Vitality

Stop Thinking and Just Do It

2011-07-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks or so, all I have heard is "just do it". I've heard it from clients, speakers, books and close friends/family. I have even woke up in the middle of the night to write down "stop thinking about and just do it". That note is now posted on my fridge.

Every so often we get a boost of inspiration and think "oh it would be great to do this", "I wish this was possible" or "I would really like to get involved with this". But only a small percentage of us actually take action on these thoughts. The only worthless ideas are the thoughts that are not acted upon. Everything in being today has been created or thought up by someone.

So what is stopping you from taking action on your thoughts? That would be RESISTANCE. Resistance comes from fear of failure and our ego's blocking us from our true purpose. I recently read this book "The War of Art" that gave me a total eye opener on resistance. It is supposed to be targeted to creatives but is a must-read for anyone with a mind and life to live.

You know that screeching anxiety you get when you need to make a major decision or any change at all. And the horrified feeling you have when you are about to make a presentation, host a major event or start a new job. Anytime you feel like you are going to hurl with fear, that is what you should be doing (not hurling but doing the action) to get closer to your life's purpose.

What is something that has been on your mind or you have been putting off? Think about it again and make time to explore it. Forget the excuses and everything will align to make it happen. Go buy or rent "The War of Art"from the library and you will know what you should be doing.

Be aware of signs and repeated messages around you. Happy travels.

You are Exactly Where you are Meant to Be

2011-07-27T18:52:00.001-07:00

“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”

- something to print off and post at your desk.

Nat Decadents

2009-10-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

The power of social media has lead me to another great wine site called Nat Decadents http://www.nataliemaclean.com/. It has thousands of pairings and more than 50,000 reviews of wines at the LCBO searchable by price, region, score, food match and complementary recipes.

The branding of this site is very clean, classy and inviting. Every page has a consistent feel which makes the site easy to follow and find information. Nat has executed a very successful social media campaign as you can see from her various social media widgets, podcasts, blog and e-newsletter. This shows she is open to her audience and communicates an image for being current. Also - increasing increasing google ranking!

Great links! This site uses a VERY powerful SEO tip. There is a large directory of suggested wine sites that offer information that perhaps Nat Decadents does not. By including these links, Nat Decadents is creating a portal of "everything wine" which will bump up this site in the google ranking when people are searching wine.

A few possible suggestions that I see for this site is communicating clearly that this is an Ottawa-based company. Also, it would be a great promotion for herself to communicate which events she will attending (via a visual calendar). Most importanty - the wine widget for blogs is not easily found lia the main site. Other than that I give this site 10/10 for content, consistent branding, and reader involvement

Wine Align

2009-10-06T15:23:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered this website via Twitter - www.winealign.com I think it is actually my new favourite site!

Choose a wine based broadly on price or as narrow as a grape variety. Most wines are rated with customer reviews which helps novice wine purchasers - or choose to discuss wine with other lovers.

You can also sign up to save your favourite wines. Sometimes we are pretty optomistic and think we can remember the last bottle we loved - but when we drink so many it sometimes slips our mind. Wine Align even goes the next step and finds the nearest LCBO that stocks your wine of choice.

From a marketing perspective I would give this site high ratings for orginality, cleanliness, customer engagement, credibility, and being current. Changes that I could suggest are creating visible links to their social media action on the main page (aka twitter widget and blog widget) and uploading a "share this" button in the blog.

After 9 to 5

2009-10-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

The key to sanity when starting work is finding your niche outside of 9 to 5. I blog and tweet all day about roofing and the contracting industry but that's not my passion in life.

I dowloaded this new tweet deck - aka social crack - which I plan to learn more about industries that I am interested in.

I want to learn more about the food - specifically gluten-free recipes - and wine industry as I love to cook and entertain.
I want to get more involved in the community by volunteering to learn and experience new things.
I want to learn more about health and fitness as I just joined various fitness classes
I want to gather more information on home buying vs renting because I am getting the "nesting instinct" and flying the coup in less than a year

Working 9 to 5

2009-10-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

So I'm officially a working woman (aka becoming a roofing guru). The first month or so I had those days where I am like what the heck am I doing here?! I didn't know anything about the roofing industry...except boys will be boys. But you know what...that doesn't matter. I went to school for three years to increase company awareness and sales through strategic marketing.

