Today's post is brought to you by H2O!

January azalea. photo by moi.

Good morning, friends! This year I decided to take a challenge every month of the year. January's was to stay as hydrated as possible. I had read that it can improve your skin, give you more energy, help you lose weight etc. etc. so, I gave it a try!

It is recommended for women to drink around 2.2 liters of water/fluids per day. That equals nearly 75 ounces. All in all, I drank an average of 95 ounces a day which is over that recommended amount; however I was still thirsty so I kept on drinking. A few days I only had 50-60 ounces and I woke up with bad headaches the next morning.

It took discipline to keep up with how many ounces of water I drank a day. Though, after a few days it became a game to keep track and ended up helping me with my memory a bit. By doing that, I automatically drank more water and less caffeine and alcohol. In fact, I think I only had one or two cups of caffeine the entire month and haven't had any since (with no headaches or withdrawals from it).

I also found that no matter how much water I drank, if I had a glass of wine I felt like crap the next day. I can be an idiot sometimes, therefore it took me a few tries before I figured it out. My body has completely gotten used to and prefers water. That's quite a capital benefit! I also stopped craving my evening glass of wine as I did before. I saved about $40 on that alone!

My skin does look better, so my mom says. But I didn't see the changes as much as I had hoped. I think it's because we had a fluke cold spell and the air in my house is dry and hot. I can tell though, on the days that I don't have any wine in particular that my skin is far more glowing and clear. As if I have a soft-focus lens on my face- sweet!! The days I have wine or go below my comfortable threshold of water intake, my skin looks a little dingy and the redness around my nose and cheeks comes back. You would think vanity would be my game changer...but sometimes I'm a bit thick.

When I would get bored, I drank decaffeinated berry tea and that would push me to get past the "boredom wall". The boredom wall is this thing I have in my mind where I start to crave things that aren't super great for me such as booze, sugar, convenience foods etc. because I'm bored. I used to give in to it almost daily. This experiment helped immensely in realizing when I had approached a boredom wall and what I could do to get past it. Surprisingly, by buckling down in those moments and drinking more water or decaf tea, the wall would almost always disappear with the cravings. I found that having little mandarin oranges around helped a lot too, due to the water in the fruit, but also the sugar (hello hypoglycemia!).

Results: drinking more water makes me feel awesome, save money, make better choices and look better.

Would I do it again? Heck yeah! In fact, I've kept it going and am currently on Day 39. It feels good, y'all! I highly recommend it.

Would you consider doing monthly challenges with me too? I'd love to know! February is all about yoga!

-Lu

Guess what I did this weekend?

Makeup-schmakeup

I got IV hydration from this clinic in town! I know! It's sounds sketchy, but it isn't. It's a lounge of eight or so leather recliner chairs, two televisions, and 45 minutes of relaxing while getting an IV of electrolyte fluids.

I had heard about this being done almost a decade ago. It stuck in my mind though I thought it was completely insane. Then last year, the ThIVe Hydration clinic opened in my little town and slowly but surely I started thinking about it in a new light. Especially because it has been a rather hot Summer and I never feel as if I'm really hydrated enough.

Cue to two weeks ago when two friends I had told about it tried it and were total converts! "I slept so well!" One of them told me.

"My skin looks and feels so much better." The other one said.

So Sunday, the hubs and I booked two leather chairs (and watching Coming to America- classic) while we got our little IV's. Mine hurt a little bit, but IV's always pinch a little on my teeny veins. The hubs was fine though.

Afterward we kept trying to figure out if we felt any different. And the funny thing is- we did! I could feel it internally. Little aches from being chronically dehydrated weren't as noticeable and we both were a little hyper and weirdly, rather giddy too.

That's right! We had more energy, felt a little silly and giggled a lot more than we usually do as we ran errands.

Will I do it again? Honestly? I probably will. It felt nice to be topped off in the fluids department. Like a car. Oh! And we slept really well too. Now, it's $50 a pop if you don't have a membership, so it won't be a regular thing, but it was worth it for sure.

Would you try it? I'd love to know!

P.S. This post is not sponsored by ThrIVe Hydration.

