A few months ago, I met Matthew Rich. Although we’ve only hung out two times, I consider him a good friend. In fact, I’d call him my inspiration. He’s taught me so much about life.

How we met
It was interesting how we came to know each other. See, I have this Fit Friends fan page on Facebook and one of my friends suggested that Matthew fan the page. Right away, I noticed him. He was really enthusiastic about the health and fitness information I was posting, and was adding a lot of interesting comments. He really loved the purpose of the fan page — to motivate others to be happy and healthy.

We decided to chat on the phone — we were both interested in creating a video with workout moves and other fun stuff. After a little while, I had to go, but we made plans to keep in touch and get together to do more brainstorming. I’ll never forget what Matthew said before we hung up … he told me that there was a lot more he still had to tell me. Matthew told me he has cerebral palsy and is in wheelchair. That really caught me off guard because I knew he was a personal trainer, loved karate and just started dance classes. He uses his crutches whenever possible.

The key here is that I didn’t know he had any physical challenges. With his attitude, his accomplishments and his goals — you’d never know it. That’s how he lives his life. He doesn’t let things hold him back or feel saddened by what he can’t do. Matthew pushes ahead and does the things that people wouldn’t expect. He does it for himself, but he does it for other people too. He’s an example of how with hard work and determination, anything is possible. He says his place in life is to inspire others. I LOVE IT.

Appreciating the small things
After we hung up the phone, I got emotional immediately. I never told Matt this, but I called our mutual friend right away and cried. “Meeting” Matthew really put things into perspective. At the time, I was really stressed out with work, managing my time and meeting my personal and professional goals. I’m often really hard on myself … looking ahead to the next big thing … but Matthew’s influence has helped remember the little things.

It’s easy to forget how fast and easy it is to tie my shoes, go out for groceries or make myself a meal. For him, it’s more challenging. It takes more time, or maybe he needs help. Read the rest of this entry »

Today, I woke up with a need to be creative and express myself. I’ve been having so much fun with my nieces — they help me reflect on the simple things. They inspire me, and I love it. So this morning, I just wanted to be free … alone with an open mind, chalk and some sidewalk.

I wasn’t sure what to write or draw, or really want I wanted to say. But that’s the great thing — sidewalk and chalk is like life — you have a whole big open space to do whatever you want. If you mess up, you can start over or move on to the next big thing/space. You can “be” big, small, simple, loud — whatever you want!

I love that I just got out there this morning. I didn’t care that it was 8 am and the neighbors were out walking their dogs and that they might think I was a lunatic … and it’s Easter Sunday. Sometimes you just need to go do what makes you happy — short or long term — and be ok with being alone with your thoughts.

Next time you get the urge to do something, don’t hold back! Let Go, Live Loud, Have No Fear.

You don’t have to go far to get some of the best food around. Here are my favorites!

Mexican: The Tortilla Press – Collingswood, NJ
Cuban: Casona – Collingswood, NJ
Chinese: King Wong – Marlton, NJ
Thai: Bangkok City – Voorhees, NJ
Vietnamese: Pho Eden – Cherry Hill, NJ
Korean: Myung Ga – Cherry Hill, NJ
Italian: Carollo’s – Marlton, NJ
Wings: The Pic-a-Lilli Inn – Shamong, NJ
Pizza: Tarentella’s – Medford, NJ
Sushi: Tokyo Bleu – Cinnaminson, NJ and Miyabi – Mount Laurel, NJ
Bagels: Medford Bagels – Medford, NJ
Hoagies: DiVello’s – Medford, NJ
Mussels Fra Diablo: Carollo’s – Cherry Hill, NJ
Crabcakes: Bobby Chez – Marlton, NJ
Water Ice: Leo’s Famous Yum Yum – Marlton, NJ
Ice Cream: Sundae’s – Berlin, NJ
Brunch: Izzie’s – Medford, NJ

Photo by Kevin H.

As a kid everything was AMAZING. Amusement rides, an Easter basket, a new toy, chocolate pancakes, camping … those were the days.

I’ve been thinking about these things a lot because I’ve been spending more time with my nieces. (Gabby is five and Sofia is two.) I’ve been taking Gabby to swimming and cooking lessons and it really reminds me of all the things I enjoyed as a kid. My aunt took me to swimming lessons once — afterwards, I totally made her to take me to McDonald®’s and to 7-Eleven for a slurpee and Nerds.

When I think back to my favorite memories, I remember the people who were there and what we did. (Oh man, I remember hanging out at my mom’s friend’s house while they gave each other perms!) Anyway, I really feel like I’m making memories with my nieces whenever we’re together, and I love it.

