Seize the Leap Day

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Tomorrow is February 29th, a fun phenomenon that only happens once every four years. It always baffles me why Leap Day is properly celebrated and given the respect it deserves. When time is one of the most valuable commodities we have, one that we can’t buy more of, it’s so special to have a whole extra day to take advantage of! I believe that this extra day should be treated like a national holiday. I’ll be spending my Leap Day with a fun (extremely last minute) girl’s trip to Miami, but here are some other thoughts on how to spend the 366th day of the year.

Take a Day Trip

I’m practicing what I preach, but think about where you live. Is there any town nearby that you’ve been dying to visit? Since moving back to Florida, it’s been my by mission to introduce myself to the possible day trip destinations near St. Pete. In the process, I’ve seen new corners of Florida, learned more about local history, and met some new people along the way. Where could you visit?

Pamper Yourself

Clear your schedule because you deserve a spa day! What part of you needs a little TLC? Since I’m on my feet all day, that means a good pedicure is always my first choice for self indulgence. I’m also no stranger to needing a deep tissue message thought. Especially from living in Manhattan, I’ve been finding a lot of tension in my upper back that I would love to get rid of someday. Whether you pick a manicure, facial, or sauna session, you can’t go wrong!

Start Spring Cleaning Early

One of the biggest wishes I have is to have an extra day to clean my home from top to bottom. Cleaning is never on the top of my to-do list, but it’s so important to find the time for. Use your February 29th to get a jumpstart on any spring cleaning you may need. Give attention to the little nooks and crannies that normally go overlooked. Round up whatever you don’t use and make a donation run to the Salvation Army. It may require a little elbow grease, but you’ll feel incredibly satisfied.

Curl Up With A Good Book

On your way home from work today, stop by Barnes and Nobles. Pick up a copy of that book you’ve been hearing such great things about. Maybe that book is already home and has been collecting dust. Leap Day is a perfect opportunity to get some reading done. It can be with a cup of tea in a quiet corner or while laying out on the beach if you live someplace sunny. Better yet, you can also use this extra day to start writing a book of your very own.

Carpe diem is a Latin phrase that means to seize the day. You’ve seen it plastered all over inspirational posters, water bottles, and journals. Make your own version of carpe diem by taking full advantage of those extra 24 hours. You never know what good could come from it!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Lent Detox

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Lent is typically about giving something up for the 40ish days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit. While that is to the point of practicing Lent, I’m trying to accomplish two things at once. On the hand, it’s an important element of my faith, but on the other I’ve been in a desperate to completely refresh my health habits. I’m officially calling this my Lent Detox, but want to make a quick disclaimer. I am not a medical professional and will continue to listen to my body. Before you start a new heath regime, it’s important to consult a medical professional first. Now that the PSA is out of the way, here’s a quick look into what I hope is habit forming.

Find My Workout Groove

For those of you don’t know, I used to be an Olympic Trial level swimmer, even earning a scholarship to Florida State. I had ‘work out’s to a whole different level. 6 am practice every morning, followed by weights or running, and a second two hour practice in the afternoon. When I hung up the swimsuit, I fell out of touch with a consistent workout schedule. Honestly though, can you really blame me? My goal is to get a weekly workout routine back into my list of priorities. While it will never be as strenous as my swimming days, I welcome the return of those endorphins from early morning runs, yoga, and barre classes.

Restart My Eating Habits

I have a serious love for food! Nothing is more enjoyable than a delicious meal. While I pride myself in pretty much avoiding fast food, I can have a big appetite and sometimes graze constantly. Pair this with the fact that New York had an unlimited supply of fantastic restaurants, and I fell into a poor eating routine. Now that the dust has settled from our move, and we’ve visited all of the new restaurants that we want to, I’m looking forward to getting back into our groove. David and I both are normally very healthy eaters. The tough part will be cutting down on snacks and desserts.

