There’s definitely been a lot of tragedies that have come with the coronavirus. It has rocked our world and created huge losses for so many families.
Although our blog is about unplugging, it is an impossible time to be completely detached since we have had to rely on technology more now than ever. As we start the school year and get more organized into the fall and winter months, I thought I would repost some tips for going outside and taking some breaks, staying plugged in but learning how to sign out. I hope this helps everyone! Be well ️

Click here for tips and ideas on how to be plugged in but signed out!

I am very excited to be sharing with you today a piece that my dear friend Megan wrote for me. She’s one of my closest friends and lives within walking distance from me. Our kids are super close and play together almost daily. She’s very kind and caring and has a big love for her family and friends! Check out her amazing blog about her dear Grandad and the HUGE impact he made on her and her fam to shape them ❤️

“The 7 P’s.

Our beloved family Patriarch, who we affectionately called GG and who passed away just shy of 96 years old, left our family with a myriad of valuable advice and life lessons: Be kind, clean up after yourself, people who care share, leave big tips for good service, don’t pat people on the back when you hug them (it’s insincere!). But one the most often repeated is that to be successful in life you must ALWAYS practice the 7 P’s! Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.  In a nutshell, it simply means that if you take the time to prepare for a situation you...

There are no words to say that would do whats happening in the world right now justice... but I do know that its a season of reflection and that its important that we listen. Really listen.

As my mom was battling her last year with cancer, and coming into acceptance of whatever happens next, she would say “come sit with me” quite often. In true Northern Virginia fashion I was always in such a hurry with a full calendar and “too much to do!”. I would often say, “next time mom, I’m too busy right now.”

Now that I sit here and quarantine, with too little to do, I remember my mom’s words and they vibrate through me. “Come sit with me.”
How I wish I had slowed down more often and taken the time to do just that. There is so much to the phrase “come sit with me”.

Come and take the time to sit,
to listen,

to enjoy,

to laugh,

to love,

to be present,

to be still.

I would love to send the message out there that it’s not too late. Sit with your mom, your dad, your grandparents, uncle or child. Maybe jus...

It’s very interesting to be the owner of this blog called Unplug&Hug during these strange times.

Right now we all need to be connected digitally to be connected. How ironic is that?!? We won’t be connected unless we have our devices? Wow! 

Buuttt, that’s only partially true! I have to say that we have had waaayyy more family time than ever which can be positive and challenging... lol. For example, we have never gone biking as a family outdoors and we have done that several times now and it was a blast! We have been hiking, walking and even cooking (a lot) together. (Hello Corona 15!) Cooking at home is always positive for overall health benefits even if I have been overdoing those gluten free brownies!

My daughter’s schedule is usually packed, too packed. Slowing down may be just what she/we needed. Now, we can make our own schedule! Being a teacher, a chef, a mother, a business owner-all, full time is a lot for many of us to handle. Worry is amplified right now especially because there i...

Hint: Don't get sucked into checking your email or social media until AFTER you set your intentions for the day!

One of the best-kept secrets for success is learning how to make the first hour of each day a launching point for productivity. The first hour should be fiercely guarded, used intentionally, and considered sacred. NEVER let your day get hijacked by somebody else's to-do list. Because that's what happens when you check your computer or phone BEFORE setting your own priorities. 

Stop being busy and start being more productive by creating a powerful morning routine.

1. Get out of bed when your alarm goes off. Letting yourself fall back asleep undermines your body's readiness to start the day. Don't let your mind talk you out of getting up, just DO IT!

2. Stay off your phone and computer until after you complete your morning routine. This is really hard for most of us. Technology companies have designed their products to be addictive and suck us in. Trust me, and don't take the...

The start of February is a real watershed. While at least six weeks of winter remain (whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not, we end up with the same amount of winter!) at least the daylight stretches past 5pm, bringing with it a much needed natural elevation of mood and a sign that spring and summer sunshine will be here soon.

Being inside too much fries my mind and spirit. I think that’s true for most people, whether they admit it or not. But when I unplug and step outside to enjoy our beautiful Mother Earth, it’s evident that we are treating her as badly as we are treating ourselves. 

Even in a town as beautiful as Vienna, litter from single use plastic stains our parks and roadsides, and eventually makes its way to storm drains. And as Nemo’s tank-mate Gill said in the famous movie, all drains lead to the ocean. Even in a town as beautiful as Vienna, litter from single use plastic stains our parks and roadsides, and eventually makes its way to storm drains. And as Nemo’s ta...

Evidently 2019 brings with it a ‘shorter’ holiday season because Thanksgiving is ‘late’ this year.

You might hear folks lament there’s one less weekend to enjoy the tree or other holiday decorations. You definitely know the retailers are feeling a pinch with Black Friday deals happening literally as I write this.

One might think these are all reasonable and legit reasons to feel cheated on twinkle lights. But I ask you: Is the holiday season really shorter? Or should we simply broaden our minds to the advantages that this year’s calendar brings us?

That is, there’s still a crazy abundance of holiday time to unplug this year.

Thanksgiving arrives right on time per the ‘last Thursday of November’ rule. Hanukkah and Christmas fall right in line, accordingly, too. We’re starting the story of Advent next Sunday, and I trust my church knows what it’s doing.

So, the challenge: Let’s flip this conundrum on its head and ask ourselves: Hasn’t ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ actually gotten...

Three ways to unplug and reconnect with yourself, your loved ones, your community, your world.

One of my favorite things about teaching family yoga on Saturday mornings is watching people interact with each other--laughter, smiles, conversations, eye contact. Families do partner poses, dance, play yoga games, rest during Savasana holding hands. I never have to tell anyone to put away their phones because they never take them out. Luckily, most people associate looking at their phone during yoga as taboo. And this gives them the chance to be in the moment with their loved ones, and that's what is at the heart of mindfulness. Just being here. Now. It's not anything complicated and doesn't require any type of yoga training. But there are so many distractions today compared to the past, which makes it more difficult and something we must consciously set an intention to do. TVs, phones, Xbox, Nintendo, Apple watches, laptops...there's always something new to learn or do at your fingertips. B...

I've been involved with the healthcare industry since I was a toddler, watching my dad in his medical practice and my mom in her dental practice.  My favorite memories were not only of just being in the same room with the patients, but of hearing laughter as the patients chatted about their personal family stories with my parents.  Frequently, the fun and casual chatter would supersede the time spent on the treatment itself.  As my parents each stepped into their retirement chapter, it was very emotional and bittersweet for each to feel like they left numerous friends behind that were part of their daily work during the past 30 years.  Looking back, I appreciated my parents as family doctors and it was only later in life when I understood that they were also entrepreneurs and ran businesses. The greatest lesson I learned was the gift of conversation and laughter and how it can transform the entire experience for all parties involved. As I grew up, I knew I wanted to be in a profession...