Have a truly wonderful day!

An idea!

PL

Lately I've been thinking about something...

I've mentioned the negativity detox last week. I've been doing sort of okay with that (could be better and will be). I've been thinking I should do a real full body detox. Not a cleanse, not just a good long soak (though both of those sound appealing), but a real-life detox top to bottom, from the rooter to the tooter, so to speak. 

Lately, I've just been thinking about how good it would feel to focus on one part of me at a time and just devote time to care for it. For example, a week of intentionally caring for my skin intensely, or my liver etc. Does that sound insane?

I already care for myself pretty well, but I could definitely do better. I don't really "treat" myself the way I'd really like to, either. Plus there are so many awesome ideas on Pinterest for DIY spa crafts! So, and bear with me here, I thought I'd cull together six treatments/detoxes/etc. to try focused on one area at a time for a week to a week and a half at a time. I know some will stick and help me to maintain long term self-care. Here are some of the things I want to research to work on.

*Lungs

*Skin

*Eyes

*Liver

*Hands & Feet

*Muscles

*Heart

*Digestive Tract

*Mind

*Sinuses

*Throat/Voice/Esophagus

What do you think? Think you'd want to try to focus on caring for your body in such a manner? I think no matter what you do, as long as you care for your body, your body (mind and spirit) will show its appreciation. 

Stay tuned on what I end up doing! I hope you have a truly wonderful day, buds!

Swamped? Great time for an experiment!

Farmer's Market in Florence, Alabama.

Hey friends! Happy first day of April (I hope you said "rabbit rabbit" this morning)! As y'all know, I've had a little bit going on lately. So, naturally I thought now would be a great time to start a few experiments. One of which will be trying to eat "Paleo" for a month.

Now, let me be frank- I detest "diets", "plans" and anything you have to read a book about in regard to food restrictions yadda yadda. I also have the rule where I have to hear about something three times from three credible sources before I pay attention to it. Sometime a week or two ago, I'd heard about it again so I started doing research. Turns out, I pretty much eat that way already (when not having a Mardi Gras + Vacation + St. Patrick's Day funsplosion, and I thought it would be a good experiment to try and see if life without cheese is actually worth living (just kidding, sort of).

Anywho, I'm choosing the month of April to do so. No sugar, dairy, grains, booze, or processed foods of any kind. I also get three days this month that I can do whatever the hell I want because life is worth living and I will not be denied that gorgeous liberty.

Ahem. I think this will be a great way to pay a little gratitude to my body. As I walked around the lake a few mornings ago I started saying aloud how grateful I am for my healthy body and that I want to take better care of her (she's the only one I have!). I also thought this may help reset my body after a Winter of comfort food and general laziness and merriment.

I will post a weekly update about it (with recipes) this month in addition to the Friday Happies (because we all love those Happies!).

I'm excited to see how my body reacts and what becomes of it. Any thoughts, questions, suggestions or tips? I'd love to know!

I hope you have  a truly wonderful day!

Thoughts on pulling the trigger...so to speak...

Kat's Daily Inspiration

Things I've been needing to make decisions about:

1. Finding a house.

2. My fitness & health.

3. Job/Career

Things I have been obsessing about or sabotaging:

1. Finding a house.

2. My fitness & health (beer...why you so yummy?)

3. Job/Career.

Coincidence? Methinks not. But, why oh why oh why oh?

Mostly because I'm overwhelmed with a smattering of fear. Partially because the last time I just went and did something about 2 of the 3 of those, it ended up being great for what we needed then but every attempt to progress afterward quickly felt like quicksand. As for fitness and health...I'm getting there and will not beat myself up about having a bit of a hitch in my giddy-up. I just need to light a fire, so to speak.

Decide.

So here's what I want and here's what I'm doing about it:

1. I want a house that fills our needs and doesn't break the bank. We are actively looking and (I'm) trying to convince the hubs that the right thing will feel right (as that tends to lead us to good things anyway). Instead of forcing something that is sort of right but mostly not.

