Going on a Picnic

One of my favorite places in Salt Lake City is Liberty Park. It's the Utah equivalent to Central Park, 

featuring playgrounds,

 an Aviary, fountains,

 lakes, rides, 

pools and plenty of green space. 

I was so excited to bring my family to a place that was special to me.

We had so much fun!

Even the puppy had a great time!

There's nothing better than a picnic in the park, and when we visited Liberty Park last week, it was the perfect day.

We stayed at Staybridge Suites in West Valley City, and it was great because we had a kitchen

This way we could pack healthier, delicious lunches rather than eating out all the time. There's plenty of space to prep and store food.

Plus it was great to pop up back to the room after swimming to have a quick snack.

My family was excited to go to the park for the day.

For our picnic, I made turkey and avocado sandwiches. I love the blend of flavors and textures. 

I started with a baguette from Vosen's in downtown SLC. I added some turkey and cheese we picked up at Tony Caputos, also downtown. Both are awesome, locally owned and operated businesses. 

To round it out, I added fresh produce (lettuce, tomato & avocado) and some cooked applewood bacon. So yummy and borderline decadent. We had sparkling fruit juice, grapes and chips we picked up at the Trolley Square Whole Foods.

Homeward Bound

As I write this, we are cruising along I-80 crossing the fog banked allegheny mountains, on our way back "home" for the first time in seven years. Our son has never seen NJ, never been west of the Mississippi, never seen the ocean, never met family.
Until now.
We, as a family, struggled with the concept of a 22 hour car ride, but things worked out beautifully. We have driven through 7 states, slept in several hotels and ate several roadside picnics. As the last few days passed, I find myself more lenient, less driven and more relaxed.
I'm tingling with anticipation with seeing the area where I met, fell in love with and married the Big Man. I'm excited to see friends and family. I'm looking forward to eating foods not readily available in south dakota. And I'm excited to just be homeward bound.

On the Road Again

I am getting ready to go on vacation next week. We will be driving across the country and visiting family, but that doesn’t mean that it will all have to be unhealthy and sluggish. There are things that you can do ahead of time to make sure your trip is healthy and happy-and that you keep your mind, body and spirit connected.
First things first, I pack my yoga mat (have mat, will travel). Now that my son has really kicked his practice up another level, he wants to bring his as well. I did google to see if there are any classes we can take near where we are staying, but no such luck. I would love to take a class again at my old studio, but they moved about 30 minutes north of Princeton, so I don’t think I can squeeze that in. I guess Little Man and I are on our own, but that’s ok. I will bring our Yoga Pretzels deck and we can play that way.
Secondly, I want to make sure we have healthy choices on hand for our trip. I plan on bringing my less guilt Chex mix, some trail mix (including Little Man’s favorite fish food!). I also plan on packing sliced fruit for water infusions (lemon, lime, mint and more!) and real fruit to snack on, rather than rest area junk. Nothing is better than almonds, grapes and string cheese as a snack-its filling, nutritious and so much better for you!
We are fortunate to have chosen hotels on the road that have fitness centers. Since we are going to be sitting in the car for 8-9 hours, I need to get my blood pumping first! Even a 30 minute workout between cardio and weights will do a body good, and keep me from feeling like a slug on the road. They also have pools, so the Little Man and I can splash around and blow off steam.
Most of all, vacation is a chance to recharge my batteries. The Queen is being left in capable hands. The puppy & krazy kat will be well loved while we are gone. Now it's my turn to relax, recharge and renew.
I can't wait to get on the road!

china grove

four years after I walked Tianamen Square, students protested against the government and held an uprising.

From wikipedia:

The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the Tiananmen Square massacre and the June Fourth Incident[1] (in part to avoid confusion with two prior Tiananmen Square protests), were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China (PRC) beginning on 15 April 1989. The movement used mainly non-violent methods and can be considered a case of civil resistance.[2] Led mainly by students and intellectuals, the protests occurred in the year that was to see the collapse of a number of communist governments in eastern Europe.

