Are you stuck eating the same old blondie or brownie and think maybe it's time to change?
Maybe you're due for an experiment to see how a taste of something a little different can be healthier and so delicious, you're happier as well?
Even the people sharing them with you had no idea how wonderful they could be and are now excited about them too.
Some people will click out of this right away or not even watch the video. They may decide later that this isn't so strange. They may come back.
Other people may already have started on this journey. They realize that the typical white flour may not be working for them anymore. They are ready to step it up and try something new with an alternative blondie or brownie.
Those of us who have been celebrating these treats for awhile are happy to have new people on board the fun train. They're just better all around.
I'm a big fan of the AcousticSheep SleepPhones, marketed as pajamas for your ears. When my CLASSIC version finally gave out after several years of almost-nightly use, rather than replace the cord, I decided to try the Simple wireless version and then switched to the Effortless.
Key Features:
Wireless
20-hour rechargeable battery life (in the video I say 8 hours)
Six timer options
17 pre-recorded tracks
I'm returning these not because they don't stand up to the description, but solely for personal preference with the pre-recorded tracks. Check out the video for my opinion. *Note in the video I say Effortless at the end. This version is Simple.
I accidentally checked that it was a gift so it came beautifully wrapped.
Sleep Mask. Any light can be disruptive to sleep. The photoreceptors on our skin can detect light in our room, and pure darkness puts us in the best state. Since hotel curtains never shut entirely and there is light coming in from under the door, I wear a sleep mask. My mask of choice is the super affordable Dream Essentials Contoured Eye Mask (buy on amazon*). It doesn't lay flat on your face (it's a bra for your eyes!), is adjustable, and lightweight. Click here for the review.
Meditation app. Calm.com has hundreds of meditations, sleep stories, music tracks, and masterclasses. I have an anxiety issue when I can't sit on the aisle. It's a little ridiculous, but also serious. I'm not just being a diva. They have several off-line meditations just for plane anxiety. I use this to keep me calm (no pun intended!).
Travel chopsticks. I eat with chopsticks as often as I can at home because it slows me down and makes me feel fancy. For travel, I use the Titaner Titanium Foldable Chopsticks*. I pull these out so I can avoid plastic ware or picking things up with my hands on the plane.
Magnesium. I don't recommend a lot of supplements, but feel completely safe recommending magnesium. About half the US and European populations are deficient, and we need it for over 600 reactions in the body. Taking it in the evening can help with sleep and also contribute to a healthy poo in the morning. Admit it, you get hotel constipation too, right? I like Natural Calm* packets to travel without the mess.
Cleaning wipes. Any kind will do. Pre-COVID people would snicker at me when I would wipe down the plane seat and lap tray (did you know they only cleaned those things once daily, if at all?). Now it's not so funny. Don't forget yours!
Laptop backpack. As a professional speaker, the eBags Pro Slim Junior laptop backpack is THE. BEST. BAG. EVER. I can count eight other speakers who use this backpack. There are just enough pockets (too many and things get lost), padded areas for your laptop and tablet or e-reader, a holder for your drink, and outside pockets to stow your passport and global entry card for easy access.
e-Reader. I don't go anywhere without my Kindle Paperwhite. I like the paperwhite because it's easier on the eyes and terrible to go online with so I don't get tempted. If I had to get a new one, I would pick the Oasis* model because it's waterproof and has an amber lighting option to cut down on eye strain.
Portable standing desk. There are many affordable, lightweight versions of portable standing desks. I've been using the StandStand bamboo model for over five years and wrote most of Beyond Travel: A Road Warrior's Survival Guide on the desk while on the road or at a state park!
Travel charger. I like the Belkin 3-outlet USB travel charger. Even when my husband and I are traveling together, it's easy for us to both charge our devices. I also use it in airports when there isn't a USB port available.
There you have it. Ten things I can't live without when I travel. What can you not live without when you hit the road?
*Indicates an affiliate link where I make a few coins at no extra cost to you.
Are you struggling with #Coronahair? Have you walked by your mirror and scared yourself because you aren't recognizable? Does it look like a cat landed on your head, and you desperately want to be your hairdresser's first appointment back? Fix your Coronahair for charity!
My friend Jess Ekstrom is the founder of Headbands of Hope, a non-profit that gives a headband to a child with an illness for every headband sold. They have donated over 500,000 headbands around the world.
They sell other headwear and clothing, and due to COVID-19, they are now donating a mask to a healthcare professional for every item sold!
