Reading List

   

I have been trying for awhile to find more books similar to Gone Girl and Cartwheel was one that came up on a few different "books similar to Gone Girl" lists. I am not too far into it but I do know it has to do with a girl studying abroad, which is what had sparked my interest with my love of travel and past study abroad experience.

Bitches on a Budget was written by travel agent. So naturally, being a travel agent myself and having major spending problems, I thought "what a perfect book for me." I really am not far enough into it to know whether or not it really is helpful but it's the thought that counts, right?

Okay so I said I am on a "life book" kick right now. So basically I have gotten any that come up in "suggested" on Amazon. Don't Worry, It Gets Worse is not necessarily helpful in adulthood, however it is comical with how sadly true some of the situations are. 

Ways to Relieve Stress {That Aren't Unhealthy}

It is so easy to come home from work and want a glass of wine, some homemade "nachos" and to binge watch Friends. Those are 3 of my favorite things. As much as I thought having a Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:30 job would make it easy for me to have a healthy, set schedule of work, exercise, and making good dinners, it's not. Even with a typical work schedule, it is hard to set a routine for yourself and de-stress. Everyone is different so it all depends on what you like, what type of climate you live in, etc. In Michigan we can't always get outside for something active, but there are other things we can do.

• Yoga. For you maybe it is running, or biking, or Pure Barre. For me, it's Yoga. There is no decision I am happier about, than getting back into it. I feel great every time I leave and it is definitely money well spent.
• Reading. They say at the end of the day before you go to bed, a good way to wind down is to read. I have been trying to turn the TV off by 8:00 PM and get off my phone. Now, if you're reading a real page turner, this might not put you to sleep. But for the most part it is relaxing and you can try some lifestyle or inspirational books for close to bedtime. Heck, even work on that adult coloring book.
• Adult Coloring Books. So reading led me right to this. I am sure this is only a trend coming in right now and will go right back out. But, maybe I am wrong. AND they work. When I got my first one as a gift I was excited but also like "wow how is this good to relieve stress" with how complex all of the pages are. But it really works. I promise. Do it.
• Tea. I love tea. There is nothing I love more than having my daily (or multiple) iced tea. I love my pre-bedtime tea. I love warm tea on cold winter mornings. How about tea after yoga? Or tea after yoga while you read? Sounds perfectly relaxing to me. 
• Vitamin D. As I said, in Michigan it is hard to get out in the sun year-round. But everyone knows the sun makes people happier, this is no brainer. 
• De-clutter. This may cause more stress before actually getting rid of it. But apartment living can be tough. I have a lot in my bedroom that is only in my bedroom because where else do I put it? Sitting in my room with a whole lot of crap around me, gives me anxiety. De-clutter however you choose, but clean things out. Get rid of things. You will feel better and guaranteed your apartment or home will look better.

So that's my little small piece of stress relieving advice! It may not sound as good as wine, binge watching Netflix and shopping, but I promise you will feel more productive after. 

Thanks for reading!

-Kait-

{Easy} Chicken + Veggies

Adjusting to working until 5:30pm or 7pm and then working out and making healthy meals has been a little challenging. I am always looking for quick, but still good for you options. I do all of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's or Fresh Thyme. This makes it easy to only buy organic, healthy choices. This chicken and veggies recipes is super simple and doesn't take long to make at all.

 

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 pint mixed tomatoes
• 1 package brussel sprouts
• 2 sweet potatoes, chopped into wedges
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced {depending on size}
• 4 tsp seasoning of your choice {Italian, Mediterranean, etc.}
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Olive oil

Serving Size: 2

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

• In a quart to gallon size Ziploc bag, put sweet potato wedges. Add a drizzle of Olive Oil, 1/2 of the minced garlic, 2 tsp seasoning {I used an Italian blend I got on my trip to Italy}, salt and pepper to taste. Shake bag well. Empty onto pan to place in the oven about 10-15 minutes.
• You can use the same Ziploc to put the remaining seasonings in with the chicken. Again, shake well. Over medium heat on the stove, brown chicken.

• Once a little brown, add in brussel sprouts. Continue to cook about 2-3 minutes. At this point, the sweet potatoes should be out of the oven. Place potatoes in pan with the chicken and sprouts. Add in the tomatoes. Cook about 6-8 minutes or until chicken is completely cooked through.
• Add seasoning to your liking, if needed.

What's In Cleveland?

I have been going crazy wanting to go on a trip lately. Since one is not in my near future, we decided a short weekend get-away was really the only option. So.. Cleveland it was. Being from Michigan we were kind of like "What's in Ohio?" But with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame there, I figured maybe it could be a fun trip. Working for a travel management company, I get discounts on Marriott hotels so we stayed at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center. It was the perfect location for everything we did. We walked everywhere and nothing was too far away. The top places we wanted to hit initially were Great Lakes Brewing Company, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and House of Blues. Unfortunately there was a private event at House of Blues and we couldn't go. BUT we found so many cool restaurants in the downtown historic district.