2. Just doing it. Making the healthy snacks so I don't buy 37 peanut butter-filled chocolate bunnies. Doing the exercise because I want to feel good in pretty clothes this summer (and always). Going to bed early yadda yadda (and limiting the yummy beer too).

3. I want to do something for a career that I'm passionate about. Writing, creating, and helping people. I see it's possibility glimmering in the distance and I want to grab it and hold on to it forever. Also, I'm aware that bills need to be paid, and I'd prefer to do something in the meantime that isn't so hard on my body, emotions and psyche as my current gig. Is that asking too much? Anyway, I'm actively looking for something new. Also, I'm choosing to ignore the biased and unsolicited advice of a few close to me that prefer that I settle because it would directly affect their job if I left. I'm choosing also, to work more fervently on my personal passions. I need to and I've put them off for a long time.

Y'all, I am tired of feeling bogged down. Do you ever feel that way? I honestly believe that I could be living the life I want to live every day starting now. I just have to take it one day at a time and stop bitching about the things I want to change and just...pull the ever-lovin' trigger, you know?

What could you pull the trigger on in your life? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Thoughts on Time (Part 1)

Ole Hermione with that Time-Turner...wouldn't that be handy?

I can waste time better than just about anyone I know. Three hour baths? Yep. Hour and a half long stroll through the magazines at Books-A-Million? Absolutely. Afternoon of Pinterest hunting? Totes bagotes. Five episode marathon of Phryne Fisher/Rosemary & Thyme/Parcs & Rec or {insert name of awesome television program here}? You got it, dude.

Sometimes I wake up the day after a "waster" and ask myself how it happened. Sometimes I ask why it happened because that's the more relevant question, to be real with y'all.  But I know why and I'm working on that bigger issue with some steadily-growing urgency.

What it really boils down to though, is time management. When I feel overwhelmed, I escape; but if I feel like I've been productive, then when I do escape it's much less frequently and for shorter amounts of time. So, I thought I'd work on a few time management skills for myself and share them with y'all. Care to join me on this one? I don't know anyone who couldn't use a boost in this area!

Okay! So, first things first...the macro elements of time management. The bigger, more nebulous ideas that have a tendency to cause one to undermine their attempts at organization.

This picture makes me laugh every time I see it. Sleepy kids are the cutest!

#1: Time management is energy management.

Y'all, when I read that sentence the other day, something clicked in my head. Yes, I'm an earth muffin with crystals on my windowsills, but energy is real and when you work with it instead of against it, amazing things can happen.

For example:

I am an total whiny, achey blob after 3 pm at work. If a task involves critical thinking or problem-solving skills then forget about it. I'm out. I'm stellar in those departments between the hours of 8:30 a.m. through about 11:30 a.m. though.

If I eat properly (every 2 hours- with protein) and get plenty of water, then I can maintain a light decency as a human until about 2:30. After that, I'm sheer presence and not much else. If I happen to be off work, then my energy becomes more fluid because I can work with the peaks and valleys and make adjustments more easily. The fact remains the same though, I am a perky, happy powerhouse a certain time of day and a chilled out, and more quiet piddler the rest.

My solution to this is to work on my more "thinkier" things early before work so my evenings are free for the more "piddley-er" tasks such as folding and putting away laundry, tidying, packing lunches for the next day etc etc. It'll help my mentality going in to work too, as I have less anxiety when I've been more productive and less anxiety at my job is always good.

It's amazing how just acknowledging that has helped me already!

Snug in like this little cutie pie and let the Z's float your way!

#2. Develop a sleep routine and get up earlier.

Not everyone is a morning person, however we could all use a few extra minutes in the mornings, am I right? I am very mindful of my sleep. If I have jacked up sleeping patterns for three days consecutively, I almost always catch a cold. If I sleep less than what my body likes, my skin goes bananas and I'm generally a butthead.

But I'm not the only one who can benefit from a dedicated sleep routine. Every day on my to-do list, I write what bedtime I'm aiming for tonight. Are there nights I miss it? Absolutely. Do I try to aim for a thirty minute window on either side of it regardless? Absolutely.

