4 Easy Ways to Improve Your Life

Do you often find yourself feeling unsatisfied, annoyed, unhappy? Turn that frown upside down! It's easy. Anyone can do it and it won't cost you a thing. Here are 4 easy ways to improve your life... today!  

4. Personal Development – Continue to check yourself. How are you doing? No, how are you REALLY doing? What are you not happy with? What steps can you take to change the aspects of your life you don’t like? Make a list. Discuss it with your significant other and family members. Hold each other accountable. Instead of complaining about it, do something about it. Have goals… career goals, family goals, life goals. Learn something new every day. Reading fiction can be enjoyable and inspiring, but reading non-fiction can help you learn about history and topics you may not otherwise know anything about. It may prompt you to dig deeper and give you interesting things to discuss with your friends and colleagues.

3. Finances – Take a good, hard look at where you are and where you want to be. Do you rent an apartment but want to buy a home? Do you stress about money every month, because you’re spending more than you’re earning? Do you have any money saved or any investments? Write down your regular monthly expenses. Some things you can’t cut out, but do you need to stop at the coffee shop every day or can you just have coffee at home? Do you have to eat out as much as you do? Do you search around for deals before purchasing clothes, planning a trip or buying the latest electronics? And do you really need any of that anyway? Create a detailed spending plan and make sure you’re sticking to it. Cut out the things you really don’t need and put the money you’ve saved aside. Set savings goals. Having a six-month “rainy day” fund is always a good idea. You may be living large right now, but things can always change. Expect the unexpected and be ready for it.

2. Health – Are you getting enough movement during your work shift or has your position become rather sedentary? Get up. Move around. Walk around the block if you have to. Do you go to the gym regularly? Run? If you find yourself stressed out, exercise can help your body AND your mind. If traditional forms of working out aren’t for you, find an exercise you like – maybe martial arts or dance will get you moving. Are you getting enough sleep? Often times, our work schedule or situation prevents us from eating as healthily as we would like, but filling up on fast food can put you on the fast track to weight gain, lethargy and depression. A little planning can make all the difference. Pack a meal and snacks at home and bring them to work in a small cooler or cooler bag. Portion control is much easier to accomplish when you’re preparing your own food. If you need something crunchy to sustain yourself, pack carrots or apple wedges instead of chips. Drink lots of water, right when you wake up and all day long. Keeping a food log helps to keep you from indulging on gummy bears and French fries. Setting up a weight chart and wearing a pedometer can also help you stay on track and monitor your progress.

1. Happiness – Are you suffering from baditude? It happens to the best of us, but we have the power to turn it around. Have a good attitude. Be positive. Express gratitude. Compliment others. Smile! Stop looking at what everyone else has (or seemingly has) and comparing yourself. Despite what you see on social media, not everyone’s life is picture perfect. Do what you can to be as content and happy as you can be. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If someone’s dragging you down, stop hanging out with them. If you’re missing quality time with your family or closest friends, make a plan to get together. Give them an actual phone call, instead of texting. If you’re feeling overwhelmed balancing a full-time job with raising kids and being involved in your community, schedule a date with yourself. Put it in your calendar. Grab a magazine or a notepad and head to a quiet beach. Sit in your backyard when no one else is home and just relax. Take a peaceful nature walk through one of the scenic spots in your area. And perhaps the most important thing to remember to improve your life… laugh. Laugh often. Laugh long. Find humor even in the most challenging situations. It helps. Life tosses all of us difficult situations. It’s how we choose to deal with them that makes the difference.

Presidential Circus!!! Top 5 Actual Circus Performers Who Might Want to Jump into the Race

Tired of this circus of a presidential race? With all the grade school name-calling, insults and violence, this race is nothing short of a 3 ring circus. So, here's a list of the Top 5 Actual Circus Performers Who Might Want to Jump into the Presidential Race.

5. Mime - garners your attention by shutting his or her mouth and getting the job done. JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!!!

4. Juggler – able to juggle everything at once. Sometimes just balls, clubs and rings. Other times, knives, fire torches and chainsaws. Kinda like the presidency.

3. Tightrope Walker – great with maintaining balance, dealing with stress, keeping calm and walking a fine line.

2. Elephant – exceptionally smart. They have the largest brain of any land animal, and three times as many neurons as humans. They also have extraordinary memories, show empathy, understand human body language and can identify languages.

