My Daily Self-Care Checklist

As the mom of 2 young children, I have become pretty good at taking care of everyone else, but I am not always great at doing it for myself.  I can go almost a whole day before I realize that I haven't drank any water.  There are things that I just let slide that affect my overall physical and mental health.

Recently, I created a daily self-care checklist.  I am a list person.  I love lists and I love checking items off of my list.  I am generally realistic about what I can achieve in a day and I find that lists are a great tool for me to use.  I have a Samsung phone and the list app offers a checklist option.  (My guess is that most phones have this capability.)  I created a list of items that I need to do in order to practice good self-care every day.  The items are simple, but the list has been a game changer for me in terms of getting my list completed.

I have been pretty good about rolling out of bed in the morning to check a few items off my list.  I like to write in my journal,  write down 3 things I am thankful for, drink some coffee and do a 5 minute meditation before my kids are up for the day.  I am able to be a happier mom when I have started my day with some self-care.  The other items are just as important and I fit them in throughout the day.

I go over my list before I go to bed and this helps me to make sure I haven't forgotten anything.  I have felt my anxiety easing and I feel much more centered now that I have made my self-care a focus.

How do you practice self-care?  Do you have a routine that you stick to?

Peaceful Simple Holidays

Hi Everyone!  Happy American Thanksgiving!  With the holiday season upon us, I wanted to share a few tips on how to have a simpler holiday season.  Sometimes we can miss out on the meaning of the season when we are rushing around trying to do everything.  I prefer a 'slow' holiday.  This is how I achieve it.

1.)  Plan ahead.  If you need to save up for your Christmas purchases, start early.  If you have people on your list that you can pick things up for throughout the year, do it.  Sit down with your family and discuss your expectations for the holiday season before saying yes to anything.  A little planning goes a long way.  We need to be intentional about our holiday season and how we want to spend it.

For example, our baby is due 3 days before Christmas.  I did my Christmas shopping for my daughter in August.  We stick to basic gifts and I already knew what we wanted to give her so I went ahead and got that part of my shopping done.  We also made a "no plans" rule for December because we can't be sure of when Baby will arrive or how I will be feeling.  Our families are both aware of this and are very understanding.  I said no to Miss. E performing in her Christmas concert as it falls just a few days before my due date.  I also said no to my staff Christmas party.  All of this planning ahead will help to keep our holiday season quiet, which we may need more than we know!

2.)  Cut back.  This is a tough one.  I know.  We like to go all out at Christmas time, but in doing so we often break the bank and burn ourselves out. For a lot of our family and friends, this past year was a nice step in the right direction for economic recovery.  Our local economy is slowly turning around and people are working again.  It has by no means been a lucrative year for most people that I know.  There is no shame in cutting back.  In my family, we have cut out all gift giving between the adults and we focus on buying only for the kids.  We have decided with friends to only gift on birthdays, rather than at Christmas.  We also spend less on the gifts that we do purchase.  Giving is a wonderful thing, but only if you aren't putting yourself at financial peril to do so.

I have also cut back on commitments this year.  Our situation is a little different than most people's so my cut backs have been far more severe than they would be normally.  We switch the holidays between my family and my husband's family every year.  I always mind my calendar to make sure that we are still carving out time to just be at home and get our housework done.  I make sure not to schedule anything on work nights so that everyone has enough sleep.  If we say yes we truly weigh the consequences and what we may have to give up in order to commit.

3.)  Give back.  This time of year can be really tough on the less fortunate.  It means a lot when we can give back to those around us.  This can be done financially or through volunteering.  I like to support my local food bank, especially since it's usage is up and donations are down.  Homeless shelters are vital at this time of year to help shield people from the frigid elements.  If you are able to help financially, please consider doing so.  If you are able to help an organization with the gift of your time, please do that.  Christ calls us to take care of one another.  Let's make sure we heed the call at this special time of year.

