I Do Believe in Fairies I Do I Do (Peter Pan)

I Do Believe in Fairies I Do I Do (Peter Pan)

Religion, magic, spiritualism, fate.... Trying to find meaning in the world around us sends me on the balance beam between science, reality and something else.

In the last year (I am not going to mention who should be blamed or thanked here, but you know who you are!) I have been obsessed with one book series or another that has put me a little on the outside of reality. Time travel, vampires, fairies, witches, shape-shifters, Scottish highlanders. Having been a Literature major in college some might say shame on me. I am constantly asking myself why these books have grabbed me so strongly? There is definitely the strong male character to look forward to, but it is the leading woman that I think is the real lure. She is not always strong, sometimes clumsy, really lucky or really unlucky. She follows a strange intuition, doesn't follow the mainstream and seems to have a pretty crazily exciting life.

Again, why? Today, I was searching online for photos of a hairstyle and trying to define what direction I wanted to go in and I realized the style I am drawn to is considered pixie. I went into the bathroom to see what I could do with my hair to make it look the way I wanted and suddenly realized that we all have a little of the fairy in us and I am just starting to find the fairy in me. I have always been able to fly in my dreams but this is a little different.

Having lost a father to cancer in literally one week, I have spent the last 6 years trying to understand the control and lack of that we all have in our lives. Since my father's death I have been trying to find a way not to lose anyone else. There is an inevitability to this all but at the same time there is something else that I have become addicted to in my own way. Helping others by making food (yes Jewish mother influence), knitting caps & blankets, whatever I can to bring good thoughts and feelings to others. Truly believing that good thoughts can make a difference. Really believing that I can make a difference. Believing that we all are capable of amazing things. Not quitting. Asking for help. Being there for others.

I do not have a wand and don't think I need one, but I really believe that I can spread a little pixie dust wherever I go and look forward to making amazing things happen.

Book list of the not so literary, entertaining, magical and especially great for new moms - easy to get through.

Janet Evanovich - Stephanie Plum Novels
Charlaine Harris - Sookie Stackhouse Series
Diana Gabaldon - Outlander Series
Stephanie Meyer - The Twilight Saga

Danielle Easly Nye

Bend Adventure Boot Camp, Max Muscle and DANI Hit the Agate Beach Motel in Newport, Oregon

Bend Adventure Boot Camp, Max Muscle and DANI Hit the Agate Beach Motel in Newport, Oregon

Who knew that joining a workout group a year ago could be so life changing? Thirty-nine years old and feeling like it was time to take action in my life on getting fit and taking care of myself. The goal was really only to lose a few pounds so that I could look better in my clothes. I was completely scared and the two women I knew that were active in Bend Adventure Boot Camp practically had to drag me in the doors.

Fast forward a year later. . . .I have been attending on and off, but love the way that Boot camp makes me feel during the day. I have more energy, I am stronger (ok, a little more sore), but overall better.

October 1, I embarked on a trip to the Agate Beach Motel on the Oregon coast with ten women, two trainers, a nutritionist and a massage therapist. The weather was great, the view amazing and I was in disbelief that I could step out of my room and boot camp was waiting. With two workouts a day using the large lawn area outside our rooms, the 82 steps down to the beach and both the soft and firm sand of the beach I endured and enjoyed the best workouts of my life. This alone was great, but the add-ons never seemed to end. Our trainers, Victoria and Josh, created two nights of nutritious and delicious dinners that were hearty and healthy at the same time. I was relieved to know that we actually could eat and not feel guilty about it. Larry, the owner of Max Muscle, talked to us about nutrition and gave us an assortment of power drinks and made us his "favorite" breakfast. There was a trip to the grocery store where we could learn about different food choices and were encouraged to ask questions about foods that we normally eat. Finally, we all received well deserved massages from therapist Danni Weeks.

It was beautiful and challenging but there was more. The group of people was the best. Everyone was supportive, pushed themselves and we had fun together. I have to say we weren't angels and there were some beverages in the evening, but nothing crazy.

