Hooping for fitness in Royal Palm Beach

Who knew that a social media strategist was using a Hula-Hoop as part of her fitness routine?

One of members of the Team Extra Steppers posted about Hula-Hooping in the morning. I wanted to know more. I did a basic Google search and found that my friend, who I met at a Tweetup, was part of trend that seeks to make fitness fun.

Here is a picture of the Hula-Hoop that she posted on Instagram last July:

New Health Goal: #Hooplahooping :) Anyone have tips?

How to put more steps in your life

I try to work more steps into my regular life each day so that walking becomes routine.

Sunday, I wanted to go to Sunday on the Waterfront in West Palm Beach where 2009 American Idol winner, Kris Allen, was playing.

The free show started at 4 p.m., so I drove up at 3 p.m. to get some walking in along the waterfront first. The gorgeousness of the day lured me outside where it was a wonderful 78 degrees with a nice breeze.

This view from South Cove Natural Area boardwalk looks
as if it were painted.

Recruiting for Let's Move team

Do you walk, swim, run or workout in Palm Beach County? If so, consider yourself recruited for the Extra Steppers Team as we try to be Number 1 in the Let's Move campaign.

Runners in the annual Palm Beach United Way Turkey Trot.

Aaron Wormus of aGuyOnClematis fame and I are joining together again on the Extra Steppers Team. You can enter your minutes here.

We already recruited Jeanne Taylor, a youth librarian at the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, and her surfing scientist husband, Bob Taylor.

Friend Tara Husband, a social media strategist, will join us -- as soon as I send her the link.

Making New Year's Resolutions in Lake Worth

I'm a little late but wanting to play the resolutions game. This year, I resolve to be more mindful in my interactions with others.

By that I mean I will write down good things that happen daily -- from a simple thank you to a spectacular adventure. I will once again create a gratitude jar to hold these notes for an entire year.

Then at the end of 2015, I will review them and toast to the good year I just enjoyed.

Loving Opera@TheWaterfront in West Palm Beach

Palm Beach Opera held a community event Saturday, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The event was billed as Opera@TheWaterfront. Ninety minutes of live opera music outside on the lush lawn of the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach -- what's not to love?

The weather that Saturday was postcard-perfect, as if someone called Central Casting and ordered blue skies, a breeze that swayed the palm fronds and a temperature in the low 70s.

My favorite tenor, James Valenti, was there, along with the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra and its Chorus. And the whole thing was free!

People used the fans, which listed the afternoon's music schedule, to
shield their faces from the bright sun.

Exploring Sandi Land in West Palm Beach

I was supposed to go to Clematis by Night event on Thursday when West Palm Beach would light its 600-ton sand tree, but the downtown was mobbed. The  closest parking was about a mile away from the waterfront. My friends begged off and chose CityPlace instead for our Girls Night Out.

So I had to wait until Saturday morning when I usually drive up to West Palm Beach for yoga at its library and veggie shopping at its GreenMarket. The 35-foot tall sand sculpture was awesome.

The sculpture was decorated with a Christmas tropical theme.

Smelling through West Palm Beach garden

Sunday was a beautiful but blustery day here in Palm Beach County.

Wouldn't it be great, I thought, to photograph wind in action. I decided to drive up to Mounts Botanical Garden, across Military Trail from Palm Beach International Airport. It would be a veritable wind tunnel up there, with palm fronds swaying in the wind.

The planes were noisy as they landed and took off from the airport, often making the butterflies scatter. But I was soon lost in the garden, entranced by its fragrant blooms and brilliant hues that I forgot about my idea of photographing wind.

Here are five plants that caught my eyes and nose:

1. Bourbon rose

When the double white flowers of the Boule de neige (ball of snow) are opened
fully, the outer petals roll back at the tips giving the blossom a rounded, snow-
ball-like appearance. The flowers carried a moderate damask rose fragrance.