Category: guest blogger

finance, guest blogger, money, yoga

Beginning: Yoga and Personal Finance Come Together in My Guest Post on Glassheel.com

Christa Avampato

My friend, Phyllis Neill (CEO of Buzz12), recently sent me a link to Glassheel.com, “a career, lifestyle and networking site for professional women. Glass Heel is an online community of bloggers, experts and professional women of all ages — with room for thousands more. This site was designed to connect you with networks, individuals, events and other useful information to help you succeed professionally and build relationships.  More importantly, through the network of learning, communication, and support, Glass Heel aims to see its members reach new heights in the professional world — breaking through the proverbial glass ceiling.”

I loved the site at first look and wrote to them to see if I could contribute my writing to the cause. Happily, my first guest piece, Yoga, Meet Finance: Applying Ancient Teaching to a Modern World, posted yesterday. It is an excerpt from the introduction of a book project I’m working on that uses the principles of yoga to develop solid personal finance habits. Hop over to Glass Heel, have a read, leave a comment, and share!

My thanks to Molly Cain and the outstanding Glass Heel community for including me in their movement to break through this glass ceiling once and for all! I’m already at work on my next post. More to read shortly…

environment, green, guest blogger

Beginning: Starting a Green Life – Guest Post by Amanda Kidd

Christa Avampato

Please put your hands together for Amanda Kidd, a green maven and wonderful reader of this blog. Amanda reached out to me asking if she could write a post about her passion: green living. Given my own lifestyle and personal belief that taking care of our environment is not an option but a mission-critical effort for our own survival, I am thrilled that Amanda wanted to write about this subject. Here are 10 simple ways to get started living a green life in your home.

Going green does not have to be a daunting task that means sweeping life changes. Simple things can make a difference. Saving Energy is the need of the hour. Saving Power at home is the least we can do, but it will in the bigger picture save the energy consumption of the world by a huge figure. If every one of us does our bit, the earth will be definitely left with energy to see and feel. Here is a list of ten ways of saving energy while at home:

1.     Do not pre-heat the oven
Unless you are making bread or pastries of some sort, don’t pre-heat the oven. Just turn it on when you put the dish in. Also, when checking on your food, look through the oven window instead of opening the door.

2.     Hang dry
Get a clothesline or rack to dry your clothes by the air. Your wardrobe will maintain color and fit, and you’ll save money. Your favorite t-shirt will last longer too.

3.     Change the light
Replace every regular light bulb with one of those new compact fluorescent bulbs, the pollution reduction would be equivalent to removing one million cars from the road. If you don’t want to put these bulbs everywhere use these bulbs for closets, laundry rooms and other places where it won’t irk you as much.

4.     Don’t rinse
Skip rinsing dishes before using your dishwasher and you can save some gallons of water with each of your effort. Plus, you’re saving time and the energy used to heat the additional water.

5.     Greener lawn care
If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning before any moisture is lost to evaporation. Have a few weeds and spot treat them with vinegar. If you want to rake, do it by hand it’s excellent exercise.

6.     Turn off lights
Always turn off lights when you leave a room. Fluorescent bulbs are more affected by the number of times it is switched on and off, so turn them off when you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. You’ll save energy on the bulb itself, but also on cooling costs, as lights contribute heat to a room.

7.     Adjust your thermostat
Adjust your thermostat one degree higher in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter. It can save about 10% on your energy use. In addition, invest in a programmable thermostat which allows you to regulate temperature based on the times you are at home or away.

8.     Buy local
Consider the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy from local farmers or farmers’ markets, supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in.

9.     Keep your fireplace dampers closed
Keeping the damper open (when you’re not using your fireplace) is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney. This can add up to hundreds of dollars each winter in energy loss. So, keep it close.

10.  Drive Smart
Driving like a drag racer may be fun, but it has a substantial environmental cost. Simple changes in existing driving habits can improve fuel efficiency. Drive at or near the speed limit, keep your tires inflated, make sure oil and air filters are clean, and step on the gas and the brakes carefully.

You too can create an impact which would be noticeable in environment by making your home green and adopting the above mention things in your daily life. The change is worth noticing.

Amanda is a writer who is an ardent follower of environment friendly existence. She found an answer of green living in her eco friendly home to which she takes an utmost care and prefers to take all the measures which would create an eco friendly ambiance in and around her abode.

blog, guest blogger, meditation, writing, yoga

My Guest Post on CrazySexyLife.com: How Yoga & Meditation Will Help Us Create a Brighter, Better Future

Christa Avampato

Today I have a guest post on Kris Carr’s incredible blog CrazySexyLife.com. A series of fortunate events this year led to this post as I’ve been exploring ways that yoga and meditation can create a better world for all of us.

