High Altitude Sickness Prevention and Remedies - In case this can help anyone else

As some of you already know from my Instagram stories, I have felt less-than-awesome acclimating to the high altitude (9600 feet) in Breckenridge, CO.  We come to Breck a lot because we have a little place here; I love this little town and community.  In the past, it generally has taken me 2-3 days to acclimate.  This time, however, I felt headachy, lethargic and icky for 6+ days.

So icky in fact that I had Mr. UpCyclist bring me to Urgent Care just to make sure I wasn't overlooking something (eg: brain swelling, lung issue, blurred vision....all symptoms which can be extreme effects of high altitude sickness).  For me to ask to go to Urgent Care means something is not right.  Though I like doctors and nurses, I rarely ask to see them.

The good news is yes, I just have "normal" high altitude sickness. the doctor confirmed.  Not extreme, whew.   And, here's what has helped and what remedies I will consider for the future prevention:

• Pure oxygen:  My oxygen level was a tiny bit off at 93 (normal is 95 or higher), so the Urgent Care staff did give me oxygen through my nose which brought my oxygen level to 100.  I did not need to bring a small oxygen tank home with me.
• High Altitude Medication - Acetazolamide 125 mg (two tablets a day for six days):  Evidently, this medication works even better when you take it 2-3 days before traveling to high altitude.  I think I will try this next time; take it a few days before I leave Maryland if my physician agrees. 
• Chlorophyll Drops: I've taken these before (they are bright, bright green) drops; you can buy them at Whole Foods or Amazon.  I totally forgot about these drops this trip.  I think this drops could be a great alternative to a prescription drug and I'm wishing I would have remembered them this trip.
• Gatorade or Pedialyte - The nurse reminded me that when acclimating, a 1-to-1 water to Gatorade or Pedialyte is the way to go because the body needs the extra electrolytes and salt.  She suggested one glass of water, one glass of Gatorade/Pedialyte (and keep doing that all day).  By the way, I am a sucker for grape flavored Gatorade.  It's my favorite and reminds me of grape Koolaid - a personal fav of mine in college!
• Clif Shot Bloks with Extra Sodium - A dear friend outside of Denver said these are her go-to to combat high altitude sickness.  I want to try this (maybe) now and definitely want to bring a few packs with me in the future.  Plus, Margarita flavored?!  Um...yes!
• Liquid IV - Just the name of this product intrigues me.  The same friend who rec'd the Clif Shot Bloks spoke highly of this hydration powder.  I'd give it a try for sure - maybe instead of Gatorade (or maybe in addition to...) next trip.
• Coca Tea - When I lived in Ecuador decades ago and climbed Cotapaxi (19,000 ft), I felt like holy heck hours before we took off to climb. Since Cotapaxi is a glaciered volcano, climbers leave to climb the volcano around midnight.  Around 7pm I felt like total junk, so the lovely refugio employee (a refugio is like a hostel) saw me struggling and made me coca tea.  Although the coca plant is the same plant used to extract alkaloids for cocaine, the raw leaves of the plant have very low alkaloids levels and the tea helped me acclimate and feel better within an hour.  If you travel to the Andes in South America, keep an eye out for coca tea.

What about you?  Do you have any favorite high altitude sickness remedies or prevention suggestions?  Find me on Instagram or Facebook if you do.

With love from Breckenridge,

Jen

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July (if you celebrate it)!  We are enjoying Breckenridge, Colorado today and man, do I love it here as you know.  This town and community is just too much fun and so outdoorsy (as are most things Colorado).

Yesterday, my family and I volunteered at the Firecracker 50 mountain bike race check-in.  We are wearing our new, stylish F50 t-shirts below.  It was so fun to see Miss O be so confident and chatting away with total strangers about the race and gear.  That gal is growing up for sure.

This photo below is looking back on Breckenridge Ski Resort.  Mr. UpCyclist took this on his run with Jedi this morning.  Isn't it gorgeous here?!  Pinch me.

And, because this photo of Jedi is one of my new favorites, here is Jedi testing out the Fourth of July parade route at 7am today.  He gives it two paws up!  I love Jedi's smile.

Have a super holiday and wherever you are, get outside, enjoy your loved ones, and keep making the world a better place.

xo from Breckenridge,

Jen

Life Updated: Summer Edition

Greetings and Happy Summer!  Can you tell what I've been up to this summer?

