I have read in many sources including Forbes that when you write things down, you are more likely to do them. If money is an issue with your to do list, there are discounts all over the place through services like Groupon and Living Social that help make some of these things more feasible. So start your list and enjoy your summer!



Share! What is on your list? I would love to know. Maybe you will inspire me to add more to my list.

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable! 
Today might I add, Be adventurous!
Kris,