Tag: Just Do It!

An Easy Way to Go Camping More Often

8 Comments

Do you like camping but don’t get to go often enough? Just can’t find the time to get away? Here’s some good news, you don’t have to! Grab your gear, set up in your yard and you can go camping any time. Have to be at work in the morning? Set the alarm on your cell phone, make coffee and breakfast on your stove before heading inside for a quick shower, then head off to work.

These backyard excursions can provide valuable experience. With shelter near at hand, you can test out new gear without fear. New stove or type of food? Go in and rummage through the kitchen if it doesn’t work out. Want to see how well your gear stands up to the rain or cold? Go test it! If you get wet or cold, go inside.

There is no worse time to find out your gear isn’t working than when you’re out in the field, relying on it. Can you set up your tent quickly, even in the wind? What about taking it down during a lull in the rain? Being able to do so has saved my wife and I from getting thoroughly drenched a couple of times; this is a skill that we honed with practice. Through testing at home, we know that we can sleep comfortably in our hammocks on a 35°F night. When sleeping in the tent, we know which of our pads are the most comfortable. Through practice, we know our favorite meals and how long it takes to prepare them. When you use your gear at home you can use it more often, testing it thoroughly and learning its quirks, which will enable you to have a safer and more enjoyable camping experience.

Don’t let time be an excuse anymore. You can have a great time camping, right in your own back yard. Literally!

3 Paths to Culinary Adventure

1 Comment

Want to introduce some quick excitement into your daily life? Would an easy culinary adventure fit the bill? There are three simple ways to do this. Three easy things that fit easily into your daily schedule while spicing it up. Without further ado, here are three quick culinary adventures you can try today:

1) Try something you don’t think you will like.
If you haven’t tried it, how do you know you won’t like it? Try it with an open mind and adventuresome palate and you might be pleasantly surprised. This adventure is simple; choose something that you do not think that you will like and give it a try. I do not suggest forcing yourself to eat it as a whole meal, or even the main course. A small portion as a side is enough. If you don’t like it after a bite or two, large amounts of it are not likely to improve its taste. (Don’t forget that this can be a beverage as well as food.)

My suggestion for this adventure is to make it a total experience as much as a tasting adventure. Go to a fitting setting for whatever you are trying. In this way, the focus is not as much on the food as the whole trip. If then you end up being correct about not liking the food, the adventure continues, un-spoiled by the tasting attempt.

Personally, I tried some Guinness. I have yet to find a beer of any kind that I like, and had no great expectations for this one. While exploring Dublin on foot, I decided to head into the Temple Bar and give it a try. What better place to try an Irish beer than an Irish pub that opened in 1840? (The Guinness brewery was closing soon and I couldn’t make it in time for a tour, so they were out of the question.) I ordered a pint of Guinness and then managed to find an empty stool. The first sip wasn’t too bad, better than I expected. About halfway through the glass, however, I came to the conclusion that I still am not a beer drinker. While I did not enjoy the beverage, I enjoyed the experience. I will return and try something different while enjoying the live music, which was fantastic.

2) Re-try something you don’t like.
Over time, your tastes change. You might have loved mac-and-cheese as a kid, but can’t stand it now. Or you hated asparagus but now enjoy it. Every so often it is worth re-trying things that you used to dislike. This easy adventure involves just choosing something that you did not like the last time you tried it, and giving it another chance. As with the first adventure, I recommend trying only a small portion, definitely not as the main course.

You may want to alter some things from the last time that you tried it. Perhaps a new cook (different restaurant), or a new recipe is what you need to begin enjoying it. Last time it might simply have been overcooked,or under-seasoned. You might have had a portion of lesser quality, so you may want to pay a bit extra when you purchase your raw ingredients if you are making it yourself.

My wife is not a fan of seafood. She has tried it a number of times throughout the years and simply cannot stand it. Recently, some friends invited us over for dinner, and we did not realize until arriving that they had prepared tilapia. I assured her that she could have my side dishes and I eat her fish so that she would not go hungry. Bravely she sampled a fillet, and found that she enjoyed it. She even had seconds! This unexpected culinary venture was successful due to a number of variables: new type of fish, new chef, and a new recipe. She is still not eager to order fish as her meal, but she is willing to give it a try in the hopes that she finds more that is to her liking.

3) Try a new version of something you do like.
In case your previous two adventures did not turn out as well as you hoped, this one is almost guaranteed to be good. Everyone has their favorite foods, here’s your chance to enjoy one of yours. Simply pick one of your favorite foods and try a new version of it. This can be as simple as going to a different restaurant than normal and having it there (made by someone new, perhaps with a new recipe), looking up recipes and trying a different one from normal, or finding a new version of it at the store. Unlike the previous two adventures, I do recommend a generous helping this time around. Eat up and enjoy!