Anybody can learn anything. So guess what I grabbing knowledge from everyone in the office, searching the latest trends via social media, and working with the products hands on. I never thought I'd say this but I actually get excited talking about roofing!

TIPS for new graduates

See your first "real job" as grabbing as much information as possible. Ya, school taught us alot of the basics but there is SO much to learn. Find mentors in your workplace and soak up their knowledge.
Be confident in what you know. I am a HUGE believer in the effects of social media - however "the cavemen" at work do not get it. Stick to your guns and find your niche within the company
Be known. Be open to working on new projects, bring new ideas to the table, have a positive attitue, get involved in group work, and excel in your niche specialty
Enjoy your job. Whether its listening to your Ipod while you work, buying a kettle to make a hot cup of tea, personalizing your office or sorting out an issue out with a colleague - get through the day with a smile. If you find your days are not looking so bright day after day...talk to you bossman and talk about some options. Life is too short to be miserable.

Time off for good behaviour

2009-08-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Currently Reading..

"Time off for good behaviour: How hardworking women can take a break and change their lives"

By: Mary Lou Quinlan

Mary Lou had pushed herself to CEO of a New York advertising agency and was reaching burnout. "Time Off for Good Behavior is the result of listening to women like her, who realized enough was enough. Quinlan tells the stories of dozens of women who sacrificed their health, relationships, their good humor and a good night’s sleep until they found the courage to ask themselves if they were happy with the life they were living and made the decisions to take a life-saving break."

The book talks alot about "Type A" good girls - eager, master multi-taskers, optomistic, driven by success, people-pleasers, overacheivers.

Entering the marketing/business world in 2 days!! This book was a huge eye-opener on how to keep your sanity in a creative career. As a "Type A" girl I am always trying to push/prove myself that I can do better. I need to make sure in the process I do not stress myself out and lose the passion that I am going into the job with.

5 Steps to make yourself great

2009-07-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

Truly inspirational for someone that is starting a career or unsure of their next direction. Another blog post from Penelope Trunk - 100% honest woman and entrepreneur.

5 Steps to make yourself GREAT:
1. Aim to be something that matters in the world
2. Expect that being great involves many levels of disappointment
3. Try starting and stopping something
4. When you know what's special to you, refuse to do anything outside of that
5. Quit quickly if you know you won't be great.

Having great opportunties and saying...no

2009-07-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

My "vacation" is almost coming to an end. I start my new job at Roofer's World on Tuesday and am gleaming with excitement! Soon I begin my career path in a dynamic company, learning new/seeing new things and proving my skills. I will implement innovative idea and challenge the status quo for the contracting industry!

During my "time-off" I have been building my resume tremendously. Worked with two different social media companies and participated in non-profit event organization. Every week I get at LEAST two phone calls to set up interviews but am happy to say I am employed!! Today I went for an interview that I didn't even know was one...

I came across this blog post from Penelope Trunk "The sign of a great career is having great opportunities and saying no!" She clarified my decision to not get overwhelmed and tempted by these great job opportunities knocking on my door. Focus 100% on what path you are headed. Sure these projects that I have been participating in have been great experience but I cannot spread myself out too thin. Either give it your all or nothing at all.

She says "People always talk about how you need to give stuff up in order to have a fulfilling career and a fulfilling personal life. What people don’t realize is that the better you get at your career, the more amazing are the opportunities that you give up. But this is a hard reality to swallow."

As a Type A personality - striving to achieve, help others, multi-task and be the best - the reality is that I can't do it all. Roofer's World has chosen me and I am going to commit myself to them building them up. The future may involve starting a business of helping others with marketing consulting but step #1 is building experience and networks.

5 Things to do when you're unemployed

2009-07-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Motivating Blog entry by Penelope Trunk

Let’s say you get fired, or laid off, or you quit because after two weeks you know you’re at the worst company on the planet. In all of those cases, you will face the interview question: What happened at your last job?

Here’s the answer you should always give: “I left to do x.” And you fill in for x.

Which brings me to what you should be really focusing on when you are unemployed: Learning and growing. Because this is what you are going to talk about in job interviews. Most people require about six months to get another job. This is a big chunk of time that you can piss away sending resumes to Monster and wondering why no one responds. But you cannot job hunt for eight hours a day. Really. You’ll go nuts. (Wait. Here’s a time-saving job hunt tip from my mom.)