Sleep is precious. I've learned to honor it. I don't drink booze or caffeine several hours before I aim to hit the hay. I keep a very dark room. I layer three of the coziest blankets on the bed so regardless of the effect the weather has on our horribly weather-proofed house, we have options. I keep a glass of water on each side of the bed (so we don't have to get up if we wake up thirsty). I have banned the television but keep light, cosy fireplace sounds crackling out of the sound machine on my phone veeeeeery quietly.

Please note that I would like to remove all cell phones from the bedroom in the future, but that will take some serious strategy and an alarm clock I can trust after years of failed ones. That is a story for another time. The important thing though, is that electronics disrupt your sleep. Even if they are not turned on. If you must have them in your room, unplug them and cover them with a pretty scarf or something (not dirty clothes preferably). You need sleep. Your body is working magic while you sleep, repairing the previous days' damage and working through all kinds of mental, emotional and physical stuff! Let it do so peacefully!

If I'm not sleepy by my pre-determined bedtime, I meditate to get my head to calm down a bit. I also write lists so my head won't swarm with ideas right before bed. I also limit watching things that work me up (t.v. shows, the news etc.) right before "bedtime".

You can also try going to bed and setting your alarm clock for fifteen minutes earlier a week at a time. It lets your body gradually adjust to the new habits. Once you feel actually rested in the morning, it's amazing what you find you can get accomplished when you normally would be slumped over the coffee machine waiting for it to brew. Time just seems to accumulate in the corner, waiting to be used for more awesome stuff!

Oh, Lorelai!

#3. Let go of some of that control, or at least use it more wisely.

This one will be a tough one for most of us and it's a complicated idea. Time management involves the balance between understanding that we cannot control everything but also that we can control some and we need to know the difference. If you want to get more bang for your buck, so to speak, out of the time you've been given then you need to wrap your head around that balance.

Can you control how much television you watch? Yes. Can you control your part of the morning routine? Yes. Can you control that a snowstorm is going to shut down your town for a few days? Nope. Can you control the laziness, inconsideration, or poor-planning of others? Nope. But you can adapt and be flexible and plan for the unforeseeable.

You can turn the television off (hell, unplug the thing) for certain hours of the day, or certain days of the week if its a real time-sucker for you. You can pack your car up with essentials (backpacks, what have you) before bed. You can set your coffee pot to instant brew and have your outfit picked out and steamed before your little head hits the pillow. You can control contingency plans when there are emergencies, like a dependable ride for your kids if a weather emergency comes up, or spare rain accessories in the car in case of an unforeseen thunder-boomer right before an important meeting. You can allow time buffers in your planning so if you're carpooling with a coworker and they are running late (or you get a flat tire), you'll have a "safety net". You get the picture.

You can't control the world but you can control your response to it.

Those are the bigger-picture ideas that, if absorbed into your way of life can really have a huge effect on the efficiency of your time management. I'm soaking them up this week. Care to try the same? Next week I'll have more of the finer-point details  (as well as some super awesome and helpful links) on Monday and Wednesday to help us all get a bit more organized.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day, y'all!! Be sure to get to bed a little earlier tonight!

Post-birthday care, cleanse and detoxification!

29 Dogs Who Made Huge Mistakes.

Now that the birthday festivities are over, I'm taking my last day off (for a while) to get organized for the week ahead. I was all over the place this weekend, not minding my budget as much as I should and indulging in all kinds of wonderful treats. Nothing too out there, no record-breaking in the booze department, no Nutella-slathered craziness. Just...more indulgence than usual. I don't feel (too) bad about it, I'm just glad I have a day to recover!

In that vein, here are some other "recovery" tips and what-nots to aid in getting one back on their feet after a weekend of debauchery and fun! Just because you fell so far off the wagon you can't see it down the road anymore, doesn't mean you can't dust yourself off and start taking good care of yourself again. Right?! Right!

*Morning Green Smoothie. I make a version of this at least once a day to get my fruits and veggies in one fell swoop. The key is to keep the ratio 2 fruits to 1 veggie so it tastes awesome and not salad-y. I'm about to go downstairs and whip one up for myself! I like it because even if you ate hot wings and pizza for three days (ahem), and you do this one thing- you feel awesome for it and it snowballs into overall better care for oneself.

