Lifestyle | Live Happy

Can Your Garden Boost Your Mental Health?

Kayla Butts already had her master’s degree in nutrition when she got her true education in food. When she met her future husband, a small-scale farmer who used heritage methods to grow food without any chemicals, she discovered food does so much more for us than the textbooks were teaching: “He really shook the foundation of my beliefs in our food system and nutrition,” she says. “And I’ve since then become so excited and made it my mission to help people understand that you can grow your own food and it has endless possibilities and benefits for your health and well-being.” She shares that mission in her new book, Garden to Table Cookbook: A Guide to Growing, Preserving, and Cooking What You Eat. More than just a cookbook, it’s also a primer on how food affects us, the benefits of gardening, and how to start — regardless of how big or small your space is. In addition to outlining the benefits of growing your own food and giving more than 100 recipes on how to prepare it, she provides easy-to-follow information on how to freeze, dry, and can your own food. And it’s all presented in a beautifully illustrated coffee table-worthy book. More Than Just a Meal Although she explains the way food affects our physical health, Kayla is passionate about letting people know the benefits of growing your own food go far beyond that. “Something we don’t really talk about a lot is that gardening itself is a huge mood booster,” she says. “And science backs this up.” For starters, she explains, spending time outside is helpful in offsetting anxiety and depression: “We think that’s because we’re more focused externally than we are internally. We’re not ruminating on those little negative thoughts that can just take over; that’s hard to do that when you are appreciating nature.” Research has shown that gardening lowers stress and worry by keeping us in the present moment. Gardening can provide us with a sense of worth and purpose, which plays a key role in our self-esteem, and can help us connect with our “quiet mind.” Being outside also delivers a hit of vitamin D — which is proven to boost moods and immune systems — and digging in the dirt provides a beneficial physical connection with the earth. “You’re actually getting electrons from the soil. You absorb these electrons into your body, and then they act as antioxidants and neutralize disease-promoting compounds that are circulating in your body, like free radicals,” Kayla says. Creating connections The practice of earthing or grounding — which is simply connecting with the earth by standing, sitting, or putting your hands on it — has been found to improve not only your mental clarity, but also can help with sleep problems. It can ease pain and nurture relaxation. In addition to the connection with the earth, Kayla has found that it has created human connections, too: “Once I started gardening, I realized I was connected to a much larger community,” she says. “If you ever want a ton of unsolicited advice, join a gardening club because everybody loves to share their experiences, but it’s so wonderful.” Through gardening, she says she has connected with people from around the world as well as being able to share food with neighbors. “If there’s somebody that you’ve wanted to connect with but didn't know how, it’s a great conversation starter. Just to be able to share that with someone else is so meaningful.” Where to start The good news is, you don’t need a lot of space to start enjoying the benefits of growing your own food. For those who are tight on space, Kayla suggests starting with some potted plants in your kitchen window. Herbs are great for this, or you can plant edible flowers that will also add vibrant color to your kitchen. If you’re ready to go bigger, she says to find a small sunny spot in your yard and start planting. “Seeds are so inexpensive, you don’t have to invest a ton of money into plants if you don’t want to,” she says. And she also encourages people to find a local farm that grows plants and animals without chemicals to broaden the scope of fresh, chemical-free food you have access to. “Create these relationships with community farmers. You’ll be supporting them, and they’ll be supporting your family and your health,” she says. “It’s a great relationship to develop between two like-minded individuals for sure. And it’s nice to just get to know people, too.”