What are your tips for having a simple holiday season?

2017 Summer To Do List

Eeeeek!  I love summer.  Winters seem to drag on where I live so I try to get the most out of the warmer weather when it arrives.  I have compiled a list of things we want to do over the summer and I am going to share them with you.

1.)  Celebrate Canada at my parent's cabin.  Canada turns 150 years old this year and we are going all out to celebrate!  Our family even has matching t-shirts for the occasion.  I am so excited!

2.)  Head out for a family camping weekend with Hubby's family.  We go camping with Hubby's family every year and this year is no different.  It is always fun!

3.)  Spend time at the cabin.  We want to spend time up at the lake.  We love the slower pace at the cabin and we always feel refreshed after a visit.

4.)  Plant raspberries in our new yard.  We grew raspberries at our last home and we absolutely loved them.  We want to plant again this year so we can enjoy the berries again!

5.)  Spend time at the local pool.  The local pool is wonderful and we want to utilize it this year.

6.)  Try canoeing with Miss. E.  Hubby and I enjoy canoeing and we want to try taking Miss. E out with us this year.

7.)  Hit up a local fair.  The mini doughnuts are enough to make me want to go!

8.)  Do some play dates at the local lakes.

9.)  Host a few play dates in our back yard.

10.)  Build a fairy garden with Miss. E.

11.)  See Wonder Woman.

12.)  Try out a splash park.

13.)  Sleep in a tent.  Honestly, I am the hold out on this idea.  Both Hubby and Miss. E are looking forward to it.

14.)  Go for family bike rides.

15.)  Build sandcastles.

16.)  Do swimming lessons with Miss. E.

17.)  Run through the sprinkler.

18.)  Go on our family camping trip.

19.)  Take care of my garden.

20.)  Have a few campfires in the back yard.

What are your summer to-dos?  I would love to hear about them!

April- Goals and The No Spend Year

April was a pretty good month for my goals and resolutions.  It was also a busy month with Easter and Hubby's birthday.  I am happy with my progress and I am hoping that May will be even better!

Goal #1-  Complete a No-Spend Year.

Not spending money is becoming easier and easier.  I don't even really think about making purchases, which is nice.  Our home is currently lacking blinds and curtains, but that is the only thing that is really making me want to shop.  Otherwise, it hasn't been that challenging!

Goal #2-  Establish a self-care routine.

I was pretty good with this goal.  I was consistent with working out and staying on top of my water intake.  I completed my Whole 30 and will share my experience with you soon!

Goal #3-  Say Yes to Family Time.

This goal went well this month.  It was easier because there weren't many things challenging us in this department.  We had a lovely Easter with family and we even got to see my younger brother at the end of the month!

Goal #4-  Start School in September.

I talked to school this month and asked all of my questions.  I will likely apply in the summer and start in the Fall.  This goal will be at a standstill now until the summer when I apply to the program.

Goal #5-  Learn more about traditional prayers and incorporate them into my prayer life.

I have finished reading a book about traditional prayers, which I found really interesting.  I found the scriptural references and explanations to be informative. I hope to work on incorporating them into my prayer life this month.

Goal #6-  Establish a routine for the blog and stick to the blog's vision.

This month wasn't great for blogging.  I have done a little behind the scenes work, but I got a little stuck in some of the technical stuff.  I hope to be better about blogging this month and iron a few things out behind the scenes.

Enjoying the Moments

I have noticed such a lack of human interaction lately.  At work, everyone stares at their phones during break time.  When you go out to eat, diners stare at their devices rather than their dining partners.  You don't see many people "waiting" in line or for appointments without having their phones out.  I am not immune to this, but lately I have been much more intentional about setting my phone aside and simply enjoying the moments.  I don't want to look back and realize how much I have missed while staring at a glowing screen.