*Drink too much? I'm adding this one early since Mardi Gras is in a week. Here's a super yummy "mocktail" to cleanse your liver. Take it easy on your livers (and kidneys), guys! Drink more water while you're at it, okay?!

*Ten easy yoga poses that promote detoxing and the cleansing of the body!

*Here's another easy one: Five Daily Detox Routines.

*I've heard several times that dry-brushing does more than make your skin pretty. It's also an important tool in cleansing your lymphatic system as well as your overall circulatory health and your body's ability to remove toxins. It's the cheapest and easiest thing on this list apart from just drinking water! Check out this information on it. I'm convinced and will be giving it a go today!

*Give reflexology a try. I've been interested in it for ages, but have never done it. After looking over these reflexology charts I had to laugh because two of my chronic areas of pain are correlated to places on my feet where I've broken bones that have never healed correctly. Regardless of whether you believe it works or not, give it a try. At least your tired feet will have a little massage by the end of it.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

A funny thing happened on the way to the theatre...

Aquarius.

Now y'all know I've been analyzing things a bit lately. Yesterday I happened upon some information about Aquarians (I happen to be one) and I started laughing out loud and nervously adjusting an invisible tie. A lot of the things I've been trying to work through and deal with (in my attempts at growth and healing), were written right there before my eyes!

I've always kind of listened with one ear to astrology. It's fun and interesting but it isn't for everyone. Anyway, I about fell out of my chair as I read description after description (some not so nice) of my personality and some of the traits I've had troubles with. Here are a few for your enjoyment too (especially if you know me or any other Aquarians):

*"When an Aquarian stresses out about having too much to do, they typically step aside and do nothing at all." I'm super guilty of that and totally have written about it on this very blog!

*"Aquarians hate mind games. Just be straight-up with them." That is currently one of my issues with one of the situations I mentioned on Tuesday's post for heaven's sake! I get so pissed off when people play games. Passive-aggression grinds my gears like nothing else because to me, the games are so blatantly obvious and infuriating and worthless!

*"Aquarians are the most determined when it comes to honesty. If they catch you in a lie, they won't stop until they know the truth." I would add to that we also don't ask a question if we aren't prepared for the honest (sometimes painful) truth and we expect the same (perhaps unfairly sometimes) from the people we engage.

*"Aquarians will do the opposite of what you tell them to do, just to show you who's in control." I will add to that statement: "Unless we smell a trap. Then we just do whatever the hell we wanted to in the first place." We are a "special" group. And that control thing? I've totally done it in varying shades.

*"Aquarians love pleasing others, but you should expect to return the favor. They [deeply] value being treated the way they treat others." Oh yeah. The golden rule, man. It's important!

*"They find humor in a lot of things. Their funny bone gets tickled pretty easily." That could not be more true. I literally giggled as I typed this sentence.

*"Aquarians don't use the terms 'trust' or 'friend' loosely." We give a lot of chances, but when you're out yo, you are out. Period. We'll be civil, but the hands are washed, man.

*"Aquarians are more ruthless than they let on." Yep.

*"When an Aquarian gets mad, no one is safe." It takes a lot to make me mad and when I am...well, I've been told I look like the devil.

*"Aquarians will hide their jealousy. It's weakness in their eyes." I totally slapped my forehead on that one. I've never thought about it like that before but it is exactly how I view jealousy...and big, boastful egos while we're on about it!

*And here's the clincher for me, because it is absolutely my biggest pet peeve and I get all weird when it happens. "Being ignored by someone who's attention means the world to you is the worst feeling." I would add to it that "ignored" really isn't the term I'd use. It's more like if I'm speaking to you and you don't listen or tune me out, it affects us more deeply than it would anyone else [aka a normal person]."


I have to be honest, it was hard to read all the non-flattering descriptions and have them ring very true. I had a few uncomfortable "aha" moments. There were more that I didn't even want to post. But all in all, it was an interesting discovery and it's had me thinking a lot about my current trying situation (mentioned Tuesday) and about how I can handle these traits of mine that are very real and not always pleasant for others to be around. How I can handle my end of the situation in a better way.