My mission this year has been to get yoga and meditation to more people, more often, and regardless of financial means, in the hopes that we can build toward a tipping point of greater peace, happiness, and freedom. Every corner of the world seems to be facing incredible challenges, and to turn the tide toward a brighter furture, the world needs all of us at our very best.

Check out the post here to learn how I think yoga and meditation can help us reach that goal.

animals, dogs, guest blogger

Advice from Janet Casamento on Becoming a Responsible Dog Parent

Christa Avampato

Janet and I have been friends since our early years as students at the University of Pennsylvania. We were part of the theatre community at Penn and I have always admired Janet for her ability to always go her own way and be her own person with confidence. In the last year she has become my own personal dog whisperer, a skill she developed after adopting and raising her adorable pups, Bruno and Melody.

Her expert advice and guidance helped me to become a responsible and loving dog owner and I wanted to showcase her knowledge on this subject for anyone considering adopting a pet of their own. This is my small attempt at thanking her for all of her help and advice as I go through the process of raising my rescue pup, Phineas.


Christa – How did you know you were ready to adopt your dogs? Were there certain circusmtances in your life that made this time a particularly good one for you to get a pup? 

Janet – I’d wanted to adopt a dog for quite some time.  I adopted Bruno right after I graduated from business school because I knew I’d be settling into a regular schedule with my job at that point in time.  I knew that dogs need a schedule and structure, so it just seemed like the right time for me.

Christa – I know you are a huge advocate for pet rescue, as am I. How did you make the decision to adopt your dogs versus buying them from a breeder?

Janet – Just walking into an animal shelter makes you realize how many dogs are in desperate need of homes.  To me, it just seems unconscionable to get a puppy from a breeder when so many adult dogs are being euthanized daily in our nation’s shelters.  Before breeding new dogs, it is our responsibility to first care for the ones who already exist and are in need of homes.

Christa – What drove the decision to get your Melody after you adopted Bruno?

Janet – I think I started feeling a bit guilty that Bruno was home alone all day while I was at work, so I made the decision to foster for a local rescue group as a way to help animals in need while also providing Bruno with some companionship.  Dogs are very social, pack animals, and most dogs appreciate being in the company of other dogs.  Melody started out as a foster, but I after seeing how well she and Bruno got along and how nicely she fit into my household, I decided to make her a permanent part of the family. 

Christa – When adopting a dog, were there any specific traits that you were looking for?

Janet – When I adopted Bruno, I was looking for a sporty dog, since I’m a pretty active person.  I intended on adopting a 20-30 pound dog (I lived in an apartment at the time and there was a weight restriction for dogs there) that I could take with me running and on hikes.  I ended up taking home an adorable fluff ball who stole my heart at the shelter.

Christa – When you were starting out as a dog owners, were there resources or products that you turned to that were especially helpful?

Janet – I did a lot of research online.  Google was my friend for quite some time.  I also highly recommend any dog owner, experienced or new, when bringing a new dog into their household sign up for a basic training class.  The training class provides structure and is an opportunity for your dog to learn to socialize and behave in the presence of other dogs outside the home.  Furthermore, training helps you form a bond with your new pet. 

Christa – What’s been the thing that has surprised you the most about being a dog owner?

Janet – When I started out with Bruno, I never thought in a million years I’d have a dog sleeping in my bed with me.  I’d always intended for him to have his dog bed to sleep in every night.  Two years later, I couldn’t bear the thought of sleeping without him next to me.  I guess you could say I’m surprised at how deeply I love my dogs and how close our bond is!

Christa – Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of getting a new dog? Are there certain circumstances in their life that they need to develop before bringing a new pup into their lives?

Janet – Yes.  Always, always, always do your research before you adopt.  Understand yourself and your lifestyle before bringing a dog into your home.  Different dogs have different needs.  For instance, puppies especially require a lot of time, attention and training.  If you work 12 hours days, a puppy is not the right choice for you.  You might want to consider adopting an adult dog already past the puppy stage and be prepared to hire a dog walker or find a doggy day care facility for your dog if you do work long hours, or consider adopting a bonded pair of adult dogs so they have each other as company while you are gone all day.