The protests were sparked by mass mourning over the death of former CPC General Secretary Hu Yaobang, a Party official who had been purged for his support of political liberalization.[3] By the eve of Hu's funeral, 100,000 people gathered at Tiananmen Square.[4] Beijing students began the demonstrations to encourage continued economic reform and liberalization,[5] and evolved into a mass movement for political reform.[5] From Tiananmen Square they later expanded to the surrounding streets. Non-violent protests also occurred in cities throughout China, including Shanghai and Wuhan. Looting and rioting occurred in various locations throughout China, including Xi'an and Changsha.[6]






The movement lasted seven weeks after Hu's death on 15 April. Premier Li Peng, a hardline conservative, declared martial law on May 20, but no military action took place until June 4, when the tanks and troops of the People's Liberation Army moved into the streets of Beijing, using live fire while proceeding to Tiananmen Square to clear the area of protestors. The exact number of civilian deaths is not known, and the majority of estimates range from several hundred to thousands.[7] There was widespread international condemnation of the government's use of force against the protesters.[5]






Following June 4, the government conducted widespread arrests of protesters and their supporters, cracked down on other protests around China, banned the foreign press from the country and strictly controlled coverage of the events in the domestic press. The Communist Party initiated a large-scale campaign to purge officials deemed sympathetic to the protests.[8] Several senior officials, most notably Party General Secretary Zhao Ziyang, were placed under house arrest.

There are a number of parks and zoos in Bejing.

I even got to see a panda!

little china girl

Another amazing site we visited in China was the great wall. It is even more amazing in person!



From wikipedia:



The Chinese were already familiar with the techniques of wall-building by the time of the Spring and Autumn Period, which began around the 8th century BC.[5][6] During the Warring States Period from the 5th century BC to 221 BC, the states of Qin, Wei, Zhao, Qi, Yan and Zhongshan[7][8] all constructed extensive fortifications to defend their own borders. Built to withstand the attack of small arms such as swords and spears, these walls were made mostly by stamping earth and gravel between board frames.

Qin Shi Huang conquered all opposing states and unified China in 221 BC, establishing the Qin Dynasty. Intending to impose centralized rule and prevent the resurgence of feudal lords, he ordered the destruction of the wall sections that divided his empire along the former state borders. To protect the empire against intrusions by the Xiongnu people from the north, he ordered the building of a new wall to connect the remaining fortifications along the empire's new northern frontier. Transporting the large quantity of materials required for construction was difficult, so builders always tried to use local resources. Stones from the mountains were used over mountain ranges, while rammed earth was used for construction in the plains. There are no surviving historical records indicating the exact length and course of the Qin Dynasty walls. Most of the ancient walls have eroded away over the centuries, and very few sections remain today. Later, the Han, Sui, Northern and Jin dynasties all repaired, rebuilt, or expanded sections of the Great Wall at great cost to defend themselves against northern invaders. It is estimated that over 1 million workers died building the wall.[9]






The Great Wall concept was revived again during the Ming Dynasty, following the Ming army's defeat by the Oirats in the Battle of Tumu in 1449. The Ming had failed to gain a clear upper hand over the Manchurian and Mongolian tribes after successive battles, and the long-drawn conflict was taking a toll on the empire. The Ming adopted a new strategy to keep the nomadic tribes out by constructing walls along the northern border of China. Acknowledging the Mongol control established in the Ordos Desert, the wall followed the desert's southern edge instead of incorporating the bend of the Huang He.










Photograph of the Great Wall in 1907Unlike the earlier Qin fortifications, the Ming construction was stronger and more elaborate due to the use of bricks and stone instead of rammed earth. As Mongol raids continued periodically over the years, the Ming devoted considerable resources to repair and reinforce the walls. Sections near the Ming capital of Beijing were especially strong.[citation needed]






During the 1440s–1460s, the Ming also built a so-called "Liaodong Wall". Similar in function to the Great Wall (whose extension, in a sense, it was), but more basic in construction, the Liaodong Wall enclosed the agricultural heartland of the Liaodong province, protecting it against potential incursions by Jurched-Mongol Oriyanghan from the northwest and the Jianzhou Jurchens from the north. While stones and tiles were used in some parts of the Liaodong Wall, most of it was in fact simply an earth dike with moats on both sides.[10]






Towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall helped defend the empire against the Manchu invasions that began around 1600. Under the military command of Yuan Chonghuan, the Ming army held off the Manchus at the heavily fortified Shanhaiguan pass, preventing the Manchus from entering the Chinese heartland. The Manchus were finally able to cross the Great Wall in 1644, when the gates at Shanhaiguan were opened by Wu Sangui, a Ming border general who disliked the activities of rulers of the Shun Dynasty. The Manchus quickly seized Beijing, and defeated the newly founded Shun Dynasty and remaining Ming resistance, to establish the Qing Dynasty.






In 2009, an additional 290 km (180 mi) of previously undetected portions of the wall, built during the Ming Dynasty, were discovered. The newly discovered sections range from the Hushan mountains in the northern Liaoning province, to Jiayuguan in western Gansu province. The sections had been submerged over time by sandstorms which moved across the arid region.[11]






Under Qing rule, China's borders extended beyond the walls and Mongolia was annexed into the empire, so construction and repairs on the Great Wall were discontinued