Noteworthy

MOVE FITNESS ON THE GO

TRAVEL IS ONE OF the greatest gifts we can give ourselves, and the benefits go well beyond taking a break from our lives. It opens us to new environments, cultures, cuisines and experiences.

Staying active should be an important part of any vacation as it helps elicit dopamine, the feel-good hormone, to drive up our energy levels and keep us motivated. It can also help keep you accountable and make it easier to transition back into your daily regimen post-vacation. Here are my top five healthy tips for your next vacation:

• Pack workout gear. Set aside room in your suitcase for sneakers and two sets of workout clothes. If you pack it, your workout gear will be staring at you every day, making it hard to say, “No.” • Check out the hotel gyms. Go online before you go, so that you know if there are gym options. Take into consideration the hours, rules, equipment and if any classes are offered. • Track your steps. Wear a fitness tracker, and set a daily goal.

Aim for 12,000 steps per day. This will push you to get out and explore. • Bring a band. Mini resistance bands will not put your suitcase over the weight limit. They pack a big punch and offer similar resistance to weights. • Explore the area. Being somewhere new brings on a sense of adventure. Check out a new workout that you have always wanted to try, or find out what is popular in the area and give it a go.

Keep in mind that vacation workouts do not need to be as intense as your workouts at home. Give yourself permission to have fun, and aim for 40-50 percent of your normal intensity level. Let’s be honest, you need to save energy for pool, beach or mountain time!

Laurel Famigletti is an area resident and owner of EndorP.H.I.T, where she provides virtual group fitness classes, in-home personal training and virtual nutrition coaching.

VIEW VINTAGE VIBES

October is filled with days of apple orchards, football, MEA travel and Halloween costume planning. In her art series, Pam Eader’s ladies speak to me with their vintage frocks and fashion trends from decades ago. Being a fellow thrifter of timeless threads, I didn’t have to search far for my Halloween costumes as I had the perfect garments in my closet showcasing looks from the ’30s, ’50s, ’60s and ’80s. Whatever costume you decide to don, embrace it with a childlike zeal. Be safe, and enjoy all that bitesize candy.

Artist: Pam Eader Title: Brocade Vest Scale: 40x30 Medium: Original Oil on Canvas

Hollie Blanchard is a founder and art concierge with The Art Girls. View more at artgirlsmpls.com.

Art Girls Minneapolis @artgirls_mpls

SIP Creepy Cocktails

Halloween isn’t just for the younger set. Prepare spirited beverages for your over-21 guests at your own trick or treat celebration.

The Zombie Cocktail

» ½ oz. white rum » 1 ½ oz. golden rum » 1 oz. dark rum » ½ oz. 151 rum, optional » 1 oz. lime juice » 1 tsp. pineapple juice » 1 tsp. papaya juice » 1 tsp. superfine sugar

Mix all ingredients (except the 151 rum). Shake well. Pour mixture over cracked ice. If using, float 151 rum on top of the mixture. To float rum, slowly pour it over the backside of a spoon and into the glass. For added flair, carefully light layered 151 rum with a candle lighter. Garnish with mint, orange slice or other fruit.

(Smashed) Pumpkin Martini

» 1 Tbsp. sugar » ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice » 3 Tbsp. vodka » 2 Tbsp. half-and-half » 1 Tbsp. canned pure pumpkin puree » 1 Tbsp. maple syrup » ¼ tsp. pure vanilla extract Combine the sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of the pumpkin pie spice on a small plate. Dip the rim of a chilled martini glass in water, and dip in the sugar mixture to coat. In a martini shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, halfand-half, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla extract and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon of the pumpkin pie spice. Shake vigorously, and strain into the prepared glass.

For big batch beverages that pack a punch, visit plymouthmag.com.

John F. Farrell III is vice president of sales and merchandising with Haskell’s The Wine People. Find more at haskells.com.

READ Imagination Vacation

With the cooler temps, we’ve curated a list of books that will allow you to travel across time and geographies without ever leaving your couch.

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian is a suspense novel set in 1964 when a famous movie star, Katie, treats her closest friends to a luxurious Tanzanian safari … which results in a kidnapping. The imagery of both the African landscape and the old Hollywood glamour is captivating. Each character is well developed, leaving readers at the edge of their seats as to who will survive and who will succumb to the forces of either nature in the Serengeti or their Russian captors.

The Arsonists’ City by Hala Alyan is a character-driven multi-generational family saga that follows the Nasr family. Three grown siblings from across the U.S. journey to Beirut to reunite as a family, but each is committed to not revealing the secrets they are harboring. The book alternates between past and present timelines as well as across the U.S., Syria and Lebanon. Each character is flawed and quirky, but somehow you are rooting for all of them. The novel oozes family drama including layers upon layers of secrets, resentment, jealousy and shame, which continued up until the novel’s conclusion.

We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter is a beautifully written novel based on a true story about a Jewish family separated during WWII. The Kurc family is full of optimism and strength during a desolate time, which is the key element that brings them back together. I loved how this book follows everyone in the family, the different routes they take for their safety and how it is brought together at the end of the war.

Local bookworms Katie Timcho and Amy Sundet run the book blog @overbookedmoms on Instagram.