They get so happy and excited about the little things, and being around them reminds me to look at the world with young, fresh eyes. When you’re young, you don’t know how to hold grudges or live with regret, uncertainty and disappointment. And, everyday there’s something new to learn.

It’s kinda ironic … I remember wanting so bad to grow up and be a big girl. I was always impatient about wanting the next big thing. Kindergarten, high school, college … I wanted more and more. Now that I’ve finished the schooling, gotten job and life experience, I’m trying to be conscious of and thankful for all the things that made me who I am today. This includes all the people and memories that have shaped me.

My advice
Enjoy time with people of all ages — young and old. You’ll surely find something to take away, and you’re sharing a bit of yourself. Maybe it’s a memory that will last long after the moment has passed.

Make every interaction count. Be patient and be in the moment, wherever you are.

Years ago, someone told me — DO YOU. I can’t remember exactly who said it, but I’m pretty sure it was a guy I met, of course, at the gym. I must have been telling him about some things I had planned or what I had up my sleeve, and he just said — DO YOU.

I’m sure you’re reading this wondering … what the heck does that mean? Is it a question — like, DO YOU … want to blah, blah, blah? It’s not a question at all. It’s a statement!

It means: Be yourself. Be happy. Do your thing. Don’t hold back.

When you say it to someone, it also means that you encourage them to do follow their passions. You’re not telling them a million reasons why they shouldn’t … or question where their ideas and dreams come from … plain, simple, easy — you support and respect what they want.

My advice
Make “DO YOU” part of your vocabulary. Say it to yourself whenever you’re in a moment of self-doubt, making a decision or setting a goal. Think about what really makes you happy, and keep going with it.
Say “DO YOU” to your friends, family and colleagues and respect the path that they are on, even if it differs from your own.

In the end, Do YOU means you believe in yourself and others. You’re moving forward and you’re getting where you want to be — and encouraging others to do the same. The world would be a more loving, supportive and happy place with a little more “DO YOU!”

Photo by Rayani Melo.

If you’re looking to push yourself a little harder and get “competitive” in a fun and friendly way, workout with a partner! It’s a great exercise approach — especially if you’re used to just doing your own thing.

Two awesome runners, kickboxers and fitness enthusiasts — Tina and Tasha — demonstrate an explosive and challenging partner exercise.

In this photo, Tasha is holding a plank position while Tina executes a side-to-side lateral jump.

Plank: Lie face down with palms flat on the floor, elbows aligned directly below your shoulders. Push yourself up into a position where your back is flat and your weight is in the balls of your feet and upper body/elbows. You can keep your hands flat on the ground or together as Tasha has hers placed. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for three to five reps.

To make the plank more challenging, hold the position with all your weight on one side. Keep one foot on the floor as you lift the opposite leg off the ground and “wrap” your foot closely around your base foot — crossing your ankles. Switch sides. If you are doing a plank without a partner, you may want to lift one leg straight up off the ground, hold, and switch sides.

Side-to-side lateral jump: Stand on one side of your partner, and bend your knees into a slight squat. In an explosive movement, jump over and to the side — landing with knees bent into a squat. Continue jumping from side to side for 10 seconds to one minute.

To make this jump less challenging, stand about one foot behind your partner — and do the same side-to-side movement.

To make this jump more challenging, tuck your knees up to your chest as you move side to side. Also, speed up your time — as soon as you land, explode into a jump in the other direction.

Photo by David Michael Howarth Photography.

Billy and I are like night and day — sometimes. I’m really out there and adventurous. I’ll do just about anything once. I talk too much and I wear my heart on my sleeve. Billy’s reserved. He’s private at times and not boastful, and likes to do his own thing. I like creative stuff like dance shows and plays — and he’s a horseshoe tournament champion and loves his Yankees and Giants. When we decided to do something together — he wasn’t into my mud runs, rock climbing, etc. — we picked tai chi. We had the special shoes and all.

What is tai chi? My definition = a slow, peaceful karate-dance.

Tai Chi promotes the circulation of chi — or life energy — within the body, encouraging wellness and vitality. Basically, you do a series of flowing movements and your body is in constant motion. The exercise is not strenuous — your feet are always planted, and your move your torso and arms in graceful, deliberate, and sequenced movements. They say tai chi can: reduce anxiety and depression; improve balance, flexibility and muscle strength; improve sleep quality; lower blood pressure; relieve chronic pain; increase energy, endurance and agility; and improve overall feelings of well-being.

It was a pretty cool experience. I’m not going to lie though — it was challenging! I’m very high energy, so I have a hard time being quiet and just calming my mind, moving slowly and measuring my breaths. Some of the moves were difficult to follow, but I think that’s with any new type of exercise until you get used to it. At the end of six weeks, I still didn’t think I was any good though. (Billy wasn’t any better! )

I really liked calm and gentle energy in the room …

If you’re looking to try a class, just do a quick search online. You might find that your local karate studio, gym or wellness center offers a tai chi program. You may even find a tai chi studio — TRY IT!