This was a simple enough adventure for me. While out shopping, my wife and I picked up some Irish Sausage links. For supper we fried them up, scrambled some eggs, made some toast, and topped it off with some orange juice. Those sausages were delicious! (Not that any of it was bad.) The entire meal took only a few minutes to prepare, and will definitely be repeated on a regular basis.

10 Ways to Make Her Valentine’s Day Special

6 Comments

Are you ready to make her Valentine’s Day special? This doesn’t necessarily mean having flowers ordered and chocolate ready to go (unless that is what really makes her happy). Have you planned something that will show her how special she is, how much she means to you? In no particular order, here are 10 ideas to get you started:

  1. Have an indoor picnic.
    It might be too cold to eat outside, but you can still have a romantic picnic. You already have the perfect location available. Clear the floor by pushing furniture back and lay down a clean sheet or blanket. Set two complete dinner places: placemats, long-stemmed glasses, everything. Don’t forget to include some long-stemmed candles.
    The meal does not have to be fancy, this is almost a case where it is the effort that counts (it does need to be edible). Quality company will more than make up for a mediocre meal. If you are not an experienced cook, I have always had luck with pasta. You can purchase tortellini that only needs to be boiled and then add a jar of her favorite sauce. Buy a loaf of fresh bread and slice it, add some butter and toast it in the oven. This simple meal is fast to prepare, easy to cook, and delicious.
  2. Write her a Letter.
    Make the time to write a message meant just for her. You don’t have to be a wordsmith for it to be special for her, it just has to be heart-felt. Here are some questions to help get you started:

    • How has she made your life better?
    • What does she do that you look forward to every day?
    • Why were you first attracted to her?
    • Why is she more attractive to you now than when you first started dating?
    • What are her unconscious habits that you have noticed?
  3. Bake her favorite dessert.
    Like the picnic meal, this is almost a case where it is the effort that counts. If you take the trouble to make a cake, or brownies, or cheesecake, it will not matter if they are not perfect. The cake can be a little lopsided, the icing doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth, it will still taste wonderful. (Again, they do have to be edible, so follow those directions closely!) Ask the best baker you know for a recipe if you don’t already have one. Not only will this make her day, but you get to enjoy the final results with her.
  4. Give her a massage.
    Everyone loves a good massage. Take some time and treat her to one. You don’t have to be great, you just have to be willing to put in a good effort. She will tell you if something feels good, so just keep doing what she likes.
  5. Prepare her a bath.
    Draw a nice hot bath, include her favorite bath salts or oils (perhaps even bubbles!) and lead the way. Have her bathrobe and slippers ready when she gets out. Meet her with a fresh cup of her favorite drink. Spoil her.
  6. Spend the day together with no distractions.
    You have to spend time with her, time when you are focused completely on her. This focused time is one of her basic needs. One of the greatest gifts you can give her (anytime, not just for Valentine’s Day) is to spend time with her. So put away the cell phone, turn off the TV and computer and just talk to each other. You can talk over a meal, with mugs of tea in your hands, on a drive or a walk. Discuss your hopes and fears, dreams and ideas. Share your plans for the future and regrets of the past. Grow closer to one another.
  7. Watch her favorite movie with her.
    Get comfy on the couch. Put on your PJ’s, curl up underneath a blanket together, grab some snacks and sit back for her favorite movie. Absolutely no complaining on your part!
  8. Buy her something she wants but would never buy herself.
    This cannot be something practical. It has to be something she really wants but is not willing to buy for herself, or that she is waiting to buy. This doesn’t have to be something big, it just has to be something important to her. It might be a book she’s been wanting, a piece of jewelry she’s been eyeing, or some clothing that she would not get for herself.
  9. Go on a date.
    Sweep her off your feet like you used to. Make reservations at her favorite restaurant (an alternate is to recreate your first date). Do something besides watch a movie afterwards, perhaps go bowling or some other activity that allows you to interact (movies don’t allow you to talk, you want to find something that does).
  10. Do the chores so she doesn’t have to.
    It is her day, after all. Make it special by removing some of the day-to-day stuff. Are there chores that she always takes care of? Today you can give her a pleasant surprise by doing them for her.

None of these are hard, and most do not have to be expensive. They all can show that you care enough to put some thought into your Valentine’s Day gift, which is what she really wants!

Are You Still Making Excuses?