Technology

Social and Emotional Learning Meets Hip-Hop in Doggyland

Emmy-nominated producer Claude Brooks is no stranger to making music that appeals to kids; as creator of the children’s series Hip Hop Harry, he saw that franchise grow to include a live touring show and popular merchandise. His latest venture builds on that success but is designed to help kids develop new social and emotional learning skills as they sing along. Doggyland — Kids Songs & Nursery Rhymes launched in August on all streaming platforms and introduced a colorful cast of characters led by an adult mentor named Bow Wizzle. In his non-animated form, Bow Wizzle is better known as rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg, who approached Claude with the idea to do something for children. [caption id="attachment_18985" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Snoop Dog[/caption] “We go back almost 20 years,” Claude says of this relationship with Snoop. Claude’s expertise in creating kid-centric entertainment made him the perfect collaborator and the result is a positive show that encourages kids and parents to come together to learn new skills while spreading love and joy. “As a father, grandfather, and longtime youth football coach, it’s always been important to me to build positive and educational environments for all children,” Snoop said. “I’ve always wanted to create a kid-friendly series that lets kids be kids and is truly representative of the culture.” The duo brought in October London, a talented singer and writer, to round out the team. Through music, rap and fun dance movements they teach lessons about things like accepting those who are different, not being a bully, and practicing good manners. There’s even a song called “Affirmations” that is catchy enough for parents to sing in the shower for a positive, uplifting start to the day. “It’s for toddlers all the way up,” Claude says. “I don’t want to put a ceiling on it.” Celebrating a diverse world Doggyland is a world where all the puppies are different types, body shapes and colors. That was intentional, Claude notes: “In doing that, what we’re trying to subliminally put out there is diversity. They sound different, they have different attributes, and they all kind of work together.” They’re presently developing a new character with a disability to start changing the way kids view disabilities. Snoop has a special needs football league and felt strongly about making sure they felt represented in Doggyland. “We have a song about how you can do or be anything you want to be,” Claude says. “We’re putting one of the characters in a wheelchair but they’re playing basketball with everybody else.” He says he hopes that opens up the conversation among children and adults about disabilities and changes the way children view those who are differently abled. “We’re not telling you how to talk about it, but we’re opening up various things in a way where a little conversation could potentially come out of it,” Claude explains. Feel-good learning In addition to social and emotional learning songs, Doggyland also features educational songs, like updated takes on classic learning songs about things like the ABCs, colors and counting. And while the music is primarily hip-hop based, it covers a wide range of sounds. “Within hip-hop, there’s all these different genres,” Claude says. “We’re pop, we even jump into a little bit of reggaeton, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It covers all types of music.” [caption id="attachment_18986" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Claude Brooks[/caption] The series is accompanied by an album of the same name, which is available on all streaming platforms. Going forward, that sound may expand even more, as several notable names in the music industry have reached out and requested to collaborate on songs. “They’re from all genres of music and it’s some names that will really surprise you,” he says. That makes him feel good about what they’ve created so far and lets him know they’re on the right track: “What that says to me is that if you’re doing music from a good place — and it’s good music — it crosses all kinds of boundaries. If it’s good, it pulls people together. “And if you can jam to something that your child also wants to jam to, what’s better than that?”

Practice

5 Halloween Trick or Treat Etiquette Tips

Halloween is the one night a year when adults and children come together to share their mutual love of scary stories, dressing up in costumes, and, of course, candy! One of the great delights for children is engaging in the traditional night of trick or treating. Americans alone spend billions on candy at this time of year. Whether you're the parent of a very young child or you're ready to venture off alone with your friends, there are a few things you should pay attention to when you're about to start trick or treating. Remembering basic etiquette is a must when you're about to trick or treat. This is because you may interact with strangers, some of whom may not be in the holiday spirit. It's always important to remain respectful when you're ready to trick or treat and consider how you approach your neighbors and friends. Trick or treating is a super fun and exciting opportunity to make friends, get to know your neighbors, and to enjoy plenty of sweet treats, but you'll need to abide by these five etiquette tips to ensure everyone has an enjoyable night! To find out five trick-or-treat etiquette tips for a safe and happy Halloween, keep reading. 1. Politeness and manners are free and always necessary Remembering basic manners is one of the most important things to think about if you're a child (or adult, we don't judge) who's about to trick-or-treat. Sometimes, it's easy to forget the value of please and thank you. Still, basic politeness and manners go a long way, especially if you're engaging with new neighbors or people you've never interacted with. Remember, when you're trick or treating, you're entering someone's grounds or property, even if you're simply standing on their porch. Think about how you would want to be treated if someone came to you wanting candy on Halloween. Saying please and thank you before and after you take your candy will go a long way, plus it’s a chance to sharpen your gratitude skills. If you knock on a neighbor's door and see that they've dressed up for the occasion, why not pay them a compliment? They'll likely comment on your costume, so return the kind favor. Plus, compliments can increase your happiness as well as the person on the receiving end. One last politeness tip to remember is never to pester your neighbor. If they don't want to answer their door, don't shout or ring their doorbell over and over again. You never know why people might not want to celebrate Halloween, so it's always best practice to be respectful and quiet during trick or treating. 2. Don't be too greedy! Although you might be tempted to grab handful after handful of your favorite sweet treats, try to resist the urge! Remember, other trick-or-treating parties will follow who will want to indulge in the same candy as you, so try to be mindful of other people around you. This is also important as you won't want to come across as greedy to the kind neighbors and homeowners who are kind enough to hand out candy to you. Don't snatch or grab large handfuls to get ahead of your friends. Additionally, if you notice your favorite candy type, don't just take handfuls of this. Make sure you leave enough for your friends and other trick-or-treating parties. 3. Make it clear you're ready to hand out candy and think about allergies! This is one for those preparing to hand out candy this Halloween. When preparing for Halloween, make it clear that you're willing to hand out candy. You can do this by leaving a jack-o-lantern outside your home or leaving a sign for trick-or-treaters. These visual cues take away a lot of uncertainty associated with treat-or-treating and mean that parties know which houses to go to and which to avoid. Another important thing to remember when you’re handing out candy is to ensure you consider allergens or candy preferences to cater to people’s needs. Try to avoid candy with nuts, milk, egg or other prominent allergens that could stop trick-or-treaters from enjoying Halloween. Try to keep treats meant for trick-or-treaters with allergies separate from your other candy to reduce cross-contamination. When you hear a knock at your door, communicate with trick-or-treaters that you have options for anyone with allergies in a separate bowl! 4. Pay attention to a house's visual cues Now back to you trick-or-treaters. While hunting for candy, it can be easy to assume that everyone is ready with a bowl of treats by their door. However, this isn't the case. Over 172 million people in the United States celebrate Halloween. Although that is a huge number, not everyone will be available or willing to carve a pumpkin and invest in some sweet treats. To avoid confusion and awkward waiting on people's porches, try to pay attention to visual cues outside people's properties. Often, people will put decorations like pumpkins, spider webs, or the occasional spooky skeleton on their lawn or porch to signal that they're in the festive mood. Try to stick to these homes and avoid properties with no lights on, no decorations, and the curtains shut. They may be out or signaling that they're not in the spooky spirit. It's important to respect this at all times to avoid pestering anyone who's not celebrating Halloween. 5. Always stay on the sidewalk and be respectful of other people's properties While you're lost in the sugar-induced haze and mesmerized by the array of costumes surrounding you, it can be easy to forget your environment. However, you'll need to maintain situational awareness at all times. That means you should always stick to the sidewalks and ensure you don't run across the roads to get to the house with the best Halloween decorations. Not everyone celebrates Halloween, so there may well be residents commuting from work, running errands, or simply driving around during the evening. Remember to be respectful and avoid getting in their way while crossing roads. Another important thing to remember is to be respectful of people's property. That means you shouldn't walk on their lawns if you can avoid it and not touch their decorations. Not only is this disrespectful, but it might also harm your chances of being invited back to trick-or-treat or discourage your neighbors from handing out candy next year! Trespassing is also an important thing to consider when you’re on the hunt for candy. You should never trespass on gated communities and other HOA communities that use access control door locks. These mechanisms restrict access to private areas within a community. These areas aren’t accessible to the public, only to residents, so you should always steer clear of these areas; otherwise, you’re breaking the law! Don’t forget to have fun and have a Happy Halloween! Looking to put your unique stamp on Halloween this year, or trying to find ways to connect with your community and make memories at this festive time? Look no further than LiveHappy. At Live Happy, we're committed to helping you find ways to live a more enjoyable life by sharing stories and providing you with some great tips for living your life. We've compiled some great tips to spread Halloween cheer this year, such as by putting your unique twist on Halloween this year.