Photo by Diana bella computer is in hospital’s.

You never know what you’re going to find when you go exploring the local flea market. It’s a one stop shop for all kinds of food, music, jewelry, cell phone accessories, things “As Seen On TV” and the latest trends — right now, scarves in high demand. To me, that’s a wonderful thing.

I first fell in love with flea markets as a little kid. Every Saturday, my dad used to take my brother and I to the Berlin Farmer’s Market (Berlin, NJ). I remember holding on to two of my dad’s fingers or and even riding on his shoulders. We’d get gigantic flavored popcorn balls and those little boxes of white things that < <::SNAP::>> when you throw them. (Does anyone know what they’re called?) That’s where I fell in love with that cardboard/pizza rink pizza, orange soda and Bubblicious gum.

One time, my dad got us a bunch of parakeets! We had an entire cage full. Oh, the best was when he’d get freshly cut cheesesteak from the butcher and we’d have homemade sandwiches for lunch.

Now, it’s a treat to go to the flea market. I usually go with my BFF, Danielle to the Columbus Farmer’s Market (Columbus, NJ). It’s pretty routine — she comes to my house on a Sunday at 8ish and we head out. On the ride, we catch up and listen to music, stop to get cash at Wawa and put a shopping strategy together.

We’ve gone through a number of obsessive buying trends — for example, those stretchable Italian charm bracelets and “designer” handbags. I remember when my dad got us “Oakley” windbreakers there! Man, I was the coolest thing in sixth and seventh grade.

Now, Danielle gets her candles from a store inside; I get “meat on a stick” (yes, that early); we eat Pete’s Pizza; and get bags of candied nuts. The last time we were there, I got a pile of hair accessories for $5. It was four for $1, fill a bag for $5. No lie, it was all stuff by Conair and Goody. I strategically stacked everything inside the little plastic bag. I swear, there were 25+ packages of pins, clips, rubber bands, headbands, etc. — all with cute designs on them.

I guess the main reason I like to go is to walk around, get exercise and try new foods like roasted corn, fried oreos or pizza on a braided pretzel. You never know what kind of bargains or random things you can buy or eat!
Read the rest of this entry »

I love living serendipitously — accepting invitations, taking chances, starting conversations and learning whatever I possibly can. With this outlook, the sun is always shining. The opportunities unfold. I laugh a little harder … and I’m less stressed because life’s an adventure.

I’m amazed at the people I’ve met. Published authors, athletes, crafters, designers, business owners … it’s pretty awesome. And, I’m happy with my adventures and the stories that go with them — mud runs, flea markets, photo shoots, traveling, trapeze classes, rock climbing, fundraisers … and more.

There is so much out there, and it’s a shame that sometimes we get so “stuck” in routine. Well, you know what? I encourage you to do something different and have an open mind about it. Try a new class. Have lunch with a co-worker. Cook a new recipe. Host a theme party. Volunteer. Set a new goal. Start a new hobby.

When you open yourself up to adventure, you never know what could come of it. Life is meant to be enjoyed. GO FOT IT!

Photo by happyshooter.

If you don’t know Daniel Tosh, you’re missing out on life. Daniel Tosh is by far, the funniest person I know. Seriously, I KNOW him. Well, maybe I just watch his show — Tosh.O — follow him on Twitter and am a fan on Facebook. But if he wasn’t famous, we’d totally be friends.

So this is his deal. He’s got his show on Comedy Central. Right now, the second season is over. But you can watch him on Comcast On Demand (assuming you’re a Comcast customer). You can also stalk him out on DanielTosh.com, follow his blog and get show updates on the Comedy Central website.

He’s hilariously random. On Tosh.O — kinda like Talk Soup, but not really at all — he shows all these random video clips and cracks jokes. I’m trying to think of a good one to explain, but I don’t want you to think I’m a mean or racist person. That’s exactly it though. He’s pretty offensive. But the good thing is that he offends everyone equally, so it’s all ok. In fact, I like his Asian jokes. (I’m Filipino so I can say that.) Here’s an example — he had all these clips of Asians Doing Christopher Walken Impressions.

Recently, he had this whole thing on Surprise Trust Falls.

That’s all I got about Daniel. You gotta see it for yourself.

Daniel, if you’re reading this … and you just might be (because you have nothing better to do) … if you want to be in my wedding, you totally can. You can dance down the aisle in the church, and you can carve the roasted pigs at the reception. Actually, there are two more groomsmen than bridesmaids, so there is definitely a place for your somewhere. LMK!

Photo from DanielTosh.com.