Stop #1: Great Lakes Brewing Company. We both love craft beer and Great Lakes has always been one of my favorites and definitely my favorite Oktoberfest beer. Since this wasn't walking distance to the hotel, we stopped there on the drive for lunch. The beer, food, and atmosphere were all everything I expected and better. I highly recommend it!

Stop #2: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I didn't think I would be that into this to be honest, and it is safe to say my boyfriend was far more interested than I was, but it wound up being a lot cooler than I thought it would be. If you end up in Cleveland, I would go whether you're interested in Rock and Roll or not. It isn't only the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but it is also a museum with non-rock artists as well. There were a lot of different outfits and memorabilia from current, top chart artists now.

Stop #3: The Wonder Bar. This was the first place we went when we found out we couldn't go to House of Blues. The beer options were average, we split an appetizer that was good but average. It was a simple hole in the wall type of bar with decent service. If you don't have time to stop in, you aren't missing much.

Stop #4: The Greenhouse Tavern. I LOVED this place. If you're big on simple beer and typical bar food, this is not the place for you. It has a very unique, healthy menu and great beer choices. There are bikes hanging from the ceilings, multiple floors, an open kitchen on one level, old VHS movies fill shelves on the wall. I want a place like this in Grand Rapids. The service was fantastic and like I said, good beer, different food and overall just a very urban, hipster atmosphere.

Stop #5: Flannery's Irish Pub. GO HERE. This was both of our favorites. We only split Nachos but they were the best nachos we've ever had. The beer, again, was great. This was a very fun place, good atmosphere, great staff. I would definitely recommend this and would like to go back myself.

Stop #6: Horseshoe Casino. We went to the casino just because What the Heck? But, we spent $3 and left. So I have no news for you on whether it was a good time or not!

We stopped at a couple other, not-to-noteworthy places along the way. The Butcher and the Brewer was way too crowded so we left, but that was one place I would like to go to if I end up back in Cleveland. My favorite part about downtown Cleveland is how close everything is. All of this places were very close walking distance, if not right next to each other. We got to go to such a variety of places in just a short weekend. So there you have it, this is what I saw in Cleveland.

Thanks for reading!

-Kait-

Ways to Make {Small} Cash, That Aren't Second Jobs

As a recent college grad, I understand the struggle of finding a good balance of necessities and things. And believe, I am one to want all the things. I have considered a second job but ehh. I have considered beginning an Etsy shop or small side Photography business, but maybe later down the line. In the mean time I like to get a little bit here and there just to help with the social life with friends. Two of these are apps that you can download onto your phone right now for free.

• Snap by Groupon. This app is great for people that grocery shop. Which really is everyone. So get it. They update the products every so often and depending on what you buy at the grocery store, they give you cash back. Your money is stored in your Snap account until you hit $20 and then you can cash out or keep billing. When you cash out they send a check in the mail. OR they are just adding a new feature where if your balance is under $20, you can use the money on Groupon as Groupon bucks. 
• Checkout 51. This is another grocery app. Every Thursday this app updates with sometimes similar and sometimes new products. Both apps are both food and non-food items by the way. Checkout 51 is similar to Snap in that you cash out at $20 and you get a check in the mail. I use both of these apps and have cashed out on both so I can say they are reliable. It's not fast money but it's easy and you get it for things you always buy anyway. It can take time to build up depending on what their offers are, but it is still nice to get the little extra cash.
• Plato's Closet/Style Encore. Resale shops are great. I personally love these two because you get cash that day, rather than having to wait for your things to sell. Plato's takes younger, more like Juniors clothing, whereas Style Encore takes brands like J. Crew, Express, Banana Republic, etc. It is convenient for me because they are right next to each other and I go from one to the other. Depending on how much you take and the condition your clothes are in, you can leave with a decent amount of cash! Warning: Don't go planning on leaving with a lot. Sometimes they surprise with what they do and don't take.
• ThredUP. If you haven't heard of this, it is basically an online Plato's/Style Encore. You order a "clean out" bag online, get it in the mail, fill it with clothes and mail it back (free shipping). I am still up in the air with my thoughts on it. I have done it a few times and I have only gotten about $15 each time. Of course, I send the rejects from Plato's and Style Encore. The thing with this is, you either may $12 to have your rejects mailed back (which sometimes is all you made anyway so you basically make nothing) or you let them keep everything and donate it. 

Michigan Travel: Rosy Mound Nature Trail

If you ever find yourself in West Michigan, I highly recommend the Rosy Mound Nature Trail in Grand Haven, MI. Grand Haven is well known for the beach and Coast Guard Festival in the summer. Both are great, but if you are looking for something else to do while there, why not hike a little? My favorite way to exercise is not in a gym or studio but doing something active outside instead, so this was perfect way to do it!

 Rosy Mound is easy in skill level with outlined dirt paths and doable stairs. It starts in the woods and goes out to the Lakeshore, giving you plenty of views to see! We went the last weekend in February when it was sunny and 40 degrees. It is more common to go come spring when it warms up more.

Being in Grand Rapids myself, this wasn't a far trip and made for a fun little "get-away" day!