We, as humans, crave (and require) human interaction.  We need to make connections with family and friends.  This has ensured our survival and helps us to feel fulfilled as people.  Phones and devices can help with this, but often they are a hindrance.  We interact with people differently when it is in person, rather than through a text or Facebook post.

I have learned a few things about using my phone and tablet in an intentional way and I have gained a lot of enriching connections with my friends and family.  I want to share my (small) insights with you today.

1.)  I don't keep my phone on me at all times.  When I am home, my phone is often on the kitchen counter.  I also like to keep it on silent.  I especially like to have my phone on silent while driving because it is dangerous to use your devices while driving.  If I can't hear the notification, I don't feel any need to respond.  I also don't check the phone as frequently when it isn't on my person.  This keeps me from being distracted from my "real" life.

2.)  I do not make myself available to others at all times.  I don't respond to messages quickly and I don't worry about checking my phone for messages several times a day.  My friends and family are aware that if they need to get a hold of me, phoning my house is the best way to do it.  They don't feel entitled to an immediate response back to their text messages, because they know I don't make a habit of checking my phone constantly.

3.)  I put my phone away when enjoying time with others.  My phone stays away on date nights, coffee dates with friends and family functions.  I do use my phone as a camera, but often I will snap a quick picture or 2 of the event and then put it away.  I use my time with others to talk, connect and make eye contact.  I try my best to enjoy the moments that I get to spend with the people I love.  Leaving my phone in my bag is a good way to show another person how much you care about them and that you are truly paying attention to them.  This is invaluable for building strong relationships.

How do you keep your phone and other devices from stealing your moments?  Comment below.  I would love to hear your thoughts.

2016 Recap

2016 is winding down.  I wish I could say that it was such a stellar year, but it really wasn't.  It most certainly had beautiful moments and happy times.  It also held heartbreak and challenges that took a lot of prayer and trust to get through.  

I looked back at my 2016 resolutions to see how I did with my goals for the year.  Things went well goal-wise and I managed to keep to most of them.  Here is a closer look:

Personal Resolutions:

-Finish the KonMari Method.  I did this.  It helped lighten the load for our move.  I didn't find it to be "life-changing" but it definitely gave me a different method to minimize my belongings.  This method was helpful and I look forward to continuing to pare down our possessions.

-Continue to develop a personal relationship with God through my prayer life.  My personal relationship with God is ever evolving.  I relied heavily on my faith this year and sought out different ways to further my relationship with God.  I feel that I achieved this goal and I will continue to work on this relationship.

Family:

-Go on a family trip.  We did this at the end of summer.  We went on a family trip to Red Deer, Alberta and Calgary, Alberta.  We visited a farm, the Zoo and Telus Spark.  Elizabeth had an absolute blast.  Hubby and I enjoyed ourselves, as well.  It was great and I am looking forward to the next trip!

-Build up our savings.  This happened.  It wasn't super easy with Hubby's job loss this year, but we managed to add to our savings.

Blog:

-Post on the blog 2 times a week.  This goal didn't work out.  With everything going on in my personal life, the blog really got put on the back burner.  I am okay with this goal being unmet.  My priorities have to be my own health and my family.  Perhaps next year will be more conducive to blogging.

-Post to Instagram 3 times a week.  This also was placed on the back burner.  Perhaps next year will work our better.

Relationship

-Go on a date night once a month.  We went on a date every month this year.  Not all of our dates were on "date nights", but we managed to date every month.  It was a great resolution and we really enjoyed having time together as a couple.

My word of the year was PEACEFUL.  My knee-jerk reaction to this is to scoff at my word choice.  This year felt anything but peaceful.  It felt chaotic and overwhelming.  The word choice wasn't meant to magically make my year peaceful.  I wish simply choosing a word could do that.  Thankfully, there was peace among the chaos.  My faith provided a sense of peace that I could never find anywhere else.  I am not saying that my peace never wavered, but I trusted God and He always brought me back to a deeper sense of peace.  I tried to help others find peace, or at least support, in their lives.  I tried to look for ways to help when I could.  It was a challenging year, but it made my faith deeper.