5 Comments

My wife and I are very excited about studying abroad in Ireland. As much as we are looking forward to it, though, it almost didn’t happen. The worst part? It would have all been our own fault. We kept finding excuses why this wasn’t the best time to take the trip.

  • It’s cheaper to go over during the summer, on our own
  • What if we can’t get all of the classes we need?
  • We’re having a hard time finding an apartment within our budget, what if we can’t find somewhere to live?
  • What if something happens and we run out of money?

Each of these have easy answers why they are not issues. This is not only the best time to go to Ireland, but we get to stay longer, so any extra cost is worth it. If we do miss a couple of classes, we can take them over the summer at the community college. We always have a hard time finding apartments online, we do much better in person; at the worst, we will have to raise our budget and cut back somewhere else. No matter what, we already have our return tickets, so we will not get stuck in Ireland.

We were accepted into the program, and then spent two weeks debating if we should go or not. The stress was building. Finally, I sat back and realized that we were just making excuses. Were we going to pass up living in Ireland for 6 months because of excuses? Excuses! Not on your life. Once we realized that there were no real reasons for us not to go, everything seemed to fall in place.

What adventures are you missing out on because of your excuses? Don’t do this to yourself!
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain

Do you have an adventure you want to experience, but excuses are holding you back? Here’s a process that will help you out. All you need is paper and pencil. Following are six questions; write down the first thing that comes to mind for each question. Keep writing until the flow stops. I will provide an example for each question, identified by this color.

  1. What is the absolute worst thing that could happen if you do what you are considering?
    We would go to Ireland without having found a place to live, and not be able to find somewhere to live while we were there. So we would have to stay in a hotel and would burn through our money, leaving us broke and homeless in Ireland.
  2. What could you do to fix what went wrong?
    I imagine that the school would not let us stay homeless, so I am sure we could work something out. We could check Craigslist and find a place to stay in trade for work. We could find a job that pays under the table, doing handi-work or something. We could find housing through a local church. We could stealth camp around the town. Last but not least, we could borrow the necessary money from our families.
  3. If you go through with your idea, and it works out well, what are the possible positive outcomes?
    We will be able to spend five months in Ireland (my first trip out of the country). We will get to spend a week traveling around Europe, and spend a couple of days with my wife’s host family from when she studied abroad in Finland. I will be able to work on the website while I am traveling, and will have built up a decent readership by the time we return to the USA.
  4. Are you putting off what you want to do only because of fear?
    I’m afraid that I won’t get the classes that I need, that we’ll spend more money than we can afford, or that …. I think that is basically what it boils down to.
  5. What is it costing you to postpone action?
    We stressed ourselves out for two weeks, trying to determine if we could go. If we went during the summer, it might cost us less, financially, but we wouldn’t get to stay as long or do as many things. Also, since we are going during the school semester, we still have the summer to go on other adventures. If we don’t go now, we could continue finding excuses for years.
  6. What are you waiting for?
    We have looked at the worst that could happen, and the best that could happen. I know the worst that is possible, and the simple things that I can do to fix it. I think we just ran out of excuses…

Quit making excuses, get on with your adventure!

The Best Time for Your Next Adventure

Leave a comment
What is always rushing towards you but never reaches you?

I thought that this would be a good post to start with a riddle. (I am not a good riddler, but thought that I would give it a try.)

Have you figured it out yet? Highlight here: tomorrow to see the answer. This is not the best time for your next adventure, no matter how often it is used. This is when everything will be perfect, when all of your ducks will be in a row, and when the sun, moon, planets and stars all line up, and when you will win the lottery.

The best time for your next adventure? Right now! There will always be something left to do, someone you wanted to visit with before you leave, or some other excuse not to go. If you keep waiting, tomorrow will become next week, next month, next year, and then 10 years will have gone by.

Start on your next adventure right now! Take 5-10 minutes, determine what you want to do, and set a realistic date. Follow the planning steps outlined in the link, and start working towards your adventure. If you have a time-frame to work within, you will be surprised how much you can get accomplished. Complete one 5-10 minute necessary task per day, and it will be no time before your adventure is upon you.

What are you waiting for? Get going!

Planning Your Adventure – Enjoy your Adventure!

2 Comments

This is the final post in the Planning Your Adventure series. You’ve followed the map that you created and the only thing left to do is to go out there and enjoy your adventure!

Of course, there is still that nagging voice in the back of your head, “Are you sure this is the best time?” “What about that thing you were going to do?” and everyone’s favorite, “Did you turn off the oven?”

You will never get everything done that you want to do. There will be someone you wanted to talk to before you go, some last detail that you did not get a chance to take care of, not exactly the right amount of money saved up. If you allow yourself to do so, you can make excuses from now until eternity. It doesn’t matter how big or small the adventure, it is possible to find an excuse to put it off.