It was also a much-needed boost to hear the positive things too. Things about being loyal, honest, truthful, sincere, and loving much more deeply than we sometimes can show. There's a lot going on in my brain and my heart and I just want to do the best and be the best me I can be.

What about y'all? Any Aquarians out there that can relate to any of those descriptions (be honest with yourself!). What sign are you and do you agree with the descriptions of traits? Do you think it's all hogwash? Do you have to admit that every now and then it hits the nail on the head? I'd love to know!

And while I'm at it, y'all, a reminder that it's okay to dig through the uncomfortable, ugly and sticky parts of our personalities. It's important to learn from mistakes, mend things and grow. Be good to yourselves and others. It's as simple as that! I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

Thoughts on Cruel Intentions...

Y'all, I've been meditating for a few weeks now. I used to years ago, but recently I've dived right into it again and have never been so successful with it as I am these days. A lot of things have improved since I started doing this practice for myself.

1. I sleep better.
2. I take better care of myself in general.
3. I don't lose my mind or complain as much as I used to at work when customers are annoying (which is 80% of the time).
4. My digestion is better.
5. I've gotten more observant to the underlying things going on with people's behaviors (including my own).

All of those things are wonderful. The last one however, is...well, it's interesting. It's like I have a special lens I can see what's behind what people are saying and doing (even catching myself in some cagey moments!). I'm seeing instead of reacting to it. I'm quite aware of my own reactive nature (bad) to their stuff and I'm seeing more clearly between the lines to all of their absolute nonsense (a lot). My senses are heightened and it has definitely been an eye opener.

Here are the things that I'm experiencing (have been for a while) and observing with a  few people in my life all of which I'm pretty much hurt by and just fed up with.

1. Passive aggressive barbs.
2. "Jokingly" name calling.
3. Eye-rolling, sighing, making rude faces whenever something light-hearted or fun or silly is mentioned. (No, these aren't teenagers, these are grown people.)
4. Constant one-ups and beat-downs in a competition I'm not participating in.
5. Subtle undermining and not-so subtle undermining.
6. Bragging about psychologically unhealthy habits as if they're normal then insulting others who disagree.
7. Chaos-to-chaos puddle jumping. (That's a constant, unfortunately).
8. Sabotage and judgment for other's successes.
9. Knocking or berating someone else, particularly if they are in a vulnerable state.

Unlike some people I know...this made me laugh so loud!!

Now, I'm a jokester and I love to laugh, but this is different. I'm also a sensitive gal. And I'm very aware this could easily be misinterpreted as playing the victim. But I'm being honest here, "playing the victim" is not what is happening with these people in my life.

I have my moments too, I own them and I am actively working on them. I want to improve and I don't want to bring anybody down. And there's the rub.

I try really really hard not to take my stuff out on other people. I actively work on it every single day. Even when I get totally pissed off at someone, I remove myself from their presence if I can until I've calmed down so I don't say anything in anger, frustration or defense. Now I know some could say that's not true or that I've been snippy in the past. I totally have. But when I'm cranky y'all, I say so. You never have to guess if something is bugging me. It's written all over my damn face. I don't insult you for asking me about it though. I at least try to remove myself from the situation so I don't lash out.

The rest of the time though, I make a point to tell people something positive and uplifting. It's been a goal of mine for years how and it is successful, for the most part. At least with healthy individuals who don't sling their crazy around like an apron with a bee caught up in it.

Yesterday one of these people called me a bitch because she complimented my lip color and I wasn't wearing any. Now of course calling me a bitch was supposed to be a joke, but...I'm at a point in my life where (call me crazy, y'all) I don't want my supposed friends calling me a bitch or any other mean name to be honest! Okay maybe if they said I was a badass bitch or something like that, but that's a different kind of category entirely!