I am so looking forward to 2017 and a fresh start.  I love the New Year.  It always feels hopeful and untarnished.  I am excited to make new resolutions and new memories.  I will share my resolutions with you in January.

How was your 2016?  Did you keep your resolutions?  Are you looking forward to 2017?

Simple Christmas

Christmas is a beautiful and sentimental time of year.  It can be filled with joy, laughter and the company of family and friends.  For some, however, Christmas becomes stressful, overwhelming and difficult.  To be honest, I have spent some time feeling stressed and overwhelmed at the holidays and it wasn't fun.  I think that I truly have my Christmas spirit back in recent years.  Here is how I found it.

1.)  Cut Back.  We quit doing Christmas gifts on my side of the family and we have greatly reduced the gifts that we do on Hubby's side.  We are always looking to simplify our lives and gifts (however thoughtful or well-intended) were really making this goal difficult.  Our shopping list is extremely short and we always follow a similar gift thread.  Most of our gifts are either food or sentimental items.  Elizabeth makes gifts for the family members and they enjoy receiving something that she has worked on.

We have also cut back on the food that we prepare for our Christmas meal.  Growing up, I remember there was always 6 salads, 3 desserts and a crazy amount of baking.  I am sure it was stressful for those who prepared it and I honestly didn't like most of it.  At Christmas, I crave turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries and buns.  We don't often eat turkey so it is a treat all on its own!  My Mom prepares our favourite Christmas treats and we forgo dessert so that we can enjoy the baking.  When I host Christmas I make a basic turkey meal.  Everyone is generally satisfied with that.  I usually bake one item.  If anyone offers to bring something, I ask for baking.  Dessert is taken care of and we can enjoy a variety of treats.

2.)  Focus on Faith and Family.  We try to be careful when making holiday plans.  I don't like to overbook our family with festivities.  It is a lot for everyone to handle.  We know that we like to see each family at some point during the holiday season.  We also value having time to enjoy Christmas festivities with just the 3 of us.  I try to figure out our plans well in advance and only book a few events.  Sometimes this means saying no to a Christmas party or other social event, but we find that guarding our family time is key to our enjoyment of the holidays.

We also work hard to keep the focus of the season on the birth of Jesus.  We do special prayers as a family during Advent and read books focused on the first Christmas.  We attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and try to keep our focus on the amazing gift that God bestowed on us.  A Child that was born to save us from sin.  It is a powerful display of love and one that I am eternally grateful for.

3.)  Be organized.  Even though we celebrate a rather simple Christmas, we still have things to do.  I enjoy sending out Christmas cards to our family and friends.  We are hosting Christmas this year and I will be preparing a holiday meal for the family.  We make Christmas gifts and purchase a few gifts.  All of this requires some planning.  The more organized you can be, the more peaceful your holiday season will be.  Emily at Queen of The Household has an awesome printable to help you stay organized this holiday season! I enjoy making lists and breaking down the tasks.  I then write each item that needs to be completed on my calendar to ensure that everything gets done on time.

How do you enjoy a peaceful holiday season?  I would love to hear your ideas!

When Life Is Crazy- Day 14

What a week this has been! Things are seeming a little crazy around here.  I hope to be able to go into it in a bit more detail in the coming weeks, but for now it is best if I keep some of this under my hat.  There is nothing bad happening, just a lot of potential changes!

Change is constant, but I like it to come on my terms.  Ha!  That rarely happens.  If you have been reading this blog over the past months, you will be well aware that I seem to constantly battle my Type-A personality.  I have become much better at accepting change, but it can still seem overwhelming at times.  This week I have been telling myself, "Be a willow, not an oak!"  I need to bend with the changes.

