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Jen A. Miller Consulting

Category: Living

  • Twenty-Seven | What I’ve Learned Thus Far

    Catherine sums up a month of reflection in turning twenty-seven

    turning twenty-seven
    Just a month after my 27th birthday, I already feel like a changed woman. Okay, it helps a lot that I left my job just two weeks prior to my birthday and essentially am living like a college kid on summer vacation… so after five years of a regular 9 to 6 job without a lot of free time to travel and breathe, feeling different was inevitable. Nevertheless, the change of pace prompted a lot of reflection and self-discovery. Here’s what I’ve learned since turning 27.

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  • Retreats: The Journey, Not the Destination

    Retreats: The Journey, Not the Destination

    Lara Torii shares a lesson in forgiveness + tips for making the most of your time away

    retreats
    To say I’m familiar with retreats is an understatement. I’m a bit of a self-care junkie. If I could go on a retreat every month I probably would. I was fortunate enough to go on two in the last three months. After three years of volunteering—two of which were international—my program sent me on a ten-day re-entry retreat.

    Before I started each year of volunteering, I attended an orientation retreat to prepare myself for community, social justice, simplicity, and spirituality. This was my first time attending a re-entry retreat, specifically for people who have gone abroad and have to deal with reverse culture shock. The activities were geared towards helping us heal the hurts of the past, celebrate the joys, and move forward with purpose.

    If I have learned anything during my time as a volunteer, it is that life is best lived open-heartedly. I always try to let go of any preconceived notions I have of any situation and any person I meet. So I made my way to San Antonio ready to receive whatever the ten days had in store.

    What Is a Retreat?

    For me, retreats have always been an opportunity to step back, evaluate life, and take a breather. I’ve been on retreats where we are given tons of space to talk to each other. I’ve also been on silent retreats where we are asked to unplug from all forms of chatter. Regardless, retreats offer activities to help you balance the emotional, physical, mental, and social aspects of yourself.

    One of my favorite retreat activities is hiking by myself or with a group. I always feel reset by getting my blood flowing, breathing fresh air, and letting go of those routine thought processes. That is one of the most beneficial things about retreats: they are active breaks from the daily routine, a break—unlike a vacation—that allows you to make space for new energy, new creativity, new insight. If it’s not possible to commit to a full guided retreat (typically two to seven nights), we may try to find ways to step back from our daily lives in smaller ways. However, in this time of constant social media and technological connection, we can all benefit from time away. Here is what I learned from stepping away from the everyday and a list of things to keep in mind once you commit to a retreat.

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  • Single Girl’s Guide to Spring Flower Arrangements

    Single Girl’s Guide to Spring Flower Arrangements

    Sara Bodle Picks the Best Spring Flower Arrangements for our Homes

    Spring Flower Arrangements
    What better way to celebrate the season than to fill your home with the bright colors of Spring’s best blossoms. A simple bouquet of fresh flowers can do wonders to brighten a room and lift your mood. It’s one of my favorite tricks for giving my living space an instant and easy boost of good energy.

    To find out more about what we should look for when shopping for fresh flowers this season, I turned to our interior design expert and regular  Single Diaries’  contributor Sara Bodle. We already know this girl’s got an eye for decorating on a budget so I knew she’d be the perfect person to turn to for advice on buying the best buds without breaking the bank.

    Read on for her top tips for creating the best Spring flower arrangements for your home.

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  • Single Girl Reads | Summer Reading List

    The Single Diaries Summer Reading List 2014

    summer reading list
    Last week I visited two historic public libraries for the first time in Boston and New York City. Aside from the beautiful architecture and the wonder I felt at being in such awesome buildings meant solely for reading and educating, these visits reminded me that I am behind on my reading goal for the year. With a little more free time on my hands, a number of cities enticing with scenic areas ideal for a quiet moment, and more than a few plane rides, I put together a list of books I plan to tackle during the summer. Whether you’re hitting the beach, jetting off on a plane, or claiming a sidewalk table in your hometown or a foreign city, here is your summer reading list. 

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  • National Burger Month | California Style

    Celebrating National Burger Month with our favorite burgers in California

    national burger month

    It’s only fitting that I was born in Burger Month (I’m a self-professed über carnivore). I checked in with some of my food-loving friends for their recommendations of the best burgers in California (including a few for you non meat-eaters) to bring you a list of must-try’s to celebrate this glorious “holiday”… and, of course, no list would be complete without the quintessential California burger joint: In-n-Out, so scroll down to see how our burger lovers order theirs.

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