So spend the time creating projects for yourself and executing on them. This is good for you mentally – because you are doing something meaningful with your time and that will keep your spirits up.

But this is also good for you in your job hunt. Because when you talk about why you left the last company, you spin it in a positive light by talking about how you are excited about doing what you are doing. Your interview should include you telling a good story about focused personal growth, and no one will get stuck on why you left your last job. Here are five ways to set that story up:

1. Create a job for yourself. These projects can be wide ranging, but they have to show that you are driven, ambitious and focused. During one stint of unemployment, I worked for free for my boyfriend’s company for a couple of hours a day. That way I didn’t actually have a gap in my resume; a resume doesn’t show part-time or full-time and it doesn’t show pay or no pay. So volunteering at my boyfriend’s company for a couple of hours a day ended up looking like a full-time job on my resume.

2. Focus on ambition and execution and not so much on work per se. Another time I got laid off I spent my days learning to swing dance. I took one or two lessons a day and practiced at night, and after my six months of job hunting, I was good enough to teach dancing just off Broadway. I didn’t put that on my resume, but when people asked me why I left my job, I told them about how I gave myself time to fulfill lofty goals as a swing dancer.

3. Start a blog about the industry you want to go into. Blogging is a great way to keep up in your industry, network without looking desperate, and leverage the fact that you have more time on your hands that people who have jobs. Everyone who is unemployed should be blogging as a way to get their next job. Put your ideas out into the world and connect with people that way. This is why you want to be hired, right? For your ideas. So show them. The reason that people who blog have great careers is that bloggers are always thinking about issues in their industry. Show that side of yourself to people. Blogging takes a lot of time, sure. Bu you have a lot of time. So use it. Here’s my guide for how to start a blog.

4. Start a company. Do you have a company idea? Try it now. During unemployment. There’s nothing stopping you. You have time, and you can try ideas to see which one sticks. Also, whether or not your company does well, you’ll be able to talk about it in an interview as a huge learning moment that will deflect from any problems at your last job. The company that never got out of your parent’s basement can sit on your resume as professionally as a stint in the Fortune 500. It’s all about how you write the bullet points: talk about accomplishments and learning.

5. Practice talking about yourself with everyone. High performers practice for interviews. So now you know what you’re aiming for, but you need to talk about it with everyone – parties, at the gym, on the phone with friends. When they ask how you’re doing, talk about what you’re doing like you are in the job interview. And the good news is that the better you get at talking like that, the more you will actually believe your story, the story that being unemployed is lucky because you have learning opportunities.

What’s important to remember here is that no one can tell you what experience you can gain and what you can’t. You don’t need a job in order to learn cool stuff and be on cool projects. You control what you do with your time and you can make it useful. Talk about that. There is no reason to talk about why the last job didn’t work when you can talk about the great things that leaving opened up to you.

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/03/06/5-things-to-do-when-youre-unemployed-hint-its-not-job-hunting/

New Found Hobbies

2009-07-04T07:41:00.001-07:00

It was SO hard to adjust to having time off when I finished exams. After 8 months filled with project deadlines, OCMC training, commuting, full school days, and two part-time jobs...I was busy busy. Then it's all over..now what?

During my time off I have to say that I have not turned the TV on once! I did discover some new hobbies and alot about myself though. The first couple weeks were a little depressing...I asked myself what the heck am I doing with my life? What is my next step? Always trying to plan my next move. What I really needed to do was learn to relax...after almost 4 years of non-stop going I wasn't sure how to do that. One step at a time I started to unwind.

I started biking in the gorgeous weather, researching new things, organized my room, relaxed in the sun, reading and scrap booking new recipes, reading the newspaper....$0 activities that I thoroughly enjoy. I became less focused on not working and more focused on what I enjoy/finding what I love about life. Don't worry about what is coming next, embrace the fact that you have some time off because it will quickly go away.

Discover what you love. Explore new possibilities. Don't ever cut yourself down. Relax and Breathe. Everything will come together when you least expect it.

Roofers World

2009-07-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

1. Algonquin emailed my resume to Roofers World
2. Received an email to send a cover letter - no thanks..
3. Received an voicemail to set up an interview - hmmm I don't think I'm interested
4. Received a phone call from Algonquin to respond to Roofer's World
5. Schedule an interview for Thursday morning because I have nothing else planned

At first I was very skeptical about going because I thought the job posting was worded to sound like a glamorous job but then I would turn out doing cold calling all day. Nope...the job posting was actually highlighting everything that I would be doing.