All of this is to say that I've found myself feeling a bit lonely about it. I am particularly close to two of these three people and it feels gross to feel like a receptacle for their bullshit. It feels really bad to give genuine compliments, feedback and (asked for) advice only to be shot down, insulted, made fun of and undermined (even if it is supposed to sound like a joke). I'm weary of it. I feel sad for them that they seem so miserable inside that they feel compelled to hurt others, to lash out at others (me mostly). I feel sad for them that they can't hear the good being said to them and about them and they choose to shoot it down instead and lash out. I watch them as they sabotage their relationships with their spouses/partners (or can't make it work because they have to find something to pick at), children and well- me, to be frank.

However- some of this is on me. I don't have to react. I don't have to care. I don't have to square peg these relationships. I can simply care about them, hope for the best for them and take care of myself. I have to hear my inner voice and it has to be louder than their piss-ant misery and self-destruction. I've worked too hard to be in a  healthy place. I don't need their (or anyone's) crazy getting on my new pretty shoes, you know what I mean?

And you know what? You don't need it either. Everyone has that person (or persons) in their life that just chooses you as their target and pick ceaselessly. I've got a lot of work to do on myself and how I deal with those situations (other than running away, which always sounds so nice). I'm here for you if you ever need an ear or a shoulder or advice or just a friendly how d'ya do!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day! Be kind to people. Just...choose kindness. Everyone has shit their dealing with, as do you. Kindness is infinitely better and more powerful than choosing to hurt.

Keep reaching for that higher up, healthier place! It's attainable and it's bloody awesome!

Monday Monday

The cosiest of nooks.

Happy Monday, y'all! I'm finally getting over the horrors that were my holiday weekend; however, I'm not quite up to snuff completely. So today I am sending you a howdy from rainy North Florida, but saving all the fun stuff for the rest of the week. Don't be mad at me. Be mad at the associates who came to work sick last week who gave me this garbage. Private message me, I'll give you names and addresses. Just kidding. Sort of. See y'all tomorrow!

Woah & First Steps

Great water bottle, right?! Glass too, and I love the cork!

Y'all, this is embarrassing. I've gained twenty pounds over the past five years. The past three at an exponential rate. Ugh!! Not that I want to be rail thin again, but I'd like my clothes to fit better and all around be a healthier person.

So, instead of beating myself up, I'm looking at it as a desire to be a healthier me. No fad diets, nothing like that. I dislike stuff like that because I think it overrides the original intent which should be health.

The first step for me today is water water water water! I have to get in at least 64 ounces of water today. Not tea, not juice, not wine- ahem. JUst delicious crystal clean water.

The second step today will be no wine with dinner or after work. It's not that big of a deal. I'll save that glass of deliciousness for another night.

The third step for me today will be to take my vitamins like a grown-ass woman should. I was doing so good for a few weeks there then gave up the ghost around my pre-Thanksgiving bout with mild food poisoning.

That's it. That's how I'm beginning. It isn't much, but doesn't every little bit count? I surely think so. I'd rather dip my toe into this situation slowly and positively and for the right reasons.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Love Yo'self!

Hello friends! It is Thursday- this week seems to be flying by! Well, Thursdays around here are all about self-care and self-love. Taking care of our vessels is paramount. I don't know why it is so hard to take care of ourselves sometimes. We go out of our way for others, yet neglect the one person we are on this planet with for our entire lives! It's bananas people! Total nonsense!

So, in honor of a dear friend who needs a good reminder (you know who you are!) and to remind all of us (myself included) that we must care for ourselves well, first and foremost, before we can truly help others (like the oxygen mask situation on a plane). Heeeere we go!

*The 10 things you must tell yourself today. I really like this one!

*I love this! Kindness meditation. It's so simple and even though it's for children, I think we could all take a page from this book and nurture kindness even in the subtlest of ways. Quite frankly I think we could all take some time and relearn the lessons of childhood so we can be better adults.

*I love a list and an infographic too! Five mantras for daily self-love. I felt particularly drawn to the Nourish, Powerful & Worthy ones. Good stuff!

*Self-love is asking yourself what you need- every day- and making sure you receive it. 
Dang! I really like that!!!