1. Ringmaster – he or she can be in charge of tigers, sea lions, unicyclists and acrobats, sing, dance and interact with a large crowd… all at once, WHILE BEING PROFESSIONAL AND GRACEFUL. Perfect! He or she can be the ringmaster of our country. The ringmaster has a huge crew of people contributing to his or her success – just like a president.

Please note: Clowns don't make the list, because we already have at least one clown running. In terms of buffoonery, we're covered!

Top 5 Unique Water Activities

The summer season is quickly coming to an end (already over for many)... and it's HOT! So, if you've had enough surfing, skimboarding and stand up paddling in the last few months, here's a look at my list of the Top 5 Unique Water Activities you may like to try.

5. SNUBA - It's a combination of snorkeling and scuba. You basically get the experience of scuba diving without having to get certified AND there's no heavy tank to carry. It's offered all over Hawaii, in parts of Florida and on Catalina Island! Check out Catalina Scuba Luv or snuba.com.

4. Jetpack Flying - This looks AMAZING!!! It seems like it's straight out of a James Bond movie and that was apparently the goal when Chinese-Canadian Raymond Li invented it. He had wanted to create one ever since he saw 007 in "Thunderbolt." Here's how it works. A jetpack is strapped to your back and attached to a tube that pumps pressurized water out, propelling you up, down, forward and backward high in the air or down into the water. Two places offer it in Newport Beach - check out adrenaline365.com and jetpackamerica.com.

3. Underwater Rugby - Picture all the fun of rugby without all the injuries. Two teams of six players chase a plastic ball filled with water from one end of the pool to the other trying to score goals and earn the most points. Players wear fins, headgear and masks, but they don't get as hurt, because they can't gain as much speed in the water. Can be played in any pool near you!

2. Horse Surfing - No, the horse is not doing the surfing... you are! This combines one person on a kiteboard holding a tow rope and another on a horse, with the horse doing all the work. Seems unfair to the equine! Just say "neigh!!!" Anyway, you skate across the water at about 25 mph without using any type of engine. Talk about horsepower! There are even horse surfing competitions all over the world. You can check it out online, if you like.

1. Glacier Surfing - This might be one of the riskiest water sports around. Not many people have even tried it, but back in 2007, professional surfers Garrett McNamara and Kealii Mamala successfully rode a wave caused by a splitting glacier. They spent three weeks camping in Alaska waiting for huge chunks of the icy wall to come crashing down creating humongous waves. McNamara told CNN that it was the closest he'd ever come to death. Keep that in mind if you're thinking about trying it!

Say UNCLE!

Say UNCLE!!! Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer come out tomorrow in Guy Ritchie's "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", so here's a list of some famous uncles.

-Uncle Sam - Don't mess with this guy!
-Uncle Buck - John Candy's character from the 1989 John Hughes movie of the same name
-Uncle Jesse - John Stamos' character on the tv series “Full House”
-Uncle Jesse - Denver Pyle's character on "The Dukes of Hazzard" tv series
-Uncle Fester – from “The Addams Family”. Jackie Coogan played the role on the tv show from 1964-1966 and Christopher Lloyd played him in the movies (1991/1993).
-Uncle Miltie – Milton Berle (aka Mr. Television)
-Uncle Bill - Brian Keith's character from "Family Affair" tv series
-Uncle Charley - William Demarest's character from "My Three Sons" tv series
-Uncle Tom - the title character of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
-Uncle Rico - Jon Gries' character in "Napoleon Dynamite"
-Uncle Grandpa - Peter Browngardt's character on the animated tv series
-Uncle Philip - James Avery's character on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" tv series
-Uncle Vernon Dursley - Richard Griffiths' character from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

***I'm only including uncles with "uncle" in the name, but my vote for the most evil uncle ever... is Scar from "The Lion King"!!! 

Camp Movies

Whether you're sending your kids to sleepaway camp this summer or you have some wonderful memories of your own, here's a list of some camp movies you may (or may not) want to check out!