When I feel overwhelmed I like to do the following:

1.) Pray-  I spend a lot of time in prayer, especially when I feel unsettled or unsure.  I try to remind myself the God is in control and that I will find peace within Him.  I really like to refer to my Jesus Calling devotional, written by Sarah Young.

2.) Get outside- I feel most at peace when I am in nature.  I like to experience the outdoors and even a quick walk can make me feel much better!

3.) Spend time with family and friends-  My family and friends are a great support network and I can always turn to them when I need them.  Sometimes we don't even have to talk about what's happening.  It can be refreshing just to be in their presence and laugh!

4.)  Organize and Clean-  My house is never so clean or organized as when I am upset or overwhelmed.  I think it gives me a measure of control when I feel like I have no control and it is also a way to physical outlet to help me deal with whatever is going on.  The upside is a clean house!

What do you like to do to help deal with life throwing curve balls?

Weekend Recap- Day 11

We had a really fun family camping weekend with Hubby's family.  We went to Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park (link here) in Saskatchewan.  It was a wonderful time.  Miss. E LOVED the beach.  It took Hubby and I a few minutes to convince her that walking barefoot on the sand was fun, but after that she had a blast!  She happily went in the lake and built sandcastles (or sand-cities) with her Daddy and Uncles.  She played so hard and had a wonderful time!  It was great!

City Building is serious business!

Hubby and I at the cabin.

Day 3- Gratitude

When life is good and when life is hard, I always take the time to thank God for all that I have.  We are told that it is important to keep a heart of gratitude at all times. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (Thessalonians 5: 15-18)  It certainly makes life's storms easier to weather and it helps keep our hearts open to the glory of God.

This Sunday I am grateful for many things, but I thought I would list a few:

1.)  Wonderful time spent with family this long weekend, including my brother!  I haven't seen him in a while and he surprised me with a visit!  It was so awesome.

2.)  New opportunities and the trust that things will work out.

3.)  Miss. E feeling better and acting much more like herself.

4.)  Nice weather for travelling.

5.)  The support and fellowship of good friends.

Happy Sunday!

Healthy Living Series- Week 1: Exercise

Welcome to my Healthy Living Series.  Ever since my recent miscarriage, I have been trying to focus on rebuilding my health.  I ended up with infection, then a D&C (minor surgery) and spent the 2 weeks after my surgery recovering.  My doctor didn't allow me to do much physical activity while I was recovering.  When all was said and done, I felt weak and tired.  I am sure some of my fatigue came from the emotional toll that the miscarriage took.  I do know that the weakness and some of the fatigue occurred because I had lost a lot of my physical strength.  I made a "Get Healthy" plan and started to implement it.  I am basing this series on my "plan" and my own experiences with it.

I am starting the series with Exercise.  It is the first thing that I started implementing with my "Get Healthy" plan.  I have always been an active person.  I am not athletic, by any means, but I believe in the importance of fitness.  Cardio activity is good for your heart and strength training is extremely important for your bone health.  I find that being fit makes my day to day life easier.  At home, I am able to chase and lift my toddler when I am fit.  I can do my work much more efficiently because I have energy.

If you are new to exercise, I suggest starting with walking.  It is a low impact exercise with huge health benefits.  All you really need is a good pair of shoes.  I love to walk.  I walk my dog and push the stroller.  I like to walk with Miss. E and go on "adventures".

After I had been cleared for working out, I started my current exercise program.  I use Briana's Bikini Body Mommy workouts.  I am currently doing the Bikini Body Mommy Challenge 4.0.  I like that the workouts are short (15 minutes-ish), challenging and free.  I access my workouts on YouTube.  I have been doing the workouts for a few weeks and I am already seeing results, which is great!  

I am able to lift and carry Miss. E for longer, now.  She is getting heavy and I wasn't able to hold her for very long before.  I also have better energy, which is so beneficial for both my work and home life!