Wellness

7 Tips to Travel On a Budget and Still Make Happy Memories

Studies show that spending money of experiences rather than material objects will make you happier. You’ll not only be able to create positive memories that will last you a lifetime, but it’s also an opportunity to strengthen your relationships with friends and family too. But if you are currently living on a tight budget, you may feel like you don’t have the means to take those trips that bring so much joy to your life. You will be pleased to know that visiting unique places around the world and having a fun holiday does not always have to be costly. You can still enjoy a meaningful vacation if you budget and plan well. Here are seven useful tips that you can use to take the trips that make you happy without breaking the bank. 1. Plan Your Trip Random and spontaneous trips may sound exciting but if you are traveling on a tight budget, planning is the way to go. You will need an itinerary that clearly defines where you wish to go and for how long, so research on the countries and cities you want to visit and the amount of time you are going to spend in each place is key. Pro tip: Travel During Off-Season. Not only do trips during peak seasons cost more, but you will also be in the midst of heavy crowds and loads of tourists. Summer holidays are something you will want to avoid. You can get quite a bargain on plane tickets and hotel stays during low-season period. 2. Choose Your Accommodations Wisely Opt out of expensive hotel stays and look for dorms, hostels, and guesthouses instead. If you are traveling with your family or friends, sharing rooms can also lower costs. If you are up for it and feel safe, sharing a room with other tourists can also be a good idea. You can make use of popular booking platforms (like Airbnb) to book apartment/home rooms ahead of time at nearly half the cost. Take advantage of any friends, family members, and colleagues who live in the area you are visiting to see if they would let you stay at their house during the trip. Plus, your trip may be less stressful on you if you are around good company. 3. Book Flights Ahead of Time Booking flights ahead and getting a good bargain on return flights will save you added hassle, time and money. Getting tickets nearly a year or even a few months ahead is a good idea if you do not want to worry about running short of money during your trip. When booking your flight, you can always: Pick a flight during the middle of the week such as Tuesday or Wednesday to get premium lower prices. Traveling midweek also makes checking in at the airport easier due to shorter queues. Book economy class instead of business to save up on those bucks. Pick a lower-budget airline with cheap deals and shorter flying times. Pack light luggage as hold luggage costs extra money. If possible, opt for a bus or train instead of an air flight to reduce costs even further. 4. Watch What You Eat If you choose to eat every meal from a fancy restaurant, you’ll burn a hole in your pocketbook quickly. Make sure to explore the area to see what you wish to eat and what it should cost on average. You can buy cheaper food and dishes from grocery stores or local markets. Cut down on unnecessary drinks and sweets and stay hydrated with water instead. If the place where you are staying has a kitchen, you might want to save money by meal planning beforehand and cooking something on your own. 5. Earn During Vacation Working while on a vacation or getaway is a brilliant way to recover money spent during the trip. Doing so can allow you to travel for months on end and explore to your heart’s content. A few ideas to earn extra money include: Turning into a travel vlogger to earn money through social media. You can resize video for Facebook or use other software to make your content more interesting. Offer to host other tourists. Teaching travelers skills like skiing during the winters. Teaching a language. Freelancing 6. Get Travel Insurance Travel insurance can be expensive but is worth it. You can get coverage for financial losses and minimize your financial risks during your traveling period. A good travel insurance plan will cover: Lost baggage. Stolen items. Emergency medical expenses due to an illness. Trip delays and cancelation. Missed flights or vehicle trips. Legal costs incurred due to accidentally damaging property or causing injury. 7. Seek Out Fun for Free Looking for free things that you can do while you are traveling to can help reduce your expenses significantly. For example, many museums or walking tours may be little to no cost as all. You can also reduce costs by carpooling with your friends or other tourists. This way the fare will be reduced by half or even three to four times the cost. Traveling for leisure should be full of fun and doesn’t need to be burdened by the constant worry of running out of funds. If you follow the tips above carefully, you can travel to nearly any part of the world without it costing you an arm and a leg.

kersti bryan directing her first short film, Egg Party

Lifestyle

Actress Kersti Bryan Believes in Holding the Right Thoughts

Whether its starring in AMC’s Tales of the Walking Dead or releasing her new short film in which she wrote, produced and directed, Kersti Bryan has been very busy lately. Using real life as her muse, Kersti’s short film Egg Party was inspired by an egg-decorating party that she attended with her girlfriends all in their 30s where the conversations ranged from break-ups to aging to fertility. Already garnering multiple awards and praise on the film festival circuit, including the Cinequest Film, COVEN Film Festival and the New York Shorts International Film Festival, Kersti hopes her short film of vulnerability, grief and ultimately healing, can serve as a safe place for women to have difficult conversations. She is also a big believer in positive messaging. During the pandemic, while stuck in quarantine and unable to perform, Kersti and her friends pooled their artistic talents to create messages of hope for the frontline workers at New York hospitals who sacrificed so much for other people. Coined The Clear Day Project, the movement gained so much attention it was featured on CNN. Live Happy recently connected with Kersti to discuss the things that contribute to her own happiness, including creating change through art, being there for others and why grieving really is a function of healing. What Inspired the Characters Portrayed in Your Short Film Egg Party? Egg Party was "hatched" out of a real-life egg decorating party in Brooklyn. As a woman in my late 30s, I was going through a breakup and I was on my way to this party and realized I had written: "dying egg party" in my calendar—misspelled. Dying vs Dyeing. I was like: "Yikes! That's BLEAK!" At the party there were several female comedians that were lifelong friends and we were all talking so openly and hilariously about things I couldn't say out of my mouth: Sex, aging, fertility. It was amazing. At that same moment, a number of very close friends (that were not present at the party) were struggling with the very difficult experience of miscarriage. When I began co-writing with my pals Ashton Heyl and Claire Kennedy, we wanted to hold on to that hilarious dynamic. So many of these characters within Egg Party were inspired from those party attendees as well as other friends. IN YOUR OPINION, WHY IS GRIEVING SO IMPORTANT TO THE HEALING PROCESS? In my artistic practice, I am drawn to chiaroscuro paintings—the play of light and dark living side by side. That was our inspiration with the lighting throughout the little film and in the egg portraits that are so beautifully created by our production designer Christina Read. These women are dealing with grief and healing at the same moment. I believe grieving is so much part of joy. To understand one fully, you must understand the other. DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF WHILE DIRECTING THIS SHORT MOVIE? Oh, my heavens, yes. This is my directorial debut, so I was in a “learning place.” I learned a great deal about communication and collaboration. I learned how to ask for help and also how to get out of the way! It’s helpful when you have such great talent around you. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CLEAR DAY PROJECT AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE ON THIS ENDEAVOR? In the early days of the pandemic, The Clear Day Project was an idea my pals Jordan Dean, Dan Amboyer and myself had in an effort to give back front line medical workers in NYC that were sacrificing so much. We each had a Rolodex of Broadway singers, dancers and artists that were just sitting at home because of the pandemic! So, we asked all our friends to share a small video of a song, message of comfort, piece of text or whatever they wished. Jordan, who has a complex heart condition, has a close connection to Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC because they saved his life. We partnered with the hospital to get these messages of hope directly to the staff at Mt. Sinai. We compiled and shared nearly 80 different videos of hope. You can check out some of these amazing messages on our website for a pick-me-up cleardayproject.org. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN POSITIVE MESSAGING? My grandmother Doris was a major believer in HTRT: “Hold the Right Thought.” Of course, there will always be difficult things we encounter in our days, but I believe what we focus on expands. Putting positive messages front and center and “holding the right thought” keeps those positive things growing. So, HTRT! HOW DOES YOUR CREATIVITY CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR HAPPINESS? It has taken me (and many of us!) a long time to manage our sensitivities to this world. My creative process has helped immensely to digest some of the big feelings and big experiences of my life. Writing poetry, music (I play the harp and piano), painting, acting. These are some of my tools to help me crash around and try to make sense of things. It’s the SHARING of those pieces with the world where the happiness comes. When someone watches and is changed—maybe feels not so alone. That makes me happy. I hope our short film Egg Party does that. WHAT IS THE KINDEST ACT SOMEONE HAS EVER DONE FOR YOU? Forgave me. HOW DO YOU MAKE OTHERS CLOSE TO YOU HAPPY? I love to stay in touch. One of my most precious gifts I ever received was an old-fashioned 1940s type-writer that is the weight of an anvil. So, I write notes of encouragement to my loved ones on it. The last few holidays for my niece and nephew, I created a couple of winter fairies that come during the holidays very early in the morning to leave special treats like buttons, sparkly string and notes for them under their tree. WHERE IS YOUR HAPPY PLACE? My happy place is sitting with my family in front of the wood burning stove with a cocoa at my Uncle Andy’s High Lonesome Hut in Fraser Valley, Colorado when the snow is falling.

Young women on college campus holding textbook

Wellness

Which Bachelor’s Degree Will Make You Happiest?

Money doesn’t buy happiness — but the right college degree program can. Research into the mental health of students in different degree fields has uncovered that certain programs are almost certain to make you feel happier and more relaxed than other fields, and not just during a student’s time at school. If you are eager to invest in a degree that continues to improve your mood for the rest of your life, you might enroll in one of the following bachelor degree programs: Humanities Though humanities majors are often confronted with the irksome question, “What will you do for work?” it seems that students focused on humanities degrees are some of the happiest on campus. Humanities degrees encompass a variety of studies of the human world, from English language and literature to history and geography, philosophy and religion, law, archaeology and anthropology, arts, modern languages and more. Many humanities studies confront questions about what it means to be happy and how true happiness is achieved, which is perhaps why this degree field is the one most likely to bring joy to students now and into the future. Sports and Exercise Science The human body needs regular movement for proper regulation. In fact, one of the first and best treatments for mental disease is an exercise regimen. Thus, it makes sense that students committed to understanding the physical needs of the human body are often quite contended on college campuses. Certain exercises allow the body to release endorphins that elevate the mood immediately and improve emotional outlook in the long term. Students who are so committed to sports and exercise science that they pursue a degree in the field will likely maintain healthy physical habits, thus all but guaranteeing themselves happiness. Engineering Perhaps a surprising degree on this list, engineering consistently ranks among the happiest degrees — primarily for the job security and high salary awaiting students after graduation. There are all sorts of engineering disciplines for students to explore to find a field that they feel passionate about and capable in. Though engineering programs can be competitive and require exceedingly complex knowledge and skill, students who are committed to engineering are able to find happiness while they pursue their degrees and for decades after. Natural Sciences The natural sciences are a field of study focused on understanding phenomena of the natural world. Some examples of natural sciences include chemistry, physics, biology and geology, though each of these can be further divided into myriad disciplines and specializations. Often, students study the natural sciences because they already feel passionately about them, which means every course offers them more opportunities to explore their passion and refine a skill they know and enjoy. Like the humanities, there are not always clear career pathways for students in the natural sciences, but that does not stop them from experiencing happiness in their studies. Psychology It makes sense that one of the most popular degree programs is also among the most fascinating. A bachelor’s degree in psychology provides students with unique insight into the workings of the human mind, which remains one of the most powerful and mysterious organic tools in the universe. Psychology is a relatively young field, which means there is still plenty of opportunity for students to experiment and innovate new theories to explain human thought, emotion and behavior. When it comes to achieving happiness, psychology students have decades of research to utilize as blueprints, so they are more likely to develop healthy mental and emotional patterns during and after their degree program. Arts and Design Humans have been creating art for far longer than we have been practicing math, pursuing scientific inquiry or writing down histories and laws. There are many theories regarding humankind engages in artistic endeavors, but many art students have a clear and easy answer: joy. Making art involves expressing oneself, and that act can bring balance that leads to a profound and lasting happiness. What’s more, because creativity is often lacking in more career-oriented degree fields, there are plenty of opportunities for success in arts and design after graduation. Plenty of students in degree programs outside of these six experience happiness — just not to the extent of students pursuing degrees in the above fields. If you don’t know what you want to do but you do know you want to be happy, enrolling in one of the above degree programs is a safe choice.

Corn tortillas filled with meat and veggies

Lifestyle

Yes, Tacos Can Brighten Up Your Day

When it comes to foods that make you happy, I bet it doesn’t take long for tacos to make your short list. According to a survey conducted by OnePoll (commissioned by the meal kit delivery service HelloFresh), researchers asked participants about the foods that can instantly brighten up their day. Tacos topped the list, followed by the breakfast staple of bacon and eggs, and steak. That’s high praise for the traditional comfort food that originated from our neighbors to the south. October 4th is National Taco Day and Yelp—the website and app that lets users sound off on local businesses with reviews, photos and other information—recently released its Top 100 Taco Spots in the US. Depending on where you live in the country, from Texas to California, the choices for a good local taco joint are abundant, such as Mami Coco in Dallas or Taco Nazos in L.A. But this list proves you don’t have to live closer to the border to still get a good taco. According to the Yelp, you can find some of the best local taco spots in unconventional places, including Shaka Tacoz in Hawaii, Los Tacos No. 1 in New York and Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos Alaska. Yelp is also offering a $20,000 sweepstakes to users who love tacos and support local businesses. When the winner of the first-ever Taco Trailblazer award is chosen, they will then embark on the Yelp Taco Trail and visit some of those Top 100 Taco Spots in the United States and document their journey on the site. Whether it’s the simplicity, versatility, convenience or they just plain taste great, tacos seem to offer much more to the soul than just sustenance, but we’ll leave that to the food experts to figure out. We’ll just continue to put smiles on our faces with a visit to the local taco shop. Here are the some of the Top Taco Spots in the United States according to Yelp!: Fernandez Restaurant - San Diego Taco Nazo – Bellflower - Los Angeles Taqueria Mi Ranchito - Los Angeles Granny's Tacos – Austin Los Tacos No.1 - New York Tacos Sinaloa - San Francisco El Primo Tacos - Los Angeles Bajamar Seafood & Tacos - Las Vegas Shaka Tacoz - Hawaii Mami Coco - Dallas De Cabeza - San Diego Deckhand Dave's Fish Tacos - Alaska Jazzy's Kitchen - Hawaii Taqueria El Asador – Pensacola Mariscos Mi Gusto Es - San Diego Street Tacos and Grill - Los Angeles Tacos Jalisco – Key Largo Tranky's Tacos - Dallas El Chile Toreado - Santa Fe Birrieria Little Tijuana - Los Angeles/Riverside Cocina Madrigal - Phoenix Edgewater Tacos - Chicago Chicali Tacos - Las Vegas Tacos Aya Yay - Denver La Bamba Mexican Grill Restaurant - Phoenix Taqueria Pollo Asado - Seattle Tlaolli - Indiana Del Seoul - Chicago Str8 Up Tacos - Los Angeles Porque No? Tacos - San Francisco Kiss Pollos Estilo Sinaloa - Phoenix Guerra's Krazy Taco - Ohio Tacos Del Chavo - Atlanta SoyMexican Veggie-Vegan Eatery - Las Vegas Frogtowns Gourmet Tacos - Los Angeles El Gallo Giro Taco Truck - San Francisco Xicamiti La Taquería Bistro - Denver Tacos La Pasadita - Utah Dos Mundos - Portland Tacos Y Mariscos Las Islitas - Hawaii Tacos El Gordo - San Diego TaquerEATa - Hawaii Tacos Los Panchos - Utah Tacos El Chilango Food Truck - Virginia Fish Company Taco - Galveston TACO-BOOK Taqueria - Seattle Benny's Tacos & Rotisserie Chicken - Westchester – Los Angeles Taqueria La Loma - Ohio Tres Amigos - Arizona Birria & Barbacoa de chivo Los Compadre's - Louisiana Sangria On the Burg - San Antonio Tacotarian - Las Vegas Antojitos Izcalli - Alabama Cuantos Tacos – Austin Birria Landia Williamsburg - New York Taqueria Nuevo Leon – Carrollton Los Mariscos - New York Sabrina's West Street Kitchen - Reno Xochi - Seattle Taqueria El Amigo - Boston Maciel's Tortas and Tacos - Memphis El Super Taco – Phoenix Los Agavez Taqueria - Ohio La Lupita Taco Restaurant – Houston Los Bocados – Parkland, Florida Titas Taco House – Humble, Texas Just Tacos and More - Phoenix Chris' Ice Cream - Indianapolis Chino Loco Taqueria - Michigan Lolis Mexican Cravings - Tampa El Cuate - Oregon La Cocina Mexican Street Food - Utah Taco Culture Taco Shop Arizona - Phoenix Tacos Nayarit - South Carolina Arun’s Indian Kitchen & Taco Masala – Lauderhill, Florida Slope & Hatch - Colorado La Calle Taqueria Y Carnitas - Colorado El Taco Feliz - Hawaii Yellow City Street Food - Amarillo Forastero - Chicago Acevedos Hawaicano Café - Hawaii Lane's Quickie Tacos - Arkansas 143 Street Tacos - Arizona Tacos Doña Lena - Houston The Taco King – Houston La Plaza Supermarket - Ohio Nanys Tacos - Arizona J Zapata - Pennsylvania Cafe Nube - New York Flavia's Kitchen – Austin Taco Bamba - Virginia Tacos Pihuamo - Oregon Taco El Chingon - NY State Cinco De mayo Taqueria – Spring, Texas Quesabirria Jalisco Tacos - Chicago Las Palmas - Pennsylvania Dos Hermanos Taco Truck - Alabama El Paisa - New Mexico Alegria Tacos – Oakland Park, Florida La Reforma Brewery - New Mexico

relationships

The Art of Parenting

As the mother of three children under the age of 10, Kate Vastano is used to finding unexpected surprises around the house. But when she discovered that her 5-year-old daughter, Jules, had painted the wall with nail polish, it stopped her in her tracks. She learned that Jules had been trying to paint their dog’s toenails, but when he refused to cooperate, Jules decided to hone her painting skills on the only other available canvas: a hallway wall. Kate’s immediate thought was to paint over it, but there was one little problem. “I had no clue which shade of paint we used on that wall,” says Kate, who lives in Brentwood, Tennessee. “I thought we were really screwed this time.” But she quickly channeled her frustration into creativity. She put a frame around it, complete with a museum-worthy description, and declared it “art.” “It’s on a wall between my home office and upstairs bathroom, so I get to experience it multiple times a day,” she says with a laugh. Not taking situations like this too seriously — and instead finding humorous ways to deal with them — has been essential to her as a parent, she explains. “My husband, Bryan, and I realized shortly into our parenting journey that it’s not worth stressing out over everything. If we can laugh when things get nuts and find the humor, we can make it fun for everyone.”

Lifestyle

Balancing Seasonal and Year-Round Decor for a Happier Home

If you love making your house look and feel like a home, then you’re bound to have a collection of different kinds of decor stored up everywhere for different festivals and seasons each year. However, this can also make one feel overwhelmed, given that the decor needs to be often changed to match the aesthetic of the season, not to mention the clutter that’s bound to happen when you have way too much decor stored in the house. Creating and maintaining indoor decor needn’t be that hard - all you need to do is find a good way to balance the decor you use by separating them into two sections: Seasonal decor and year-round decor. Once you’ve done this, things simply get easier. On that note, here are some tips which will enable you to maintain an easier decor process while also keeping your home clean and clutter-free, let’s get started! Choose decor that’s timeless For starters, make a list of all the decor you want to have around the house all through the year - this could include certain candles or candle holders, carpets, photo frames and paintings, plants, chinaware and crockery, lampshades, and so on. These are pieces that are going to be there all year-round, and you’re rarely going to get rid of them. That’s why you need to be extremely picky with the color scheme and objects, because you want them to all blend in with the general aesthetic of the house. Once you’ve figured this out, you can store or give away the rest of the general decor, because it’s best to not have them lying around or taking up too much space since this decor isn’t going to be changed anytime soon. Once you’ve got your year-round decor figured out, you can move on to managing seasonal decor. How to add seasonal decor to your home This is a pretty easy step. Since you already have your year-round decor in place, you won’t need to completely redo your home every time there’s a festival or new season. All you need to do is add tiny accents here and there, which will give the entire home a new look. For instance, when Fall rolls in after Spring, all you need to do is switch out the bright flowers and vases for some warm candles and throws. Small changes like this can make a big difference when the colors match the aesthetic of the home. One of the best ways to keep track of what decor goes where and how you can effortlessly decorate your house each year is by documenting your decor changes each time there’s a change - you can try Memento's video creator to do this and always have the video to refer to each year. Happy decorating! How to manage seasonal decor First things first, make a list of all the seasons and holidays you generally decorate the house for. If you need help, here are some common decoration themes most homes follow: Christmas New year Easter Thanksgiving Summer Winter Spring Fall If there are other holidays you celebrated, feel free to add them to the list. Once you’ve got this down, you need to figure out how to sort out your decor. To start with, find the exact number of cartons you need, depending on the different types of decor you have (for Christmas, Spring, Summer, etc). This way, you can label and store them away with ease, and take them out only when you need them. Once you’ve done this, you can start separating your decor into the different cartons. Keep in mind that you also have year-round decor already in place, which will mostly stay put throughout the year. This will give you an idea of exactly how much decor you need for each season, and how many unwanted things you need to get rid of. Once sorted through, you can store them away in the garage, store room, or loft. For more ideas on how to make fill your home with joy, check out 33 Ideas for a Happy Home.

Lifestyle

Italy’s Secret to Happiness

As a born and bred American, I’ve always believed in hard work, independence, productivity and pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. I loved the rat race. Then I moved to Italy—and culture shock set in. Everything was different—and it all moved so slowly! Yet, somehow, everyone seemed much happier. So I got curious. I decided to find out what was generating so much happiness, so effortlessly. Fortunately, my new Italian friends were happy to share (it’s not much of a secret after all). Here are the top five happiness principles, right from the heart of Italian culture: 1. Embrace Art The famed poet Lord Byron called Italy the “garden of the world, the home of all Art yields.” He was right. Everything in Italy is beautiful, from the ornate cathedrals and pristine marble fountains to the most dilapidated stone alleys bursting with flowers and greenery. Italy’s beauty is not an accident. Birthplace of the Renaissance, Italians know the power of art and culture. For centuries they’ve invested in artists and artisans to surround themselves with breathtaking architecture, intricate frescos, and gorgeous statues, not to mention divine music, theater and opera. They also embrace the art of clothing. From high-fashion Milan to the littlest hamlet, Italians love to look good. This is called “la bella figura,” the art of creating a good impression. Even Italian food is exquisite, composed of colorful herbs, fruits and vegetables arranged with the most artistic flare. Each plate is a work of art. It's hard not to be happy when you’re surrounded by (and creating) so much beauty. *Takeaway: Invite art and beauty into every aspect of your life and spend time in gorgeous places. 2. Walk All the Time, Climb All the Stairs Here in Tuscany, most towns are perched atop steep hills or nested in tiny valleys, with narrow streets and steep climbs. Cars can’t navigate them well and are often not allowed. So, people walk. Everywhere. This gets them outside in nature, breathing the fresh air, interacting with neighbors, and using their bodies. According to blue zones research, continuous movement like this (rather than just stopping by the gym a few times a week) is key to happiness, longevity and overall life satisfaction. *Takeaway: Walk everywhere you possibly can, and stop to chat with people along the way. Make continuous movement your way of life. 3. Eat Little, But Well My Italian friends say, “Mangia poco, ma bene.” This means “Eat little, but well.” Italians are culinary experts but unlike Americans, they don’t eat much. Instead, they savor small portion sizes, with an emphasis on vegetables and hearty servings of antioxidant-rich olive oil. They also follow breakfast and lunch (and often dinner) with a tiny teacup of caffé. It’s not much, usually just a single shot, but this practice stimulates digestion and allows everyone to linger together longer, savoring the atmosphere and company, which is key to the Italian way of life. *Takeaway: Eat really excellent, healthy food but not very much of it, and always share your meals with friends and family. 4. Take Your Time It’s not just meals Italians savor; they love taking their time just about everywhere (except driving). Everything moves slowly, appointments include plenty of time to chat, and it takes a long time to get things done. The work day is punctuated with lots of breaks for socializing and offices are closed frequently for holidays. In fact, many Italians take a whole month off from work each year. “Domani, domani,” is a common saying here. It means “tomorrow, tomorrow,” or “don’t worry about it, there’s always tomorrow.” In America, we do the opposite, we move fast, push hard, and stress about everything – and to what end? At the end of the day, life is short, precious, and meant to be savored. As Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh said, “The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.” *Takeaway: Take your time. Allow yourself to enjoy the company of others and savor the sweet experience of simply being alive. Don’t rush. 5. Embrace Community For centuries, Italians have emphasized social life. The very structure of their cities was built around it, with large central piazzas for gathering and socializing. This prime real estate could have been more profitable as residential or business units, but the Italians have long known that gathering together is key to a healthy society, philosophical exploration, robust political discourse, and downright enjoyment. In Italy, community, friends and especially family are everything. They spend as much time together (and supporting one another) as possible. *Takeaway: Build your community. Host meals with friends and family. Invite someone to go for a walk. Spend time outside chatting with neighbors. Take time to connect with others throughout the day, every single day. These five elements blossom from the very heart of Italian culture. They are key to the Italians’ exceptional ability to generate happiness and savor life. So give them a try and enjoy “La Dolce Vita” (the sweet life) yourself. Read more from Andrea Culletto at ExploryTales.com. Self-love wave rings are a gentle (and sparkly reminder) to love yourself unconditionally.

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