Also consider your breed carefully. If you’ve always dreamed of owning a Vizsla, but you are a couch potato who lives in a studio apartment in Manhattan, you should probably reconsider your choice, as Vizslas need lots of exercise or else they will likely become bored and destructive.  Concentrate on finding the right dog(s) for you and your lifestyle.  I believe just about anyone can have a dog if they want one, but it does often mean making some sacrifices and compromises to accommodate your dog’s needs.

Please understand adopting a dog is a commitment to the care of that animal for its entire lifetime, which can be up to 15-20 years. Some other things to consider are if you are financially capable of caring for your dog should it become ill and require medical treatment, daily upkeep costs such as food and grooming, your willingness to tolerate damage to your home and possessions as I guarantee no matter how well behaved and trained your dog is, there will inevitably be accidents and destruction of some sort at some point, your willingness and ability to deal with training and behavior issues, who will care for your dog while you are at work and/or on vacation, and any other changes to your lifestyle/schedule you can anticipate happening during the course of your dog’s lifetime such as job demands, moving, marriage/divorce, having children, or retirement.  Are you prepared to make sacrifices for your pet, from the perspective of both time and money?

Adopting a pet should never be an “impulse buy”. Dogs look to humans for leadership, care and affection.  If you can’t adequately provide these things to your dog, you shouldn’t have one.  Please do not contribute to the overcrowding problem in our nation’s shelters and carefully consider your ability to fully care for your pet for its entire life.  Pet ownership is a highly rewarding experience, but it is not a decision that should be taken lightly!

Janet is the proud owner of 2 rescue dogs, Bruno, a Pekingese/Cocker
Spaniel mix and Melody, a Lhasa Apso. Janet, an animal rescue
volunteer, lives and works in sunny Los Angeles, CA. She maintains
her own snarky blog about the little things in life at
http://miniletters.wordpress.com. To keep up with Bruno and Melody,
please “like” them on Facebook.

guest blogger, health, meditation, wellness, yoga

My Guest Post on Betterfly Today: Overcoming Insomnia with Yoga and Meditation

Christa Avampato

Lauren Margolis, blog maven over at Betterfly, a community of individual Betterists who help you look, feel, and live your best life. Lauren reached out to me after reading my blog and asked if I’d write a guest post for the Betterfly blog. I jumped at the chance to share my story about how yoga, meditation, and some additional evening rituals help me to unwind and get a good night’s sleep after years of insomnia.

Check out the guest post here. I also have a Betterist profile on Betterfly. It’s free to create a profile and search for coaches and instructors of all kinds on Betterfly – come visit us!

adventure, career, creativity, guest blogger, health, writing

Beginning: Guest Post by Monica McCarthy of Morning Do

Christa Avampato

Monica McCarthy is one of my favorite Twitter-turned-real-life connections (@MissMcCarthy). She is an actress and holistic health coach living in New York City. Her blog, Morning Do, is a collection of her writings on healthy living. Monica is having a transformative 2011 already and I’m so thrilled that she agreed to write a guest post. She writes here about her love of new beginnings and some of her latest adventures.

When I was in elementary school I won first place in a writing competition for a poem entitled Every Ending Is A New Beginning. Little did I know then how many new beginnings would take place over the years.

I love new beginnings, always have. Maybe that’s because as a kid, I spent my summers jumping from one summer camp to another while both of my parents worked. Every week or two there were new places to explore, new friends to meet, new things to do.

As an adult, I have a similar approach when it comes to career. The results of a personality/career test I took recently stated the most important component of my Ideal Career was Spontaneity. Yep – that sounds about right.

This past year, the pull of New Beginnings strengthened tenfold. I became certified as a Holistic Health Coach after having switched to a vegan lifestyle after having understudied actress and vegan Alicia Silverstone in a Broadway play. In an effort to learn everything I could about the benefits of a plant-based diet, I also interned for the radiant Kris Carr for a bit and assisted the lovely Victoria Moran, both incredibly knowledgeable women in the vegan/health community.

Last October I started the Healthy Living website Morning DO and entered the amazing and fascinating world of blogging and social media where I’ve met some extraordinary people like Christa!

Oh, and I got engaged! So now I’m entering the crazy world of DIY weddings. Oh, I also started taking French classes because I love languages and had never studied French. Oh, and last month I took my first photography class. Oh, and last week I ran in my first New York Road Runners Race. Oh, and at the end of this month I’m taking my first painting class.

I guess you could say I’m a new beginnings fanatic. I believe we learn more about ourselves every time we try something new. The catch, of course, is we can’t do everything at once. There are still only 24 hours in a day. Every new beginning must lead to an end.

Which leaves me with just one question: What’s next?

