New Year, New You- Week 12 March 19, 2012

How to Keep Your Resolutions All Year!

 Article from SELF.com

Week 12

You did it! Happy new YOU! Now that you’ve cemented your healthy new habit, you can really celebrate! Just don’t get so carried away—ice cream every night! two weeks without a trip to the gym!—that you undo all your hard work. It’s time to figure out what your maintenance plan will be, so you’ll still be going strong three months from now. “External motivators, such as losing weight before a high school reunion, are typically what jump-start our resolutions,” Norcross says. “But they don’t sustain us over time.” For that, you have to find motivators that are personally meaningful: how great you feel after finishing that 5-mile run, or how much more energy and confidence you’ve had since you dropped the weight. This year’s resolution: achieved. Next up: 2013!

Way To Go! You did it! Keep up the good work for the rest of the year and refer back to these tips for help when it gets tough to stay focused!

Pelican Dive Bomb March 15, 2012

Each week we easily see 100 Pelicans from our balcony or wherever we may be playing around the island. They fascinate me. From gliding several stories in the air to inches above the water without a single flap of their wings, dive bombing into the water from 30+ feet above for a meal, or simply giving you that stare as if you just woke them up from a nap as you pass them by on the dock. I always seem to find myself standing in amazement when I see one dive bomb for a big splash and a quick meal, yes they fascinate me. So, I went to learn more. Here’s what I found:

The Wikipedia link on brown pelicans is @ the bottom, but here are some quick facts:

• Protected species due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
• Estimated population of 650k
• State bird of Louisiana
• Represented on Tulane & LSU’s seals
• Smallest of 8 species of pelican and one of the few that dive bombs for their food

Years ago the Pensacola News Journal organized the appropriately named ‘Pelicans in Paradise’ art project that places Pelican statues all over P-cola. I love these little statues and until I found this article I did not realize there were so many around: http://www.pensapedia.com/wiki/Pelicans_in_Paradise

Brown Pelican Wiki

The Boat Wave March 1, 2012

For as long as I can remember, any time and every time I’ve been on a boat or seen a boat passing while standing on the shore, I’ve always felt compelled to wave.  Until this weekend I never really thought to ask ‘why’.  I mean any time we’re in the Jeep and pass by another Jeep we always extend the “Jeep Brotherhood” wave – always understood to mean “hey, person with similar taste, congrats on having the same cool toy.”  But why a boat?  Especially when standing on shore – we don’t wave @ Jeep drivers if we’re not in ours.  Even with Google magic this is not an easy case to crack, but here are some of the ones I’ve found (I like ’em all):

1. Just being friendly – imagine if this was practiced on the road 🙂
2. “Hello” to my Boating Brothers & Sisters
3. Acknowledgement of someone who enjoys the same
4. Good luck gesture – back when ships weren’t made as well as they are today, sea travel was considered to be very risky and more often deadly.  Waving was a silent way of saying “we’re headed for a new life” and possibly a good-bye, as in “we might not make it”.
5. Confirmation of social status

New Year, New You- Week 9 February 27, 2012

How to Keep Your Resolutions All Year!

Article from SELF.com

Week 9

You think: “I’m doing so well, I can stop keeping track.” It’s awesome that you’ve made it this far, and you totally deserve a little celebration, but with the finish line in sight, now is not the time to slow down. “Once your behavior starts to feel routine, it’s easy to assume you have this in the bag and can let down your guard,” Norcross says. “But that’s when you become vulnerable to missteps.” You may think that because you haven’t smoked in more than two months, you can lift your ban on going out with friends who do, or that you can stop keeping a food log because you’ve got the diet down. But those techniques were crucial to your success up to this point, and taking them away can dissolve your resolve. “Whatever you’re doing is working, so don’t stop!” Norcross urges.

Don’t Lose Focus! Keep up the hard work!

New Year, New You- Week 8 February 20, 2012

How to Keep Your Resolutions All Year!

 Article from SELF.com

Week 8

You think: “I need others to push me to… [fill in the blank].” Asking people for support is smart, but to make your resolution stick, now is the time to learn how to be your own cheerleader. In fact, relying too heavily on a pal or family member to get you to do something can actually decrease your motivation to work toward your goals, a study in Psychological Science finds. Your boyfriend might be great at getting you out of bed for your morning jog, but what happens when he’s out of town? Without any motivation to hit the treadmill on your own, you and the snooze button will become BFFs. To remind yourself why this goal is important to you, write little notes and post them where you’ll see them—your desk, the mirror and the snooze button!

Keep up the good work!

New Year, New You- Week 6 February 6, 2012

How to Keep Your Resolutions All Year!

Article from SELF.com

Week 6

You think: “Crap. I slipped up. Now what do I do?” You’re in good company: “Having a lapse is common. In fact, 75 percent of resolution makers slip up within the first two months,” Norcross says. What really matters is how you handle it; 24 percent of Self.com respondents say they spend several days feeling guilty over their misstep; 61 percent say they acknowledge the screwup but get right back on track. Guess which group is more likely to succeed? “One setback shouldn’t undo all your efforts. Instead of stewing, figure out how to prevent the slip from happening again,” Norcross says. Blew this week’s savings on boots from Zappos? (We get it: free shipping!) Find a way to recoup what you spent: At Zappos, returns are free, too!

Don’t Get Discouraged, you can do it!

@ the Hangout – Gulf Shores February 3, 2012

Chilling to the tunes of Mississippi Jazz musician Cedric Burnside while watching the moonlight dance off the crashing waves @ the Hangout – Gulf Shores.

Cedric Burnside on the drums:

18th Annual “Super” Chili Cook-off

In honor of the upcoming SUPERBOWL this Sunday, come out this Saturday, February 4th for the 18th Annual “Super” Chili Cook-off!!

Held at the Flora-Bama

10:00am-1:00pm

Proceeds going to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.The event includes food Good Times and continuous, original music provided by our Flora~Bama® Players. Souvenir T-shirts, Free Beer and other give-a-ways will be provided for all participants.
Admission: Tickets: $2.00 each or 6 for $10.00. Entry fee: $50.00 per (3-person) team

Click here for more information: http://www.florabama.com/Chili%20Cook%20Off.html

71 degrees January 28, 2012

Calm wind, calm Gulf…perfect.

1st Annual Pensacola Maritime & Pirate Festival January 24, 2012

Coming to Plaza DeLuna Park March 10th weekend.  Here are a couple of links for more info:

http://www.facebook.com/PensacolaPirateFest?sk=wall

http://events.emeraldcoast.com/pensacola-fl/events/show/236886344-pensacola-maritime-pirate-festival