This summer has been fantastic.  Miss O and I started out the summer spending two weeks at the sleep-away camp I grew up attending in North Carolina.  It took Miss O about four days to warm up to camp life (living in a cabin, having counselors, making new friends, and doing a zillion cool activities), but now she is in love with camp!  It took me about four days to figure it out, as well, since I had a new role at camp.  I was a volunteer camp mom.  The last time I was at camp, I was in my 20s and carefree.  Camp, though, is camp.  It is awesome, life-changing, and filled with so much joy.  We both want to return next summer for a longer amount of time.

The rest of the summer, we've spent in Breckenridge, Colorado at our sweet little condo there.  You know how my family and I adore Breck.  It's been a great summer filled with lots of cool visitors, a trip to Denver, and new activities (like hiking a 14,000 ft. peak), pump tracking, and watercolor painting using Creative Bug's online classes (affiliate link).

What have you been up to this summer?  Are you getting ready for fall?

My best,

Jen

PS - I think Jedi enjoys Colorado more than anyone else in our family.  I mean, really.  Look at him here, here, and here.

PSS - This time-elapse video of us bouldering with friends is one of my favs.

Soap, Colorado, Two Wins!

A few weeks ago, our friend and long-time blog supporter, Kim from the Fresh Soap Company in Breckenridge, CO ran a contest on her Facebook page.  The contest was to guess how much her Chip Off the Block soap weighed.

The Chip of the Block soap is Kim's clever way of using up all the leftovers from her soap making. After making a batch of soap, she basically pours any odds & ends into a giant mold and for over a year, it accumulates in size.  When she finally unmolds it, she has this massive chunk of a soap.

This year, Kim ran a Facebook contest to guess how much the soap weighed.  I guessed 33 pounds and apparently, was close - it was 29 pounds!  Can you imagine?  A 29-pound soap?!

For being one of the three closest guessers, Kim sent me two chunks of soap (pictured above).  Talk about happy mail!  Our shower smells delightful and my skin is sooooo soft.

Thanks, Kim :)

xo,

Jen

PS - Kim ships all of her soaps if you want to try a few of her lovely bars.  These are my absolute favorites:  Land of Milk and Honey, Put da Lime in da Coconut,  and Beer Soap.  But, really, all of her soaps are delightful and totally safe for face and showering.  And now that I think about it, perhaps you should visit her store in person.  This summer.  We can meet there, shop together and then go hiking in the Rocky Mountains together.  I will show you all of my favorite places.  Ahhhh......

My Very Favorite Necklace Right Now

Can you guess which state's shape this is?  Nope, not Florida.  Not Texas.  Not Maryland (which looked more like a gun than I was comfortable acknowledging).

It's one of my favorite states.  Actually, it is my favorite state.  Hello, Colorado!

I picked up this treasure on Groupon recently (or was that Living Social?).  With the deal, it was under $12.  It is not real silver or gold and I did trade out the 18" chain for a 16" one that I already had on hand, but man, am I in love with it!

If you want one for yourself (or a friend), you can purchase all the state necklaces on Cents of Style at the regular price $24.95 OR state necklaces are on sale at Jane! Click here for $9.99 pricing.  Go now as this sale will only last today!

xo,

Jen

PS - Doesn't Hawaii's shape look so crazy-cool?

Yay, Happy Holidays!

It hasn't stopped snowing in Breckenridge, Colorado today.  We skied this morning and then, took off to run errands in town.  Plus, Jedi needed a stop at the dog park as evidenced here.  Being a dog in Breck is truly the life.  Our tree is decorated for the holidays; I am totally in love with the fabric garland I made.  We decided to wrap it around the tree.  Next year, I will make another to wrap the tree even more.  Like the "I need more cow bell" phrase.  "I need more garland, please!"

Santa is due here tonight.  We are leaving him our favorite ski bars - chocolate revel bars.  You can find the recipe here.  They are a family favorite for skiing as they are chocolatey and energy-packed. We have reservations at one of the tastiest restaurants in town.  I am already craving their ramen noodles.  Yummmmmmy.

I will be taking a few days off from blogging to enjoy the holidays with my family.  Two things....

1.  Thank you so much for reading Upcycled Education.  The internet is so big and having us connected this way makes it feel more small and endearing.

2.  Have a great holiday - whatever you celebrate or not!  2014 is coming.  I wonder what treasures it will hold for you and yours. 

My absolute best,

Jen

Life Updated: The Mother Land

If you know me at all in person or from this blog, you know I adore Colorado.  Actually, adore isn't strong enough of a word.  My soul lives for Colorado.  It is born from it - figuratively (as I am a native Floridian as I've mentioned before).