Monica McCarthy is a certified Holistic Health Coach, writer, and actress living in NYC. She loves helping her clients transform their health and happiness in ways they never even thought possible. Her passion for healthy lifestyle make-overs is the basis for her website MorningDO.com where you can find useful tips and helpful hints along with a daily Morning DO exercise. Monica lives with her fiance and their rescue pup and spends her free time planning for their DIY wedding.

guest blogger, Haiti, yoga

Yogoer.com: The Power of Intentions

Christa Avampato

Every time I practice yoga, I set an intention before I begin the asanas. Sometimes it’s for a friend or family member who needs help. Sometimes it’s for a cause I believe in or an organization doing good work. For the past week I’ve been dedicating my practice to the people of Haiti.

To read my full post on Yogoer.com, click here.

guest blogger, Muppet

Guest Post on World’s Strongest Librarian

Christa Avampato

I’m thrilled that today I have a guest post on World’s Strongest Librarian. I compared WSL’s author, Josh, to four Muppets. Here is a peek at the intro. Click here to read the full post.

“Some of my fondest childhood memories involve sitting around the TV with my family watching the Muppet Show. That show spurred my interest in theatre, a career I pursued for five and half years right after I graduated from college.

I write about the characters of the Muppet Show, Sesame Street, and all of their spin-offs with great regularity on my blog and have read numerous books, blogs, and websites about these fabulously funny and furry creatures and their creators.”

guest blogger, owning pink

Owning Pink Feature

Christa Avampato

I am thrilled and humbled that Lissa and Joy over at Owning Pink made one of my recent posts the Mojo Monday exercise. The post was inspired by World’s Strongest Librarian. Much thanks to Josh for inspiring my writing. Here is a short intro and a link to the post:

“This Mojo Monday, let’s put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, heart to mind, and consider what memories made us who we are today, right now, in this moment. Profound or silly, happy or sad, painful or joyful, what are the “when” moments that created and crafted beautiful, gorgeous you and what truths did they reveal?”

Snapshots of When

art, career, guest blogger, job, Rob Lorey, social work, theatre, work

Career transitioning by guest blogger, Rob Lorey

Christa Avampato

In an effort to expand the depth of the topics I cover and to provide readers with new perspectives, I have decided to ask a few of my most interesting friends who inspire and enlighten me to appear as guest bloggers. The first one is my friend, Rob Lorey. I met Rob while we were on the Beauty and the Beast tour. He is an exceedingly talented performer and generous man who has now turned his talent toward a new career that is taking him in an entirely new direction. My love and thanks to Rob for sharing his story on this blog.

“I have been asked by my friend, Christa, to discuss career transitioning-which is interesting considering her own history. I have looked to her as a model when questioning my motives or planning. She has always seemed to me a person of keen intelligence and interests, who will throw herself into a given course with 110 percent dedication, yet readily change course with complete determination and little concern for popular perception. There. That’s my entry for the Christa Fan Club.

My own journey has been a bit lengthier- but very fruitful. I spent roughly twenty years in the entertainment industry- mostly stage work. This career took me all over. I’ve lived in several great cities, toured throughout the US and Canada, and spent time in Europe and Asia. By all accounts, I’ve been very lucky and reasonably successful.

But I find that a career in the Arts intensifies the perception that one has never quite “arrived”. No matter what successes you attain, you’re always looking to someone who has what you perceive as the better gig. It is very difficult to maintain a realistic sense of progress- and easy to become career obsessed. Add to that the very real dearth of work opportunities and the increasing talent pool you are competing with. It can be a bleak picture!

My own journey has allowed me the luxury of time for reflection. My last big tour gave me the opportunity to take stock and make some decisions about how I might want the rest of this ride to go. I will spare readers the nuts and bolts of this existential journey. Suffice it to say I decided that I needed to expand my capacity for work opportunities and life experiences. That’s what this move feels like- an extension of all that has come before it.

Currently, I’m pursuing a masters in Social Welfare- which is whooping my ass (back to a full time program after 25 years….ouch!) But it is incredibly interesting and engaging. I continue to perform- though not to the extent I was. It’s a necessary sacrifice for the big picture. I am not sure how I will choose to use all this once I have completed my degree. I know that whatever I do, I’ll be utilizing all aspects of myself, and all the work and life experience I have accumulated.

What a gift to be so energized and……expectant at this juncture! Goes to show you: every day is an opportunity to reinvent, to do better, to experience more!”

The above photo can be found at http://www.makinglemonade.com/Career%20Transition.jpg