Thank goodness I was not doing anything Thursday because I would have missed out on an amazing position, dynamic team, and high-energy organization. My role as a marketing and sales coordinator will involve working with the retail and commercial account managers and marketing manager. I will explore b2b marketing, b2c marketing, Internet marketing, sales, trade shows and the contracting industry.

The main perks...multiple roles, fun team, opportunity for growth, growing organization, LOTS of learning opportunities, and TRAVELLING!! Roofers World distributes products from BC to Nova Scotia to Alaska to California. As I am trained in all the products I will be responsible for setting up, managing and taking down our trade show booths at multiple shows...anywhere in Canada or the US. "Jen you are going to Tennessee this week."!!!!!

NEW Marketing and Sales Coordinator

2009-07-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

June 15th - return from Malta
June 18th - interview for account manager position
June 18th - graduation
June 22nd- career pep-talk with ex-colleague (I want marketing!! Debating on going back to school...)
June 25th - interview for marketing and sales coordinator position
June 25th - interview for social media intern position
June 26th - career pep-talk from close friend
June 29th - interview for advertising coordinator position
June 30th - second interview for marketing and sales coordinator
June 30th - JOB OFFER for marketing and sales coordinator
June 30th - JOB OFFER for social media intern

The past two weeks have been quite the adventure filled with developing interview skills and exploring all the marketing career paths there are. Before I started the job search I knew I was interested in an entry-level marketing position but I did not turn down other interviews because I wanted to explore all my options. From this experience I met new people, developed confidence talking about myself and secured my interest in marketing management.

Tips for Success
- Use your network of contacts (your mom, teacher, friend, twitter/facebook updates etc.) and tell them what you are looking for
- Don't be picky...just go because you never know if that will turn out to be your dream job or someone you could do business with later
- Set goals...I applied for 2 jobs a day!
- Confidence. You have the skills, you have the ability to learn, and you have the personality

I really think that interviews should be less focused on drilling you to "prove" yourself and more focused on what I am like as a person. My skills, experience, and accomplishments are all laid out on my resume...you already know all that before I walk in the door. Do you like me as a person though? What is your first impression and gut feeling about me? Most importantly...do I have the ability to learn, grow and add to the organization?

The Malta Experience

2009-07-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Day 1
Adjusting to a 6 hour time change after 18hours of travelling...we arrive in Malta greeted by smiling faces and gorgeous weather. Today we met Nannu, Nanna, cousin Maria, and Aunt Anna. Greeted with two kisses on the cheek, a big hug, tour of the 3 storey house, and introduced to our rooms...there was not one moment when I did not feel at home.

The two week adventure can be summed up with great food, local market shopping, siestas, beach sunning, bar nights, bold wine and lovely sights. I learned the importance of family, how to relax and live spontaneously.

What I am going to miss most are the people...Nannu's singing and stubborn nature, Nanna's innocence and caring ways, and the rest of the family we're SO friendly and made us their own. This will be a trip that I will remember and cherish forever. I celebrated freedom and am now prepared to embark into the career world with a fresh mind and confidence.

Camera, Money, Passport...Check!

2009-05-26T07:07:00.001-07:00

I can't believe my flight for Malta is happening in less than 6 days. A year after talking about the plans..it is finally here!! June 1 to June 15 will be filled with sounds of ocean splashes, cultural festivals, gourmet food, impeccable wine, and ongoing adventure with three great friends.

Why Malta? That is so random...where is that anyways?? Malta is a little island (about the size of PEI) off the coast of Italy..only a short boat ride to Sicily. It makes me melt to think about what our pallets will experience there! Christina, my friend from college, has graciously invited Allison and I to join her on her trip to visit her grandparents and close relatives. We are very fortunate to being staying with her grandparents which is a huge cost saver and great for navigation in the city!!

I have been following Malta Inside Out and Malta Lunch to get a feel for the culture, travel ideas and updates on upcoming events.

What I really hope to get out of this trip is LOTS of pictures and with that comes excursions. I love spontaneity, adventures, trying new things and living with no regrets. I would really like to partake in a wine tour, take a ferry or taxi to a different town, attend cultural events, eat great food, drink lattes and wine...