Dirty Dancing (1987) - PG-13
Meatballs (1979) - PG
Little Darlings (1980) - R
Friday the 13th (1980) - R
Wet Hot American Summer (2001) - R
Moonrise Kingdom (2012) - PG-13
Camp Nowhere (1994) - PG
Indian Summer (1993) - PG-13
Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) - PG
The Parent Trap (1998) - PG
Heavyweights (1995) - PG
Addams Family Values (1993) - PG-13
Camp (2003) - PG-13
Jesus Camp (2006) - PG-13
Space Camp (1986) - PG
Camp Rock (2008) - G (tv movie, but we'll throw it in)

Top 5 Places to Get a Cold Treat in Laguna Beach this Summer

Temperatures are heading back up into the 80s this weekend, so what are the best places to get a cold treat in Laguna Beach this summer? Here's my Top 5 list... but keep in mind there are a number of fabulous spots in LB offering juices, smoothies, blended coffee drinks and the like. Indulge and enjoy!

5. Gelato Paradiso - 448 S. Coast Hwy. Suite A
You'll definitely smell the freshly made waffle cones as you leave Watermarc or Nick's. Follow your nose towards the alley and you'll find flavor after flavor of the tasty Italian treat.

4. Active Culture - 1006 S. Coast Hwy.
After you leave Anita Beach with the little ones, pop into this spot for your choice of frozen yogurt with dozens of toppings, a Protein Dream Shake or a Blue-Green Envy Smoothie. The kids won't even know it's a healthier option!

3. Husky Boy - 802 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.
For more than 50 years, this drive-in style burger joint has been stuffing the faces of locals and tourists alike. It's one of Laguna's most recognized landmarks. Of course, they have a wide array of food choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but it's also a great place to grab a cool dessert or snack. Dig into a banana split, sundae or root beer float and you'll be smiling from ear to ear! It's close to the beach, it has free parking and it's affordable. Mmmmmmmm!!!

2. Ruby's - 30622 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Ruby's became one of my favorite places to eat back in the day when I was attending U.C. Irvine and all these years later, my taste buds haven't changed! The Oreo shake is my all-time favorite, but you may prefer a malt, Coke float or double hot fudge brownie sundae. Whhhhhhaaaaaaattttttt?!? And the Laguna location introduced its ice cream bar about a year or so ago, so you can sample a couple flavors before deciding how to fill your cone. Ruby's is a beach staple in Orange County... and there's a reason!

1. Chantilly Ice Cream - 202 Park Ave.
You may not know the name, but you know the place. "The one across from Main Beach." Ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen bananas... it's the go-to spot if you're hangin' at our most crowded beach or cruisin' around Downtown. This place will help you chill out, man!

Top 5 NEW Things to Remember During an Earthquake

Top 5 NEW Things to Remember During an Earthquake

With Dwayne Johnson’s latest action flick, “San Andreas”, opening tomorrow, I thought I’d count down the Top 5 things to remember during an earthquake. Now, I’m not talking about all the advice you’ve been given over the years, such as getting under a table and staying away from windows, I’m talking about things you REALLY need to know.

5. PLAY A ROCKIN’ SOUNDTRACK. You’ll certainly need some good tunes to get you through the earthquake aftermath, because you may be trapped for a while. My top two suggestions?  “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King and “Housequake” by Prince. Soon enough, you’ll be shakin’ just like the temblor.

4. POP OPEN A BOTTLE OF AFTERSHOCK. If you haven’t tried the cinnamon flavored liqueur by Jim Beam, this is the perfect opportunity to spice up your life. Make sure enough shot glasses have survived the rumbling, because you will need them!

3. CONTACT CONAN O’BRIEN’S LONGTIME SIDEKICK, ANDY RICHTER, TO FIND OUT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE QUAKE ON THE RICHTER SCALE. You probably thought you should contact the Earthquake Lady, right? (In case you don’t live in California, Kate Hutton is a seismologist at Cal Tech and every time we experience a shaker worth mentioning, we see her on the news talking about it.) But NO! Dr. Kate’s not your go-to. You really want to have the right information, so Andy Richter’s your guy. Who knew a comedian could invent something so useful during emergency situations?

2. WATCH THE 1974 FILM, “EARTHQUAKE”, STARRING CHARLTON HESTON. Here, you’ll get some extremely helpful information about what to do and what not to do. I mean, wouldn’t YOU want Moses on your side when you’re stuck in the middle of a disaster?

1. And the number one thing to remember during an earthquake is… It’s not your FAULT!!!