We spend at least ten weeks a year in the state usually at our place in the adorable town of Breckenridge - which cannot be any cuter.  In fact, on the 26-hour drive, I had a wild idea (actually, I had more than one wild idea; a 26-hour drive can do that to you).  I should start a summer camp for adults in Breckenridge.  There is so much to do here and everyone who visits us has the best time.  You can read more about the summertime in Breckenridge here.  Is my summer camp idea for adults crazy or what?  Would you come?

Most people think Colorado is all mountains, but the eastern section looks more like this.

You see those "poses" above?  I think each one of those poses represents each of their personalities.  Jedi, always looking for something to play with, chase or enjoy.  Mr. UpCyclist, level-headed, rational and should-be-sponsored-by-Patagonia.  Lil O, fierce and colorful.

I plan to blog a bit while in Breckenridge.  But, in case the skiing, hiking, enjoying Main Street, working at Kim's awesome soap store  and falling more deeply in love with Lil O, Jedi and Mr. UpCyclist overtake me....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!

THANK YOU FOR READING UPCYCLED EDUCATION!

Your support means so much to me.

xoxo,

Jen

PS - You know that photo up above - the Colorful Colorado one?  I am going to open up PicMonkey soon and clone out those speed signs.  They are bothering me.  New to cloning?  Read more about cloning here.

Note to Self

Crack out more sidewalk chalk with my college students.  Maybe I will, too, this weekend.

Have a great one, Upcyclists!

Jen

PS - This photo is from 4th of July in Breckenridge, Colorado.  The Arts Council blocks off one full street and holds a sidewalk chalk drawing contest.  Each participant is assigned a square and given a ziploc full of chalk.  It is a hoot for the kids and adults, though those really vibrant colors are tricky to wash off your hands and clothes.  What do you think of that view? Ahhhh.......

Thank you, Breck

Dear Summer in Breckenridge, CO,

Thank you for providing cool temperatures, tons of interesting activities, welcoming our sweet puppy, Jedi, and making all four of us smile from the inside out.

We so enjoyed our two months with you.

With love & gratitude,

Jen

PS - The photos below are from our last day there.  

Mountain biking as a family......

The riders - Mr. UpCyclist, Jedi and Lil O.  Jen on camera balancing on a log to take this shot.....

Celebratory slurpees with another new straw!  You remember how cute the last straw is, right?  Dinner in town and Jedi joined us on the restaurant's deck. Breckenridge, no one does flowers like you do.  Please thank the gardeners and watering cart gals who keep the town looking so delightful.

Finally, a "couples" photo.  Lil O just loved playing in the river and jumping off rocks.  Actually, we all loved playing in the river and jumping (or sitting) on rocks.

Oh, how I love these people photographed above and that furry hound in that special town.  Now, time to unfreeze my mind and meld back into Merryland - typo, completely intentional.

My Yes Day

Last week, Lil O and I enjoyed her Yes Day.  Alas, yesterday was my Yes Day and I savored every moment of it.

Here's a recap.....

After a walk with Jedi in the early morning, I did some work on Upcycled Education's cycling team with my sidekick, a big mug of Earl Grey tea in this sweet mug Lil O painted for me.  Does anyone else love Earl Grey with a hint of honey and cream?  Ahhh, delightful.

Our big outing for my Yes Day: a mom-daughter-puppy mountain bike ride.  Lil O is sometimes not 100% jazzed about mountain biking especially long distances.  Actually, up until I took a two-day mountain bike clinic with the Yeti Betis this summer, I wasn't thrilled myself.  But, on a Yes Day there is no complaining or saying "no" thus, off we went to bike.  I chose a trail with a distance and terrain that was very doable for kids and sweet puppies.

And just look at this scenery?  Come on.  Mother Nature is out-doing herself.

Jedi sometimes would follow us or sometimes lead.  He was very tired after our two-hour ride.  Let's just say the rest of the day, Jedi napped.  Maybe that's his idea of a great Yes Day.

Mr. UpCyclist always comes home nice and dirty from a ride.  Now, it was our turn.  Did I mention he was out-of-town for my Yes Day?  He missed all the fun.  By the way, you know I am thumb challenged.  Look at my hand below.  Is that a hand or a drumstick from a chicken?  I may never be a hand model.

There aren't many chains stores or restaurants in Breckenridge, but there is a 7-11 right outside of town.  Lil O loves their slurpees and boy, did she earn one.  I really can't do a slurpee.  Three sips and I'm done.  This adorable straw we paid an extra 99 cents for, however, might change my mind.