    For the trip to Ireland:

  • I can’t get all of the classes that I need.
  • What if we can’t find a place to stay, or it costs too much?
  • With the currency difference ($1 US is currently [Jan 2008] worth $0.77 Euros) we will be losing money, should we wait?
  • and on and on and on…

We finally decided that we just had to go and quit making excuses. Once we brushed those excuses aside and focused on our goal, everything else seemed to fall in place! We didn’t immediately find a place to stay, but received a list of places that are available, including prices (which ended up the same or cheaper as our rent in the U.S.!) The classes mostly all worked out, we will only be missing two that we would have otherwise been taking.

Of course, that is a big example. We’ll be putting everything we own into storage and moving out of the country for nearly half of a year. It’s easy to see how one would make excuses for that. However, I had been making excuses for my painting for at least 6 months. 6 months for a few hour painting! I’d had the materials for at least that long! Hadn’t touched them yet, though.

    For the painting:

  • I don’t have just the right picture to work from
  • I don’t have enough time to finish it right now, so I’ll wait until complete it in one sitting.
  • I’m just not in the mood.

Until I made myself do it, it was never going to get done. I love to paint, I just hate starting. So even if I was not in the mood, it normally only took about 10 minutes for me to be thoroughly enjoying myself. I let that temporary displeasure stop me from doing something I love.

To ensure that you enjoy your adventure, whether it is big or small, you have to determine what truly needs to be done. You don’t have to leave your house spic-and-span, but you do have to make sure the pets will be fed and watered. You don’t have to visit everyone you know, but you should let them know what you are doing: email or a phone call will suffice.

Once you have taken care of the true needs, you can let everything else that is inconsequential slide from your mind. Relax and enjoy your adventure!

Planning Your Adventure – Keep on Stepping

2 Comments

We are nearing the final post in the Planning Your Adventure series! If you are just joining us, it would probably be best for you start at the beginning.

You have completed the first two steps that you have laid out. You have, haven’t you? (If not, go back and get those done! Then come back and we’ll go from there.)

All that you have left to do is to keep on following the stepping stones that you have written down. Follow the same pattern as before. Each day, complete one 5 minute task. If the next task will take more than 5 minutes, break it down into smaller tasks, listed in order. If you apply yourself, though, you might be surprised what you can accomplish in less than 5 minutes.

I was able to find out what paperwork I needed to get into Ireland in less than 5 minutes. A quick google search provided me with a list of what I needed. A few minutes later and I knew how to go about getting that paperwork. (It helped that I already had everything except my passport. Otherwise I would have created a new sub-list for each item I needed to get.)

That’s all you have to do. Break your big, “impossible” tasks down into small, easy-to-do tasks and then do them!

You’re almost there, are you excited about your adventure yet? Keep on stepping, follow that map you have drawn and reach your X!

Planning Your Adventure – Start Stepping

Leave a comment

Another post in the Planning Your Adventure series. You have your Baby Steps listed. Now it’s time to start taking action!

You have at most nine (sub)steps listed to complete each goal. Focus only on the first step. Can you complete it in less than 5 minutes? If not, break it down further until you can do each portion of the step in 5 minutes or less.

    Live in Ireland for 3 months & visit Europe for a week

  1. find transportation
    1. compare prices of plane tickets between carriers (I already know I will be leaving the last week of January and returning the first week of June)

      • check out prices at cheaptickets.com, priceline.com & orbitz.com
      • determine which airline is consistently cheaper & check their sites for direct prices
    Paint 8×11 picture of sunset & trees

  1. get materials
    1. go to store and purchase (paint, canvas & brushes)

Now do it! This small step gets the momentum started. It is the gentle nudge that gets you started. Are you done yet? No?! Stop reading, GO DO IT, then come back and continue reading. I’ll be here when you get back, don’t worry. GO!

  • US Airways ended up consistently being the lowest price.
  • At least $100 cheaper per ticket directly from their site. (I was able to search both of these in about 10 minutes, so I actually did the first two steps together.)
  • This took a few more than 5 minutes, but Michael’s is only two blocks away so I was easily able to pick up the materials I needed. I ended up waiting in line longer than it took to get there. Total of maybe 15 minutes.

Now that you have completed your first step, you need to complete the next one by this time tomorrow. It will take you another 5 minutes (or break it down again until you have a series of 5 minute-tasks to complete)

Your adventure is getting closer, are you getting excited yet? You’ll be off on your adventure soon, as long as you keep on stepping…