A Trip To Nowhere

Garden art at the antique show and flea markets

How often do you get in the car and just drive? When was the last time you took an impromptu drive alone, with friends, family or your significant other? Some of my best road trips were ones with no destination in mind. In my quest to discover new places on a budget, my guy and I do this often. Sometimes we get lucky like this past weekended when we headed toward Springfield. We ran into a lamp shop where they sell all kinds of lamps and parts. Funny thing is we had been talking about making lamps and chandeliers the week before. While in the shop we discovered that a antique fair and flea market was going on up the street. At the fair there were so many things to see, jewelry, art and antiques to search through. Then there was the kettle corn. I am always up for kettle corn! We ended the day at a restaurant in London, Ohio that has been around since the 1800's called Red Brick Tavern. They served the third best prime rib I have ever eaten and some really superb chicken livers over a bed of sautéed onions and mushrooms. Then there was last Memorial Day, where we ended up in the Buckeye Lake area. We happened across the 15 year anniversary party of The Buckeye Lake Museum. They had free food, wine and were offering  free boat tours of the lake on the Queen of the Lake. We ate, drank and listened to live music while we explored the museum. Then we took advantage of the free boat ride that was very informative and relaxing. The only thing we paid for that day was our dinner that evening and gas for our little adventure. There have been a few other trips like these and I hope for many more

A drive like this is a great way to relax as well as learn something about yourself and your loved ones. It is also a great way to explore the world around you. This coming holiday weekend or one day this summer, just jump in the car, pick a direction and go. The only planning you need is to plan to do it. Make sure you have a map of your state and a guide with information. Sometimes your internet and gps won't be available in the country towns. With a map you can figure out where you are or want to be and a guide will help you locate things to do or places to eat if you aren't comfortable speaking to the locals.

Red Brick Tavern in London, Ohio 

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

Kris,

Music is Healing

photo courtesy of  theforeignexchangemusic.com

Lately I have attended more than a few shows. Last night a friend invited me to check out Foreign Exchange. I can't say I was that familiar with the band but I am glad I now know who they are. When I was asked to go, I had to do a little research. Even though I knew I was most likely going regardless, I found myself online listening to their music and reading their background story. The music was jazzy and soulful. It was in the same realm of artists I already really loved like Raheem Devaughn, Musiq Soulchild and Eric Roberson.  Although the venue was small, humid and a little funky with the abundance of mostly brown people, I found myself filled with joy as I danced, sang and laughed. Be it that I am under five foot, I can't say I saw much but that is how I know it was a good show. One of the things I remember was Phonte asking us to repeat the words " music is healing" to the person to the left and right of us.  Yes it is.

Saturday was the K.Michelle concert. That experience was much different from the one I had last night. The crowd was interesting and the venue was less than desirable but once the music began, nothing else much mattered. My aching feet and attitude was forgotten for a short twenty minutes. I can't say it was the best show I'd been to but the effect of it confirms that music really does make such a difference in our lives and moods.

I saw Cher last month and before that I went to the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson show. Both of those shows made me think about my happy childhood. I remembered what my parents and friends were playing on their stereos before there were iPods and iPads. The shows were also so colorful and full of activity that you couldn't help but force out negative distractions. These shows felt like an escape from the outside world, a few hours of a fantasy or vacation.

Music is healing. It is the only thing in the world that can stir up so many feelings and remind us where we have been, where we want to go or where we don't want to go.  It can
 make us wait in long lines in uncomfortable shoes or sleep outside for a concert. It 
can remind us of our first crush, first dance or favorite vacation. It makes us laugh, cry, happy and energetic. It can make us feel confident and sexy. It can help us through a break up or teach us how to make up.  Music provides a soundtrack to our lives. Music is healing. Yes it is.

After a hard days work and you are driving in your car today listening to your cd, or the radio, think of it as therapy. Think about how the music makes you feel or don't think at all, lose yourself in the music, scream the words out loud and just sway to the beat.

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!
Kris,

The Cure To Boredom

The Cure to Boredom

Honda Indy 200 2012 at Mid-Ohio

We have all been guilty of claiming boredom from time to time.  These days I understand being bored is usually my own fault. At least that is what I learned some time ago. I haven't really been bored very much since.  What changed? I decided to develop a habit of  saying yes to trying new things. Because of this I have gone to a Honda Indy car race, many 80's rock band concerts and learned that I really love Tom Yum. We get into the habit of doing the same things over and over and expecting something exciting to just present  itself.  I remember going out with my girlfriends every weekend to the same club, sitting in the same section peering down at the people on the dance floor while drinking the same drink, Patron on the rocks.  We were always doing something but complaining about being bored. One day we began planning activities that took us away from the clubs with a core group of women . Now once a month we meet to have girl time and try new physical activities, food experiences and more.  Since we started six or so years ago, we have attended a pole dance class, tried laughter yoga, and met out for sushi with a side of karaoke. This past weekend we had a belly dancing lesson which was so much fun, by the way.

Along with being busy planning activities for the group, I created some lists for myself of  things I want to do, see, learn or eat. Once I cross off an item, sometimes more items get added to the list. I would like to try squirrel meat, real absinthe, go zip lining and take a helicopter ride.  These things on my various lists aren't just things I want to experience, I WILL experience as many of them as I am blessed with the time to do so. Some of you would call my list a bucket list but I see it as simply a cure for boredom.

If you find yourself bored often, think about some things you would like to be doing and grab a notebook. Make a list of things you want to try then make an effort to do something at least once a month. It could be as simple as trying a new restaurant, visiting a park you have never been to in your city or go bigger if you have the money to do so .  A lot of things require research and just looking up information in preparation for your experience can be exciting. Remember the important part is to actually MAKE IT HAPPEN! It could be really fun and you will learn so much about yourself.

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!

Kris,