*Wow! This mother/daughter Ecard actually moved me. I didn't expect that from what are usually pretty funny, snarky little throwaways. Good on you, whomever made that one! It certainly does ring true, but I think we can dream bigger than just our children (ahem- since mine don't exist yet) and do this for everyone.

*Because PMS is a bitch, and so is menopause and Mondays and traffic and screaming kids and needy people at work and...anyway- a little something something to make you feel gooooooooooood.

And to my dear friend, let me gently remind you- you are capable of training your thoughts to be kinder toward yourself. The steps you take toward breaking unhealthy and dangerous cycles now, will  benefit you so incredibly much more as you get older (take it from me- 30 ain't no joke and neither will  be 40, 50, 60 or 90! But each year gets even more awesome to make up for it!) Every little thing you do to make your body healthy, happy, and balanced (physically, emotionally and spiritually) will only aid you further along in your life. I love you.

And I love all y'all who read P&PPS. Take care of yourselves. I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Small Sanctuaries

Image from BHG.com

I love love gardens and plants. I however, have never really lived in an apartment conducive to growing them. Small yards (destroyed by my two dogs), windows with little or extremely dim light... Argh! And yet, I'm always perusing Pinterest for more inspirations on my future gardens and ways to make the best of my current situation. I have a small succulent garden on the teeny weeny windowsill in my kitchen. It is about all I can finagle at the time. I glean a lot of peace from my miniature garden. I have a tendency to meditate there for small stolen moments. I often look out to the night sky and look for the moon, or watch the rain hit the glass. Sometimes, if I'm being a good girl, I watch the sun come up and drink a warm mug of lemon water. It's important to have a place for peace and a sanctuary. So, for some fun littles today, I thought I'd share some cool ways to have a garden space inside your home and some inspirations for your yard, if you have one or just want to dream of one.

 Try to cull a small sanctuary for yourself. Even one little herb plant or flower will do the trick. Connecting to nature even in a tiny way can have a hugely soothing affect on your psyche and in how you approach your day. It can ease anxiety and help you gather yourself before a heavy work day or a big test. Make for yourself a peaceful place. You deserve it.

*A garden made of ladles!

*Where I'd spend the morning alone and the evenings with my loved ones.

*This one made me laugh. Fire escape plant shelf!

*A tabletop succulent garden how-to. 

*Oooh! A tabletop water garden! I love this idea!!

*One way my itty bitty backyard could have some impact! While you're at it, my Garden board on Pinterest. I seriously escape to it for inspiration all the time!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day.

Friday Happies!

Adorable baby otter image by imgur.

Well, lovely people- we have certainly made it through another week. For those of you who have "normal" weekends, let's get it kicked off right! And for those of you, like me, who are working all weekend...hell- to everyone reading! Let's have a glass of wine or sparkling water or mega-green smoothie or whatever you like and enjoy some cool and/or happy, and/or unique, peaceful, kind and incandescent moments!

*Quitting sugar, but need something sweet? I kicked added/refined sugar a few months ago...and I'm completely happy with that for three weeks a month, which -ahem- leaves one week a month to, you know...be a lunatic. And in that week-- I could care less about anything but chocolate. Therefore I enjoy one week of guilt-free indulgence, no apologies! Iiiitttttt's pretty great.

*Absolutely fresh and delicious-looking (and super easy) supper recipe!

*Oooooh, nostalgia! Big hits of the summertime, circa 1990's. From Toni Braxton to TLC; from Ace of Base to Hanson. It's pretty great, for a ride down squirm & memory lane. Was everything rayon/nylon/straightening iron then? Seriously?! So great. (Admission: I had a framed print-out picture of Hanson by my bed, Summer '97. Oh yeah.). I also realized I remember every line to almost all these classics on the list to this day. Wow.

*A great book my Mama gave me as a gift. I have referenced it in cocktail party conversations many times. Plus, if you're truly a book nerd, like me, then you'll definitely go mad for it.

*I want to go to there.

*Great article. How to recognize signs the Universe is presenting to you. 

*I will take three thousand of these, please. They smell like tobacco and cosiness and all things rainy-day lovely. Oh and one of these too.

I truly hope you have a wonderful day, and weekend!!