The update and photos that tell the story await when I return with a beaming smile and memories that will last a lifetime.

Summer Inspired Cooking

2009-05-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

Hot summer weather always gets me in the mood for cooking! Menu items fulls of fresh vegetables, bold spices and authentic flavour.

Our family has an interesting mix with some gluten sensitivities, one seafood allergy and one anti-spice and vegetable fans. It can be hard to find a meal that suits all...the search is on!

Last nights dinner was a Mexican salad ready in less than 30 minutes. Recipes are only guidelines so switch up by adding more vegetables and unexpected spices.

Today: Crock pot beef chili for a quick lunch (EASY!!). 4 hours on high for a spectacular meal with no fuss.

- salsa

- ground beef

- lots of spice

- kidney beans

Tonight: Roasted Vegetable Focaccia Pizza

- greek/italian flat bread

- any toppings desired (broccoli, spinach, pepper, diced tomato, sliced zucchini, onion..)

- combine with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic , fresh basil and pepper

- grated mozzarella cheese

Marketing to Survival

2009-05-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

Where is my place in the recession seeking a marketing position? A lot of companies are making cuts and marketing seems to be the first one because it is seen as the "money spender".

A detailed marketing plan addresses target market needs utilizing price, promotion, place and product strategies. There are so many tools available to avoid spending the big buck if you have someone dedicated organizing the process. Social media - free research, advertising, customer relationship management, lead generation....

"How will you be using social media to help save you time and money?"

As an enthusiastic, dedicated, dynamic and creative marketing consultant I am ready to take on the challenge. Dodge the punches and never quit fighting for what you want.

Career Path????

2009-05-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

I've been out of school for over two weeks right now and I'm feeling the stress starting to build. Right now I do not have a master plan and SOOO many options that I am looking at. Where to start?!?!

Should I continue volunteering my time and marketing expertise to build my resume? Continue my education to earn my degree? Should I go to BC for 8 months or Ottawa U for 2 years? Should I go on mass job hunt or wait to see if an opportunity presents itself?

I am leaving for malta with two close girlfriends June 1st for two weeks so I don't really want to start a career until I get back for simplicity sake. I am earning a substantial income working as a waitress on the weekends right now but it is starting to take a toll on my self-esteem. I have the brains, education and drive to succeed in marketing but I just need to find the right fit.

I'm trying to stop jamming my free time with everything but relaxing. I need to slowdown, make a large green tea, and enjoy the sunshine on my front porch.

Secret to Happiness

2009-05-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

Ask yourself the questions "What do you I want? What am I passionate about? What will make me happy". The fast-paced world that we are living in can sometimes get ahead of us so we start making choices that neglect our needs and desires. It may be the money that we are chasing or desire to please others.

Life is too short to live your life for everyone but yourself. That isn't saying to be selfish and neglect the well being of others. You need to make sure that you are doing things that you enjoy, being with people that make you laugh, feeling like $1million bucks, relaxing on the porch with a glass of wine and reaching your dreams.

You are in control of your own life. Set goals that you will reach. Surround yourself with people that love and support you. Refuse to let others diminish your self-worth. You do not deserve to be unhappy because you are worth it.

LIVE. LAUGH. LEARN. LOVE.

Knowledge is Power

2009-04-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

I am officially finished exams, project deadlines and 10 hours days at school. The 3 years I spent at Algonquin College is at the top of my best experiences! I made GREAT friends that will last a life time, overcame my free of public speaking, expanded my network, and defined my personal brand.

My master plan from here is to approach life and opportunities as they come. I am currenly volunteering with Virtual Eye See and Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa to test my marketing knowledge. Natasha at Virtual Eye See is seeking someone to help build her start-up social media enterprise. I am gaining knowledge of blogging tools, twitter tricks, wiki use, and everything social media related. Jennifer at BBBSO is seeking assistance with event marketing, sponsorship and building awarness. I am getting actively involved in directing a non-profit organization that has minimal marketing knowledge.

I am young, driven and empowered by making a difference. I am putting myself out there to learn, blossom and test myself. You cannot put a dollar amount on the joy, free education and satisfaction that I get out of meeting new people and lending a helping hand.

Power of Personal Branding

2009-04-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

What are your key values, personality traits and strengths?