After a quick stop at home to feed Jedi and grab lunch, we headed over to the Sunday Market.  Would you believe this was our first time this year at the market?  We've been here for almost seven weeks.  Oh, and PS - I've decided I don't need to go back to the Sunday Market with Jedi.  I proceeded to spend most of my time at the market yanking him away from all the fun foods they sell there.  Not Yes Day or dog-friendly at all.

On the walk home, as we walk everywhere in Breckenridge, it poured.  I am talking full, intense down pour.  Apparently, Mother Nature is making up for her early summer drought that helped fuel all those Colorado wildfires.  It proceeded to rain for the rest of my Yes Day.  No problem, I've got plans.

Plan #1:  Let's read (or nap, in Jedi's case).  Lil O is finishing a Junie B. Jones book.  Me?  I'm catching up with the rest of the literate world and reading the Hunger Games trilogy. Lovin' it.

Plan #2:  After an afternoon of reading and checking in on the Olympics, Lil O and I head out for a dinner date at the Briar Rose, a local steakhouse.  Lil O can't believe you need a reservation most nights to dine there.  And as she exclaimed, "They make the best Shirley Temples!"  I swear every older person in the place gave me that all-knowing-sweet-smile-look when they saw us dining together sans anyone else.  Lil O made a great date.  I wish I could have taped our conversation.

The food at the Briar Rose is sooooo tasty both for adults and kids.  I felt a little silly snapping a photo of our meal, but that's the sacrifice I make for this sweet blog.  Ha!

Plan #3:  This is a little known public fact about me.  I adore anything John Denver.  Yep, you heard me.  John Denver.  I. love. his. music.  And, I'm proud.  If I could only have a handful of CDs in my collection, JD's greatest hits would be one of them.  When I lived in Aspen after college, I used to wait on John Denver at the restaurant where I worked.  He was always so cheerful in his one-piece, white ski suit.  I was totally bummed - picture crying - when he passed away in a plane crash in 1997.

To culminate my Yes Day, Lil O and I went to a John Denver tribute concert in town and had front row seats by luck.  The concert was a benefit for this amazing organization, Domus Pacis (House of Peace) which provides free vacation housing in Breckenridge (and surrounding areas) to families who have a loved one battling cancer.

If you like John Denver, you would have been proud of the John Adams Band.  They played two long sets and kept JD's music authentic and alive.  It felt like a huge sing-along to an almost sold-out crowd.  The band recently played at Red Rocks with a full orchestra.  I need to see that.  Red Rocks, full orchestra, John Denver.  Sounds like heaven to me.  We had to quickly leave at the end of the concert as Lil O was sooooo sleepy at 10pm.

Remember what Lil O looked like the day after her Yes Day.  Well, things look pretty much the same after my Yes Day with the exception of some new hair bling, which you can't really see in the right-hand photo.  PS - Will you remind me to delete these photos before Lil O is a teenager?  I don't think she will appreciate all these sleeping shots on the World Wide Web.

And what do I look like after my Yes Day?  Happy, refueled and thankful.  Oh, and bundled up.  It was 45 degrees on my morning walk with Jedi this morning.

When's your Yes Day?

Jen

Yes Day with Lil O

As some of you saw on Facebook, Lil O and I enjoyed a Yes Day yesterday.  It was her Yes Day, so I had to be agreeable to everything she said and wanted to do.  Thankfully the day was completely enjoyable for both of us with only one meltdown (details below).  The idea of a Yes Day came from this very sweet book, Yes Day!

Lil O's Yes Day all started with a 7am wake up and watching two episodes of Cake Boss on her iPad.  She is in love with Cake Boss lately and some show about picking out wedding dresses.  Is this foreshadowing?  Help me.

After polishing off a giant plate of ham and eggs - her favorite - we walked into town.  Did I mention we are still in Colorado?  Oh, the joys of summer!

Graciously, Lil O worked in the dog park for her puppy brother, Jedi.  Here Jedi is with three new dog friends at the dog park.  The dogs in Colorado are so great together.  They just play and run and mouth wrestle and play and run and mouth wrestle.  Jedi is usually tired after 30-60 minutes of this frolicking.

The huge highlight of Lil O's Yes Day was painting pottery.  Sure, we can do this at home in Maryland, but we save it for our visits to Colorado as we like the local pottery painting studio in town.  I painted a plate (as our condo needs more fun serving platter options) and Lil O painted an owl bank.  Isn't it great that puppy Jedi can come into the pottery place, too?  I swear he slept the entire time by our feet.  Sweet puppy....

After a busy morning in town at the dog park and painting pottery, we came back to our condo to have lunch and watch more Cake Boss episodes.  In this photo, Lil O is on her second Simply Fruit roll-up of the day.  Got to love a Yes Day.....