Is there a place here to mention DANI? Absolutely! The owner of the Agate Beach Motel in Newport, Oregon is a fellow boot camper and in the last year since we have met, she has been transitioning her amenities to DANI products. With two workouts a day, showering or bathing was really important. It gave us time to relax, cleanup and pamper after our hard work. Everyone received samples of DANI Lemongrass Lavender Sugar Scrub, Bath Soak and a soy wax candle for the room. It was a true perk. Working hard has its rewards and DANI was a big one. I really found that taking care of my body may start with what I put in it, but the outside is important as well. Taking care of needed cleansing with our shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel was the first step, but the sugar scrub, bath soak and lotion was crucial to us all feeling exfoliated, moisturized and pampered.

Looking back over the past year, did I lose those pounds? Sort of would be my answer and who knows where I will be another year from now. I am excited and dedicated in a new way to how I eat and working out. I have lost pounds of fat and exchanged them with muscle. I haven't done a measurement lately and would love to compare from last year to now. My concern has shifted from the scale to how I feel and reducing the fat. The best part to me was in joining this group has not only been about people I work out with, but a support group for health/fitness and trainers who really care. I am now forty and feel that the change and progress is in a better direction than I ever imagined.

Danielle Easly Nye

Founder, DANI Natural Products

Spring Break Vacation - Oooops!

Women are quite good at multitasking, right? It seems like second nature to be able to do three things at once, doesn't it? Well let me warn you - don't try multitasking when you're making online vacation reservations. Unless you want to end up in Moline, Illinois because you rushed through the reservation process.

Here's what happened. I was cooking dinner, writing checks, and thinking about what we could do for a semi-staycation that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Since we live in Oregon, a travel-savvy friend recommended that we take the kids to Seattle and book a downtown hotel using Priceline.

Brilliant! So I'm determined to squeeze in a vacation-booking to-do while at the same time trying to get dinner on the table and write two more checks to pay some bills. Dinner - done! Checks - done! Priceline reservation....hmmmm, let's bid $60 on a downtown nice hotel. Bid was denied. BUT I had 15 minutes to bid $71 if I wanted. Fine. I submitted a $71 rate for a nice four-star hotel in downtown Seattle. Sounded pretty good. My bid was accepted! Yay! This is easy!

So after dinner I checked my email to see if they emailed my confirmation number. It's all there: one room at the rate of $71 for a downtown hotel in Portland. Cool! Wait a minute....PORTLAND? As in, Portland that we just visited for Lego Robotics last month? Arrrrrrgh! I had inadvertently put in Portland instead of Seattle. And there's no going back when you use Priceline. You have to enter your credit card# before you bid, so you can't make any changes. Merde. I'm blaming it on the fact that I didn't have my morning V8/NYT crossword puzzle, so my brain wasn't quite tuned up. So, wish us Bon Voyage as we spend four days in exotic Portland!

10 Ways to Rediscover the Bright Side of Life

In the midst of all the doom and gloom being broadcast 24/7 from every corner of the world, I decided it was time to be proactive and crank up the happiness meter. Here are a few tips for keeping you out of the Dismal Dungeon of Dark Thoughts:

1. If you lost your job, take this opportunity to exercise more. Preferably outdoors, where you get free doses of vitamin D for your efforts. Stay away from the woe-is-me pint of Ben and Jerry's every night. Come up with a job-search routine and stick to it. It's also a good opportunity to think about working in new sectors. What skills do you have that could be useful in other industries?

2. Stay away from financial news if you can help it. Instead, read books, spend time with friends and family, listen to music and cook healthy meals.

3. Rent a funny movie and invite friends over to watch it.

4. Focus your energy on helping others - volunteer at a local food bank or other community organization.

5. At the end of the day, write down one good thing that happened during your day.

6. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep every night.

7. Play relaxing music during the day. I recommend Mario Olivares, Ziggy Marley, Michael Gulezian, and Andreas Vollenweider.

8. Chew on life's big questions at Soul Pancake.

9. Make a list of ten things that you're thankful for. Keep that list on your refrigerator.

10. Start your own blog!

What do you do to keep your spirits up? Share it with us!