Everyone has a chance to stand out, learn, improve and build their skills. What have you done this week to stand out? What are your accomplishments? What do you want to be famous for? The key to being visible and memorable is consistently communicating your personal brand.

"I am charismatic, ambitious, organized, and responsible. I am driven by challenges, motivated by success, and empowered by positive team members. I value education, health, making a difference, and change. As a career focus, I am interested in event planning, the wine and food industry, and health promotion."

Do not strive for anything that is less than perfect. Do what you love because you can. Meet new people, reward yourself, show off your skills, challenge your limits, and grow.

Great Wine Experience

2009-04-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few tips for having a great wine experience:

Drink dry wines before sweet
Drink white wine before red (if you choose to switch types during the evening)
Hold your wine glass from the stem to avoid changing the temperature and making smudges

How to determine if you prefer sweet or dry wines.

Tasting something bitter like a lemon will make wine seem sweeter. If you enjoy bold flavour look at grape varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, shiraz, and chardonnay. Countries with hot climates like California and Australia would be ideal for seeking sweeter wine.
Tasking something sweet like a marshmallow will make wine seem bitter. If you enjoy a mild taste look at grape varieties such as pinot noir, riesling, sauvignon blanc and tempanillo. Countries with mild climates like Spain, France, and Germany would be ideal for seeking dryer wine.

The "Food" section of the Ottawa Citizen on Wednesday, "Food and Drink" publication at the LCBO, and the free e-newsletter from www.winecurrent.com are great information sources for wine reviews and popular brands.

Finding a wine you LOVE

2009-03-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

I am currently taking this "Wine Appreciation" class at Algonquin via the internet. Wine is very new to me as I just started drinking it less than a year ago. Now, I am hooked on getting more information because it is so "unknown" and "multi-dimensional".

The taste of wine can change based on the grape type, country climate, type of soil, food matches, storage, picking time, and length and type of bottling.

If you are looking for a dryer wine - choose a wine from a country with a mild climate and light food matches like fish and chicken or spicy flavours.

If you are looking for a sweeter wine - choose a wine for a country with a hot climate and heavy food matches like roast beef and cheese

Wine philosophy states that yeast+sugar=alcohol+carbon dioxide. The longer the grapes are exposed to sun, the more sugar and alcohol is produced. Experiment with the taste of wine to know if you like a sweet or dry wine. Taste a lemon to make the wine seem sweeter and eat a marshmallow to make the wine seem bitter.

A rule of thumb: "wine should always be sweeter than your desset"

Put the Peddle to the Metal

2009-03-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

Fresh Meet 2009: a professional networking event created by 50 dynamic and creative marketing students to broaden contacts with over 150 industry experts.

My role within this major event is to manage the guest list template. This involves seeking contacts from team members, formatting information, updating notes, managing contact replies through constant contact and scheduling follow-up procedures. The event is only 3 weeks away so it is time to put the peddle to the medal and make this event a success!

The entire class has done an excellent job in logistics, marketing and fundraising to make this event unforgettable. For more information check out the website: http://www.freshmeet2009.com/

Bend with Pilates

2009-03-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

I joined my first pilates class two months ago and I am totally addicted. In the beginning, I was nervous to start based on its image of "seriousness" and "crazy positions" but I quickly found out that laughing is alright! It is actually recommended for building core strength.

The slow body movements and breathing exercises brings you down to earth. It is a total body experience that takes your mind of how crazy you look. Pilates is great for stress management, reconnection with yourself and letting go of any inhibitions. Most importantly, the core strength helps stabilize your immune system, posture and digestion.

Additionally, I am a regular practicer of yoga which is more focused on total body strength. I find it is more of a vigorous and advanced version of pilates. A word to fitness and health nuts like me...forget your worries about bending in awkward positions because your body loves it.

Welcome!

2009-03-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome!
So I've joined the blooging adventure as Jen Spruit, Just Do it!

In public school, my friends and acquaintances used to tease me by saying "Jen Spruit, Just Do It..." with a little snicker. I used to think it was so annoying but now I think the nickname suits me well. I am a very passionate person that thrives on adventure, new challenges and experiences. There are several goals and interests that I am striving to pursue in the future. I have a very optimistic and positive attitude about life - that anyone can do what they want in life if they really want it.

I look forward to sharing my random encounters, travel plans, delicious recipes and fantastic wine brands (and everything in between).