Between hectic schedules, ever-growing to-do lists, and caring for others, it can be easy to put self-care on the backburner. Committing to a healthy diet, getting adequate sleep, reducing stress, exercising regularly, and unplugging from your devices can help keep you healthy, both mentally and physically.Consider these self-care ideas to help bolster your well-being.

Nourish Yourself: While eating well may seem like an obvious self-care tip, it’s not always easy to change your eating habits or replace fast food and sweet indulgences with healthier options. However, properly nourishing your body with the right foods, like fish, leafy green vegetables, and berries, can help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk for diseases such as diabetes, improve your memory and reduce inflammation, among other short- and long-term benefits.

Get a Good Night’s Rest: Getting a proper night’s sleep – most experts recommend 7-9 hours for the average adult – can have a positive impact on how you feel both mentally and physically. Having both the proper routine – limiting caffeine and sugar intake before bed and reducing distractions such as TV or smartphones – and the right mattress can be key to ensuring your bedroom is the sleep oasis you need for quality rest. 

Practice Relaxation Techniques: Whether you have a few spare minutes or an entire afternoon of free time, finding a quiet place to relax and practice meditation or yoga can help you reduce stress and anxiety, become more self-aware and create a sense of calmness during even the busiest of days. Try setting up a secluded area in your home (or office) where you can concentrate on your practice and really listen to yourself.

Unplug and Unwind: With 24/7 access to the internet, social media, and television, it can be easy to create bad habits associated with the always-connected, smart phone-obsessed world. However, screens – and the blue light they emit – have been proven to negatively impact sleep and mental performance. Setting aside some time – aim for a couple of hours in succession – each day to unplug from your devices and their distractions can lead to better sleep, productivity, emotional wellness, and creativity.

Make Sure to Move: While it’s important to take care of yourself mentally, taking care of your body can be just as important to provide peace of mind. Finding time each day to get in at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, whether it’s a full-blown workout, a walk around the neighborhood with your dog or a bike ride to a favorite destination, can boost your mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and help keep your waistline trim. Find a regimen that works for you, be it multiple short active periods or one long gym session, and make it part of your daily routine for an easy way to boost both your physical and mental well-being.

David B. Schwartz, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology 

Postmark is a new American restaurant with a “farmhouse refined” concept that champions the “slow food” movement . Showcasing local farm goods, old world ingredients & artful products, food and wine related. Working directly with merchants, farmers, & importers to preserve a tradition of culinary cultures and practices with thoughtfulness and purpose. Postmark is where great food and drink are honestly prepared and served. The setting is re-purposed, reused, and up-cycled. Worn and weathered. Cozy and comfortable, yet rustic and rugged. Filled with old world charm and nostalgia. Fine dining meets farmhouse style. The postal theme is portrayed by post office antiques, prints and decor, through out the dining room. A small additional space has been renovated into a retail wine shop with a 400+ bottle catalog. Chef Bernstein’s culinary style at Postmark leans towards approachable elegance with a creative and playful appreciation of luxury. Thinking globally and sourcing locally is a staple of the Red Feather Trade Co. brand. When dining at either Red Feather Kitchen or Postmark, guests are treated to surprise bites in between courses simply out of Chef’s love to cook for the community and share in the festivities of different flavors. Let’s just say that “amuse bouche” is Chef Bernstein’s middle name. The menu of the revamped and remixed edition of Postmark restaurant mirrors a Tapas style dining experience. A Tapas service experience originated in Spain as a selection of small bites that were/are enjoyed at a bar with a glass of wine or a cocktail before heading home for dinner. The most common types of food that are eaten as a tapa are cured meats like jamón Iberico or chorizo, olives, cheese and other easy-to-prepare items which require little or no cooking. This delicious tradition has found its way into the heart of bistros, bars and restaurants across the globe. Including Postmark nestled in the bustling and vibrant Gaslight district of Clifton. Stop in soon and treat yourself to knowledgable and attentive service and a delightful Tapas style menu. A retail wine shop is now available as well and a resident Sommelier always on premises.

 Chef Bernstein and team are not afraid of a good party either! Wednesday’s are dedicated to live music and celebration with the Music on the Mark series. Showcasing local musical talent from the Cincinnati area, tables are available to purchase along with the Bistro menu and expert staff to treat guests to a lovely experience while listening to live acoustic music in the romantic atmosphere of the Postmark dining room. Details for tickets and upcoming musicians are available on the Postmark website and all social media platforms.