Eat More Organically

Speaking of healthy eating, I would really like to add more organic foods to my rotation. My local grocery store makes it so easy with their designated ‘green’ section. The only thing I have to worry about is paying a little steeper price tag. While David and I are not thinking about starting a family just yet, be more aware of what I’m putting in my body now. Although it seems silly, I hope that making a natural change now will be beneficial in the not so distant future.

Swap Adult Beverages

I’m over 21 and love the occasion adult beverage. Sometimes, especially on nights out with friends, one drink can very easily become three or four. It’s no secret that alcohol will wreck havoc on your body. Now that the big 3-0 is slowly creeping up on me, I feel it more than ever. I’ve tossed around the idea of having a dry spell, but I still want to go out and enjoy my life. For Lent, I’m going to be much more mindful about the beverages I put in my system, give myself a two drink cap, and switch to wine or beer.

So when my family and friends have asked me, “what are you giving up for Lent?” I don’t really have a straight answer. Instead of giving one specific thing, I’m using this as an opportunity to for a complete overhaul of my eating, drinking, and exercise habits. After all, I’m not getting any younger and I think my body will thank me for it. At the end of this, I’ll be sure to share my updates and biggest takeaways. Until then, wish me luck!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Mardi Gras in Any City

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I know it seems strange to get so excited about a holiday that my town doesn’t really recognize. With that being said, if you’ve ever been to New Orleans, then I’m pretty sure you understand the hype. Mardi Gras is the one of the happiest holidays you can find and the feelings is contagious. There’s a quote I’ve heard over and again saying “New Orleans is the only city that lives in you”. Make that doubly true for Mardi Gras and the whole Carnival season. If you don’t live in the 504 area code, here’s my recap on how to celebrate Mardi Gras in any city, wherever you live.

Listen to the Right Music

One of the biggest elements to Mardi Gras, and New Orleans in general, is listening to local music. Music from the Crescent City seem to have it’s own special rhythm. I’m not an expert, so I don’t have the words to fully describe what sets it apart. What I do know is that I love listening to it. It’s upbeat and instantly puts me in a good mood. If you want to find out for yourself, I highly recommend listening to Abita’s Mari Gras playlist on Spotify. I’ve had it on repeat for the past week.

Wear Purple, Yellow, and Green

Just like Christmas, Mardi Gras has its own iconic color combination, with each color having its own meaning. Purple represents justice, green, represents faith, and yellow represents power. This dates back all the way to 1892 and has no signs of changing. Every year, I break out my coveted colored sandals from Jack Rogers. Sadly, they are limited edition and have been sold out for ages. As an alternative, I love these yellow sandals from Tory Burch. Pair it with this classic plaid shirt from Talbots, in the perfect colors, and you are subtlety ready for Mardi Gras day.

Pig Out on Good Food

Mardi Gras literally means Fat Tuesday. It’s a day to indulge on decadent and rich food, New Orleans style. On Sunday, my family and I began the fun early with a full cajun meal from my dad, who I swear can be a world class chef. Tonight, I’ll be making my personal favorite dish, jambalaya. Both of these meals are going to leave you simply stuffed! Save room for dessert though. No Carnival season is complete without a healthy share of King Cake. The cinnamon and sugar goodness is the perfect way to cap off a Mardi Gras meal and is now available in grocery stories around the country.

Observe the Lenten Season

Mardi Gras is only special because all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. For Catholics, it’s a time for sacrifice and ‘doing without’ for 40 days, until Easter. It’s actually something I try to take seriously every year and tomorrow I’ll be sharing my plan for Lent. It may not be the best aspect of Mardi Gras, but it helps you appreciate the things that we so often take for granted.

Event though Mardi Gras is a holiday that really puts New Orleans on the map, you don’t have to be in the Crescent City to celebrate. No matter where you are, it’s easy to celebrate Fat Tuesday. When you get down to it, all you have to do is eat good food, listen to fun music, and hopefully enjoy the best that life has to offer. Laissez les bon temps rouler, let the good times roll!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.