Use the code PlayMore for $5 off your order by clicking on this link. * Headbands of Hope
Thank you to Becky Sansbury for coming up with this great idea!
I'd love to see photos of your #Coronahair. Check out my husband's band, Jack the Radio, who felt that their #Coronahair was art-worthy.
For more #BedTalk search for #BedTalkChallenge, started by David Rendall www.drendall.com. Click here for another BedTalk.
Would you rather listen instead?Click here for the audio recording.
There are a lot of different things I could live without, but I don't want to. These are ten essential products I use for running my business, streamlining my day, and improving my health.
Scheduler. If you are wasting your time doing that back and forth dance to determine when someone can meet with you, stop now. Implement a scheduler, send your link and voila! They choose a time that works for them, and it pops up on your calendar without another thought. There are many good ones out there – Book Like a Boss, Calendly, and ScheduleOnce. I prefer Acuity* because it allows me to take payments and work with packages to show how many sessions a client has left and has class settings for groups like my masterclass and Focus90. It's pretty robust so it may be overkill for some. I have different appointments to choose from – Virtual Coffee, Speaker Inquiry, Coaching Sessions, Discovery Sessions, and all my masterclass training.
Password management system. If you're still using stickies, an Excel spreadsheet, or are reusing the same password over and over with slight variations, please don't invite the hackers to steal your data. Use a proper password management system to create hard-to-crack passwords for you. They are especially helpful when you need to share passwords because you can choose to share limited access, which means the recipient can't see billing information or have access to change the password. I have dozens shared with my assistant. If I needed to revoke them for any reason, I could do that with one click! My password manager is Dashlane*.
Focus Music. I like music without words to focus and do deep work. My current program of choice is Brain.fm*. Their music is backed by science, and you can choose deep work, creative, light work, and even sleep music and sounds. I also use Spotify and created my own playlist called Focus90 or listen to a video game music playlist. Did you know video game music is designed for focus? It's also beautiful and inspiring. We're not talking Donkey Kong!
Phone sanitizer*. I had one of these before COVID-19, and some people thought it was overkill. No more! Phone Soap is a UV sanitizer and has been clinically tested in a lab to remove all the poop and other germs on your phone (yes, most people have poo particles on their phone!).
Whiteboard. I am a big fan of a whiteboard. It's one thing to say what you're going to do or the goals that you have, but writing it down and staring at it can be a game-changer. I look at mine several times a day. A whiteboard is what started my journey to Marcey 2.0 and ended with me starting a business and writing my third book. If you don't want to nail something to the wall, use whiteboard decals*! These genius inventions take up half my wall and the top of my refrigerator, and I can cut to fit.
Coffee warmer. Oh, Mr. Coffee, your coffee warmer* keeps me from having to drink out of those unfancy travel mugs, and you make lovely gifts for less than $10.
Standing desk. I use a medical cart as a standing desk because I bought mine so long ago. Prices range from $10 for a portable desk to the equivalent of a small car! Besides my primary desk, I have a FitDesk Sit-to-Stand Desk (amazon)* on my screened-in-porch (watch my review). I use a StandStand portable desk when I travel.
Magnesium. I don't recommend a lot of supplements, but feel completely safe recommending magnesium. About half the US and European population are deficient, and we need it for over 600 reactions in the body. Taking it in the evening can help with sleep and also contribute to a healthy poo in the morning (poo again!). It can help with blood sugar control and high blood pressure. There is enough to fill a book, so I'll stop there. I like Natural Calm* and mix it in my home-brewed kombucha.
HRV Tracker. This is an advanced technique, but I track my heart rate variability (different than heart rate) to keep my autoimmune disease under control and recognize when I'm starting to overreach or get stressed before the symptoms become apparent. I use the Oura ring, which is also one of the best sleep trackers on the market. I've also used the Elite HRV and Sweetbeat Apps.
Sleep Mask. Any light can be disruptive to sleep. The photoreceptors on our skin can detect light in our room, and pure darkness puts us in the best state. Since I don't want to wake up when my husband comes to bed by the light of his iPhone or when I'm traveling and can't get the hotel curtains to shut, I wear a sleep mask. My sleep mask of choice is the super affordable Dream Essentials Contoured Eye Mask(amazon)*. It doesn't lay flat on your face (it's a bra for your eyes!), is adjustable, and lightweight.
There you have it. Ten things I can't live without and consider essential for my productivity and health.
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