Postmark is also available as an event space designed to create culinary driven private events from 20 to 80 guests, perfect for meetings, business dinners, celebrations, charity events, rehearsal dinners, and small receptions. Postmark is available for lunch, dinner and brunch events. A deposit is required to reserve the space and menus will be curated to the guests desires.

 If all of this were not enough to keep Chef Bernstein and team busy, Bernstein has recently reopened doors for dine-in service at the famed Red Feather Kitchen located in Oakley, and is slated to open his next venture of Red Feather Larder at Dutch’s, an old school Pony Keg established in 1947, in October 2020. Bernstein is looking to create a neighborhood “groceraunt” style establishment where guests can “shop like a Chef”.

 Showcasing high-end products in partnership with local producers and purveyors, an enviable retail wine program and bar as well as a neighborhood deli/butcher shop with a welcoming atmosphere, Bernstein hopes to reaffirm his bonds with the community.

Punta Cana is now OPEN and effective September 15, travelers entering the Dominican Republic will not be required to submit a negative PCR test. All arriving passengers will pass through a heat/temperature sensor upon arrival. If a passenger shows an elevated body temperature they are pulled for further investigation and may incur a rapid test. All travelers will also be granted a complimentary, temporary travel assistance plan that will include coverage for emergencies, telemedicine, lodging for prolonged stays and costs for changing flights in the event of an infection. This will be provided for all travelers through December 2020. 

WOW!!! So, Punta Cana is ready for you, let’s show them the love that they deserve!

Some of our favorite resorts are offering INCREDIBLE prices and incentives to invite you back! Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Cap Cana is a brand new show stopper property which opened in January 2020 and they are one of my top pics for family getaways (Ziva side), adult only escapes (Zilara side) as well as friend & family group getaways (access to both properties for adults)! They truly offer something for everyone and you will certainly be wow’d at either resort!

Looking for an extended stay? Reach out to me for special rates! Why work and learn from home when you can work, learn & PLAY from paradise!

And with Thanksgiving just around the corner, why not surprise them with an all inclusive paid trip to the Caribbean instead of another year at home watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!

Give me a call! Can’t wait to put some HAPPY on your calendar!

Debbie Boyd, Travel Happy Agency – 513-275-8086/ e-mail – debbie@travelhappyagency.com website: travelhappyagency.com

We are excited to reopen the Arts Center this month, with the presentation of two powerful exhibitions that address race, justice, and identity.

Protests this summer have lifted the voices of those seeking justice. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest systemic racism and police brutality, using artistic expression and the power of the printed word to rally the emotions of others to demand for racial equity. The inspiration for these exhibits are drawn from the headlines of current events; yet the issues are of historic proportion. The imagery confronts viewers with the injustices to which today’s artists bare witness.

The protest poster – a common form of political art – was the inspiration for UPRISING, an outdoor exhibition by ten Black artists exploring themes of racial justice, presented in partnership with Art Beyond Boundaries.

Curated by Jymi Bolden, the exhibit features large-scale printed works by Cincinnati-based artists Cherie Garces, Melvin Grier, Terence Hammonds, Gee Horton, Hannah “Jonesy” Jones, Jimi Jones, Cynthia Lockhart, Ricci Michaels, Thom Shaw (d. 2010), and Gilbert Young (Atlanta, GA).

Installed throughout the grounds of the Kennedy Heights Arts Center, the exhibition can be viewed as a drive-through experience, utilizing the circular driveway that wraps around the building, or guests can park and explore the exhibit on foot.

 Art prints and postcards of each of the images will be available for sale, with net proceeds split between the artist and the Ohio Justice and Policy Center.

If you’re looking for the best year-round indoor amusements in the Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, Oakley and Madisonville, Norwood, Silverton, Deer Park, and Cincinnati areas (only 6 minutes from Downtown!), Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure park is the perfect place! With new adventures behind every corner, this is the ultimate indoor playground for your entire family. Take your kids’ birthday party to the next level, spend a day of fun with the family, or plan your next team building adventure here….and you’ll see why Urban Air is more than just a trampoline park.

Urban Air Trampoline Park has been voted BEST Gym In American for Kids by Shape Magazine, BEST Place To Take Energetic Kids and BEST Trampoline Parks.

Adventure park attractions include:

Sky Rider, Ropes Course, Climbing Walls, Ninja Course, ProZone Performance and Apex Trampolines, Drop Zone, Tubes Playground, Dodgeball, and even more!

You can purchase single day tickets, or go all out with the Endless Play Memberships. Starting at a low monthly price, you can come back every day for a FRACTION OF THE PRICE of a single visit. That is over $2300 of value or up to 85% savings! Because at Urban Air, they want to let ‘em fly as much as they want!

