May 5, 2015

Best Lunches for Work

 best lunches for work

In my continued quest to improve my work week (See related: Pick and Choose) I took a break from looking at memes on the internet working on my lesson plans to consider the question of the best lunches for work.  I realized my lunch is very functional.  Read: I eat it so I don’t starve.  I considered ways to make lunch more interesting and enjoyable and came up with the list below. Best Lunches for Work   1) Colorful Food.  Colorful food is pretty.  Personally, I eat salad a lot for lunch because I’m desperately trying to fit into last season’s bathing suit I want to save calories for ice cream…

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in work fabulous

May 4, 2015

Happy Monday Morning!

 how to have a happy Monday morning

In deep thought about how to have a happy Monday morning, I decided nothing says “You’re special! You’re funny! Have a great day!”…like looking at the funniest memes on the internet. Feeling guilty about taking the time for a laugh? DON’T! Studies show the importance of taking breaks in boosting happiness suppressing decision fatigue  at work. And what employer wants a depressed, decision-fatigued worker?! No employer, that’s who! Employers want to focus on how to have a happy Monday morning just as much as the rest of us do. Don’t defend your choice to take short breaks when you need them. Instead, kick butt with your can-do attitude. If your…

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in monday-friday fabulous

May 3, 2015

Best Strength Training for Women

 strength training for women

Ahhhhh, strength training.  That blissful 20 minutes10 minutes time at the gym where I get to sit on an exercise ball, bouncing around and looking at Instagram reading the NY Times on my phone.  Sometimes, I like to alternate between sitting on an exercise ball and lying on a squishy “nap mat”, depending on how I feel.   What do you mean “that’s not how you do strength training”?     Okay, okay, I know that’s not how you do strength training.  And I know strength training for women is important. But the PROBLEM is that strength training is BORING.  I would rather be bouncing on an exercise ball and inventing clever,…

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

May 3, 2015

Top 5 Things to do in Amsterdam

 amsterdam canal and houses

Happy European Labor Day weekend! The journey is the Netherlands continues–read on for the (PG-rated) list of my top five favorite things in Amsterdam and some photos. Related:May Flowers (Tulips from the Keukenhof gardens),a breakfast post with a photo of Dutch bread sprinkles TOP 5 AMSTERDAM ACTIVITIES (PG VERSION) 1.  Anne Frank House.  Buy tickets in advance for this.   The tour takes you through the house where the Frank family and their friends hid for almost 2 years during the Nazi occupation.  The original copies of Anne’s diaries are there, as well as tremendously poignant footage from Anne’s father Otto Frank, and the office staff that helped to keep…

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

May 1, 2015

May Flowers

 white and pink May flowers blue sky

Nothing says ‘Happy May’ like abundant pictures of May flowers! When I was in Amsterdam, I spent a perfect morning at the famous Keukenhof flower garden. I recommend the trip! Make the most of your visit with a few quick pieces of advice. Advice for Perfect May Flowers Viewing Check your dates before you go. The tulip season is relatively short. The season runs from March to May, and flowers usually peak halfway through April. But with 7 million bulbs planted at the garden each year, you will see something beautiful on any visit. Arrive early! The transportation from the center is easy. However, crowds gather for the bus. If…

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

May 1, 2015

Embrace Your Weakness

 embrace your weakness

I came up with a theory at breakfast this morning that just might get me kicked out of the land of strong independent women. Instead of digging deep and finding strength, I’m ready to embrace my weakness. Before Madonna and Hilary Clinton come to toss me to the curb, let me explain: Embrace Your Weakness I ate breakfast this morning in the  NH Zuid Amsterdam hotel. They have a wonderful buffet that includes charcuterie, these funny Dutch bread sprinkles, fruit, cereal, bread, cheese, pastries and an omelet bar.        I happily ignored the shocked looks from hotel staff as I kept going up to caress the tremendous variety…

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

April 30, 2015

Easy Fun Dinner Recipes

 easy vegetable salad

After drinking 2 bottles of wine last night careful thought, I made a pledge this morning: stock up on easy, fun dinner recipes.  I love like know how to cook, but I have fallen into a boring routine.  On Sunday night I cook a big pot of pasta, throw in a bunch of vegetables, and make 3-4 portions to eat during the week.  Reasonably healthy but totally un-fabulous.  It’s time to shake things up.  In my quest for easy, fun dinner recipes, I came up the with following guidelines: Easy, Fun Dinner Recipes Pledge 1) Make a sauce.  Sauce sounds interesting! I am going to start with this list from Cooking…

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

April 29, 2015

Sources of Creativity

 hand paint

I look for sources of creativity everywhere I go. That’s because my creative life is important to me.  Every day I try to find time to write or draw or walk or learn something new.  It helps break up the time between episodes of Top Chef Junior and bottles of Ribera del Duero. With writing, my best words come early in the morning.  But I have fallen into a writing trap.  I affectionately call it the “I-like-to-write-about-my-morning-anxiety” trap.  When I review my sunrise thoughts, they seem to circle around themes like “drowning” and “burning”.  Rather decidedly un-fabulous.  So in the interest of changing my mental bandwidths (and my newfound thoughts…

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

April 28, 2015

Present Tense

 How to Use Present Tense

In my constant quest for my most fabulous life, I realized I need to think about how to use present tense. Because I often talk in past tense.  And it’s decidedly un-fabulous. For example: “Last night’s episode of Keeping up the Kardashians PBS Nature was amazing!” “My girlfriends and I took a trip to Woodbury Commons Vegas Napa Valley last year  ““I read in the news about Bruce Jenner Dancing the Stars the upcoming presidential election” Instead of all this talk in the past, I want to discover how to use present tense.  I’ve been puzzling all year over how to “live closer to the moment” and feel more involved in my everyday life….

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

April 28, 2015

Pictures of Italy

 pictures of Italy from Rome

As promised, here are some pictures of Italy. I went to Rome and Florence over my spring vacation just so I could take them for you. You’re welcome! These photos are just a drop in the bucket. From Rome, I included the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Roman ruins. From Florence, I included one of the main streets and the river. I’m not great with food pics, so these pictures of Italy are just landscapes. If you are looking for drool-worthy Italian food, click here. And if you want more awesome pictures like the banner image on this post, check out Willian West on Unsplash. Otherwise, enjoy!              …

Read more

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous