Feature Real Life Archives - Postcard Jar Blog https://postcardjar.com/category/feature-real-life/ Tips and inspiration to help you live and travel well Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:13:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://postcardjar.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/cropped-Postcard-Jar-Favicon-32x32.png Feature Real Life Archives - Postcard Jar Blog https://postcardjar.com/category/feature-real-life/ 32 32 Review of our Chrysler Pacifica after 100K miles https://postcardjar.com/three-years-later-a-review-of-our-chrysler-pacifica/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=three-years-later-a-review-of-our-chrysler-pacifica https://postcardjar.com/three-years-later-a-review-of-our-chrysler-pacifica/#comments Mon, 09 Sep 2024 13:18:44 +0000 https://postcardjar.com/?p=14661 (UPDATED SEPT. 2023) Because more than four years have gone by since we bought it, it’s time to give you an update and review of our 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. After all, we’ve had plenty of time (and nearly 110,000 miles) to experience all it has to offer. Review of Chrysler Pacifica’s usefulness We never saw ourselves as “minivan” people, but our Chrysler Pacifica has changed our minds because it’s just so useful. Seriously, we have been surprised at how many ways we’ve been able to use this vehicle. PIN FOR LATER As empty nesters, we’ve used our minivan mostly for trips for just the two of us. We’ve taken it on day trips, shopping hauls, and multi-day exploration trips halfway across the country. In all situations, our van has been marvelous. It’s comfortable, easy to drive, and fuel efficient. We often get up to 30 mpg with a tailwind. Plus, even with Ann’s arthritic joints, she can get in and out of the vehicle easily. Most importantly, at least when we bought it four years ago, the price was right. Our Chrysler Pacifica is great for groups But we’ve also used our Pacifica for road trips with other people. Indeed, […]

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Postcard Jar Friends Group Cruise on Celebrity Reflection recap (Part 2) https://postcardjar.com/postcard-jar-friends-group-cruise-on-celebrity-reflection-recap-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=postcard-jar-friends-group-cruise-on-celebrity-reflection-recap-part-2 https://postcardjar.com/postcard-jar-friends-group-cruise-on-celebrity-reflection-recap-part-2/#respond Sat, 25 Feb 2023 14:02:57 +0000 https://postcardjar.com/?p=15718 Fifty-eight sailors joined us this year for our inaugural Postcard Jar Friends Group Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on the Celebrity Reflection. Will you join us next year? This post is Part 2 of our Postcard Jar Friends Cruise recap. If you missed Part 1, CLICK HERE.  Day 4 – St. Thomas On Day 4 of our group cruise aboard the Celebrity Reflection, our group was among the few treated to a sail-in party on the helipad as we cruised into Port Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. What a view!  The ship’s officers welcomed us to the helipad while crew served champagne, mimosas, and orange juice. The weather was perfect and the scene was breathtaking as we slowly sailed toward the pier.  Everyone got an unobstructed view of the island as we docked in St. Thomas – the gateway isle of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Our shore excursion in St. Thomas Known for its beaches and snorkeling spots, St. Thomas offered lots of shore excursion options, including walking tours, shopping, beach time, and catamaran tours. We went on an open-air trolley tour of the island with some of our family and friends.  Others on our group cruise aboard […]

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What it means to go red for women https://postcardjar.com/what-does-it-mean-to-go-red-for-women/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-does-it-mean-to-go-red-for-women https://postcardjar.com/what-does-it-mean-to-go-red-for-women/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2023 13:00:37 +0000 https://postcardjar.com/?p=14330 Each year, many of us “Go Red for Women” in an effort to bring more awareness to heart disease and stroke. It’s with good cause. Heart disease is the No.1 killer of women—killing more than all forms of cancer combined. In fact, one in three women will die of heart disease and stroke each year. One in three! Does go red for women stand for something? Yes, those letters each stand for something you can do to help reduce your risk of heart disease and build awareness. According to the American Heart Association, here’s what the letters G-O-R-E-D stand for. G: Get your numbers Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you haven’t had a wellness check in more than a year, make an appointment today and ask for these routine tests to be done. Don’t be afraid to ask your physician about your results and have her explain what the numbers mean. Don’t be afraid to visit your primary care physician or cardiologist. I actually look forward to seeing my local cardiologist, Dr. Gina Mentzer at Pioneer Heart (pictured below). In addition to routine blood pressure checks at the doctor’s office, I also take and […]

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Things we consider before we travel during the pandemic https://postcardjar.com/travel-during-the-pandemic-right-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=travel-during-the-pandemic-right-now https://postcardjar.com/travel-during-the-pandemic-right-now/#comments Sat, 15 Jan 2022 21:47:15 +0000 https://postcardjar.com/?p=14154 To travel or not to travel during the pandemic? That is the question we’ve been asking ourselves a lot the past few weeks. And let’s face it – deciding whether or not to travel during this pandemic can be difficult.  Recently, we confronted the conundrum of whether to take a planned cruise and vacation in January (of 2022) or not. In this blog post, we’ll share five factors we considered when making our decision. We’ll also share what we decided to do. Note: We also prayed about our decision a lot!  Keep in mind that we’re not medical experts and the things you need to consider before traveling may be different than ours. For medical advice, consult a trusted healthcare professional. PIN FOR LATER   Things we consider before we travel during a pandemic First, here’s a little background about our January 2022 travel plans. More than two years ago, we planned a trip to Florida for back-to-back cruises and a visit with friends. We planned to fly from the Midwest to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. There, we’d hoped to spend a few days with friends in Florida before boarding the new Celebrity Cruises Apex ship where we’d meet up with another […]

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What I eat in a day on Noom https://postcardjar.com/what-i-eat-in-a-day-on-noom/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-i-eat-in-a-day-on-noom https://postcardjar.com/what-i-eat-in-a-day-on-noom/#comments Sun, 02 Jan 2022 20:02:09 +0000 https://postcardjar.com/?p=14125 What do you actually eat on Noom? This is the question I get asked most about my healthy living journey and 130-pound weight loss on Noom.  When people see my weight loss transformation, most are curious about what I eat and what I don’t eat. In this blog post I’ll show you exactly what foods I actually eat in a day on Noom – and yes, I do have carbs. And meat. I also have ice cream. And some days, I even have wine.  What I eat for breakfast on Noom For breakfast on Noom, I typically have one of two things: oatmeal with berries or Greek yogurt with berries. (I love berries, what can I say?)  In the cold winter months, I like a cup of oats (160 cal) with Swerve brown sugar substitute (0 cal), cinnamon, and ½  cup mixed berries (35 cal).  In the warmer months of the year, I like a bowl of cool Greek yogurt. My favorite brands are Oikos Triple Zero (about 100 cal) or Chobani Zero Sugar (about 70 cal).  I love a little crunch on my Greek yogurt but most granolas are very high in calories. So instead of granola, I top […]

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