Safety protocols are in place to keep everyone healthy and safe. Time slots are available throughout the day with reservations.

Fun for all ages can be found at Urban Air Adventure and Trampoline Park!

Most of us have been confined to our houses or immediate vicinities for many months, possibly even cancelling trips elsewhere, but as you begin to feel more comfortable we encourage you to Experience Columbus for a not-far-from-home “staycation”! Feel safe knowing that more than 150 businesses in Columbus have signed the Live Forward Pledge, indicating they have made health and safety of their guests a priority upon operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of the city’s highest visitor touchpoints have leveled-up with third-party validation through the GBAC STAR™ Accreditation. You don’t have to travel far to feel far away, and we’ve rounded up a few great ideas you can consider. 

A new self-guided Short North Art Trail helps you explore and discover not only the great murals and public art in the area, but also the galleries and performance spaces, all without the crowds common during Gallery Hop.

Once downtown, you can easily access many of the city’s top attractions and cultural institutions. Eat your way around the world all within the walls of the North Market. Pay homage to our veterans past and present – across all eras of conflict and branches of service – at the one-of-a-kind National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Plus, be sure to get to the Columbus Museum of Art for the groundbreaking “Art After Stonewall” exhibit, which explores the impact of the LGBTQ civil rights movement on the art world and has been named among the top 10 most important exhibitions of the decade by Art News.

There are still plenty of opportunities to get outside and stay safely socially distanced with 253 acres of greenspace scattered throughout downtown. Grab a CoGo bike rental or take a walk along miles of mixed-use trails along the Scioto Mile that lead to the world’s largest outdoor climbing wall at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Downtown is also the perfect starting point from which to explore Columbus’ unique neighborhoods, including the beautiful architecture of Victorian Village, the charming brick-lined streets of German Village or the up-and-coming Franklinton neighborhood.

Check out the “Experience Columbus” hotel packages page for staycation offers from the Moxy Columbus Short North, Graduate Columbus, Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph, Hilton Columbus Downtown, Drury Inn & Suites and Hotel LeVeque.

Our “Experience Columbus” getaway started with the Hilton Columbus Downtown…a very sleek hotel located in the PERFECT location for shopping, dining and exploring the Short North and surrounding areas. Room accommodations were great…super clean and sanitized, well-appointed, large room with modern touches. Safety is a HUGE priority…from checking in, to room access and dining in the hotel.

On to happy hour at Gallerie Bar and Bistro, located just above the lobby…for a fabulous Charcuterie Board, Calamari and Dirty Martini…ahhhhh. Vacation mode!

Wearing our face masks (MANDATORY in Columbus I’m thrilled to say!)

Next up…shopping! Many stores were open and awaiting customers to peruse the stocked shelves. Galleries were also open. Felt so good to be out and about!

On to The Guild House for dinner across the street from our hotel….our favorite Columbus restaurant by the famed Cameron Mitchell.

The Guild House is a unique rustic-modern dining room for sampling eclectic, globally inspired seasonal menus. I dined on the BEST scallop dish I’ve ever had (seriously beautiful and tasted FAB!), while my better half indulged in the lamb burger. OMG. On to the Torte for dessert…a Flourless chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, peanut butter mousse, vanilla tuille. Splurge, but worth it!

Back to the super comfy bed at the hotel! We awoke early and had breakfast at the hotel…then to the North Market… a 144-year-old vibrant public market made up of Ohio’s best independent merchants, farmers, and makers, where you can eat, drink, shop, and enjoy the best of what’s local, fresh, and authentic. We shopped strong at Penny’s Meats. They grind the freshest ground beef and pork daily. They also carry a wide selection of lamb and goat, plus so much more!

Don’t miss Block’s Bagels, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Market Blooms for flowers, and so much more!

We next ventured over to the Columbus Museum of Art (Included with the Roar & Explore pass, which offers a 20% savings on the city’s top attractions and is a great deal for visitors to make sure they hit all the top spots). The Columbus Museum of Art was the perfect escape on a rainy Saturday morning, filled with wonderful exhibits and a great museum store, all with our safety as a top priority. Again, MASK ON in Columbus!

Time for more shopping! We just couldn’t get enough…store after store, galleries, art murals in cute nooks…spend spend spend!

It was the perfect little getaway. We felt very safe in Columbus, and are already planning our next visit! Get out and go places…Mask On….and stay socially distanced while still experiencing other cities.

WE MUST KEEP RESTAURANTS, STORES AND HOTELS ALIVE!

Have fun and be safe!

– Patty Youkilis, Publisher