After lunch, we played games in the condo and then went back into town to go shopping.  I told Lil O she could pick out one item to buy for her Yes Day.  That is when the meltdown occurred.  She was sooooooo overwhelmed with her choices that she cried in town.  "There is just so much that I want."  Poor girl.  I tried to help her narrow the choices.

Lil O finally settled, after 10 minutes of tears, on this bow and arrow set.  I was pretty psyched as it reminds me of Kat from the Hunger Games.  Lil O said it reminds her of Merida from Brave.  We both left our favorite toy store, Peak-a-boo Toys, happy.  Her Yes Day was back on track.

I know this next pic looks a little disgusting.  It is Lil O's favorite meal in Breckenridge (or any town for that matter) - Udon noodles with Chicken.  I should add a side note that I was asked to pick out ALL the vegetables that came in the soup.  Lil O only wanted one measly water chestnut to try.  She went to town on this dish and didn't leave a single piece of chicken or noodle.

This was my fortune from the meal. I hope it applies to Lil O, too.  You know I adore her.

As the Yes Day wound down, we shared milkshakes and watched an old Jennifer Lopez movie, Maid in Manhattan.  Since Mr. UpCyclist is away, we are embracing a different chick flick each night until the Olympics begin.  If you have any kid-friendly recommendations that are on Netflix, please let me know.  The pickings look slim, in my opinion.

Our last activity of the night at 9pm was playing a few rounds of Lil O's favorite new game (Thanks, Mom and Sebastian!).  I must say, I really like this game, Sleeping Queens, too.  And it was invented by a little girl and her family.  Neat, huh?

And just in case, you want to see what the day after a Yes Day looks like, her is our little beauty.  Continued sweet dreams, munchkin......

PS - Wake up soon, though. We are going hiking with Robin and Jedi today.

My Yes Day is next week!  Yippee!

xoxo,

Jen

Life Updated

You can tell I'm on summer mode.  I haven't blogged about anything education related in a while.  It will come....one day.  For now, let's catch up.

My little family and I are in Colorado.  Shocking, no?  I think I talk about Colorado in my college classes as much as I talk about Montessori Education and as lovingly.  Seriously, Colorado is like a giant playground.  Case in point, Lil O hula hooping it up at a town party.

Or Puppy Jedi enjoying an outhouse race (yes, I'm serious...outhouses!).  By the way, I counted.  In ten square feet, there were seven dogs.  Seven!  Colorado is dog heaven and Jedi is enjoying every minute of it and the hundred dogs he has met. Not to mention he has met some donkeys, ponies, sheep, goats and even a miniature pot belly pig.  Have you seen miniature pot belly pigs?  A-dorable.  I think I want one. 

The altitude here is almost 10,000 feet.  It generally takes me (and the rest of the family) 2-5 days to acclimate.  Until that point, I have a slight headache.  I am incredibly thirsty and semi-lethargic.  Oh, how I adore the plethora of oxygen you find at sea level!  Since we are now in Day 3 of our Colorado stay, I took Jedi on a hike up to our neighborhood lake.  He was such a good hiker (and then he took a big ole' nap).  I love that he can be off-leash so much in Colorado.  Even dogs walk down Main Street off-leash (not Jedi as he is soooo puppy still).

Our hike summit.  Pretty, no?

I promise not to blog about Life Updated things all summer long.  But, you can tell I'm definitely not in the mood to talk about much else right now.  As for an update on Mr. UpCyclist.  Let's just say he over-did his mountain biking the last two days and is now taking the day off.  Somehow he has forgotten he was hit by a car exactly one month ago and I'm silly and forgot to "ground" him.

Note to self:  Keep husband in check.  Drink lots of water.  Love on Lil O, Mr. U, and Jedi.  Enjoy life.

What's your summer like?

Jen

Picnik is coming soon for Tech Tuesday

Did you know I have a second job?  Just kidding, but managing the rentals of our ski condo in Colorado sometimes feels like a second job.  But, isn't it cute?  And soooo cozy!  Mr. UpCyclist and I agree - if more children and families skied or snowboarded, the world would be a better place.

Anyway, it is time to increase my marketing reach and book some winter rentals.  I thought this nifty photo collage could be sent out to friends and family to spread the word.  I used Picnik to create it.  I am falling in love with Picnik.  In fact, I feel a blog post coming up in the next couple of weeks highlighting Picnik's coolness.

Don't believe me? I even spent $24.99 and upgraded to the premium package of Picnik for the year!  You know I never do that; I am a girl who almost always embraces free.

Best,

Jen