Another benefit of exercise is the boost to my mental health.  Exercise releases endorphins, which are "feel-good" hormones.  I have always had a great mental benefit from exercise.  It is my most important reason for exercising.  I always feel better after a workout or a walk.  If you are stressed out or feeling down, exercise can help. 

What are your favourite ways to work out?  What are your favourite benefits?

Good Friday and Easter

Good Friday is tomorrow and that has me reflecting on the Easter season.  Good Friday is the day that we solemnly remember the ultimate sacrifice that Christ paid for our sins.  He was brutally abused and crucified.  He hung beside common criminals, when He had not committed sin.  Thinking about it makes my heart ache.  He gave up his life so that we could live everlasting life with Him.  

Our God loves us so much and it truly astounds me.  I find such shelter and comfort in this love.  I also feel called to try to be the person that God wants me to be.  I know that I will always fall short, but I take comfort in the fact that I am forgiven.

Tomorrow, I will take Miss. E to mass and we will remember the sacrifice Jesus gave.  (Hubby will be traveling home and likely won't be home in time for church.)  I look forward to Easter Sunday when we can celebrate the resurrection and Jesus' victory over death.

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have everlasting life."

I pray that your Easter weekend will be a wonderful time for reflection, family and celebration.  I wish you all a very happy Easter!

2016 Resolutions and My Word of The Year

I love the fresh start of a New Year.  It is always a nice time to reflect on the past year and look for ways to improve in the coming year.

This year I made a few resolutions.  I love making resolutions and I am usually pretty good at sticking with them.  This year I divided my resolutions into categories.  Here they are:

PERSONAL:

- Finish the KonMari Method by Marie Kondo by June 30/2016.  I am so excited to really clear out my belongings and hopefully achieve my goal of minimalism.

-  Continue to develop a personal relationship with God through my prayer life.

FAMILY:

-  Take a family trip.

-  Build up our savings account.

BLOG:

-  Post on the blog 2 times a week.  Re-evaluate in June/July and see if adding an extra post per week is possible.

-  Post to Instagram 3 times a week.  My Instagram account is my favourite form of social media and I am slowly gaining followers.

RELATIONSHIP:

-  Go on a date night once a month!

I am very excited for 2016.  I feel like it will be a fun year.  My goals are manageable and I am eager to get started!  I also chose a word for my year.  My word for the year is PEACEFUL.  This world can feel so chaotic and ill-mannered.  It is easy to get caught up in the things that are going wrong in our lives, our communities and our world.  I want to help add to the peace in my life and the lives of those around me.  I do not wish to add to the chaos.  I want to choose kindness and be slow to anger.  I have been really focusing on trusting God in my prayer life and it has given me a great sense of peace.  I will continue to work towards a peaceful life for myself and those around me.

Do you have any goals/resolutions for 2016?  I would love to hear about them!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, celebrating with family and friends.  I am so looking forward to all of our Christmas activities this year!  Hubby and I made a list this year of all the things we wanted to do for Christmas.  We have almost completed our list.  I wanted to share this list with you and a few other things that I am looking forward to this Christmas.

2015 Holiday To Do List (Completed):

- Purchase Christmas jammies for Miss. E.

- Bake gingerbread men for bakesale.

- Mail out Christmas cards.

- Put up Nativity.

- Put up Christmas tree.

- Drink Hot Chocolate.

- Make Christmas tree craft for Elizabeth.  (A bit of a Pinterest fail, ha ha.)

- Make salt dough ornaments.

- Purchase and use Advent wreath.

2015 Holiday To Do List (Still to do...)

- Christmas light tour.

- Hang stockings.

If we have enough snow (I can't believe I am writing that...):

- Tobogganing

- Build a snowman

I am so excited to share Christmas with my family.  I am so looking forward to seeing my brother!  We always had such fun together as kids at Christmas.  We still have a lot of fun and I can't wait to hang out with him.  I always enjoy spending time with my parents and I am excited to do that tomorrow!  My in-laws will arrive on Boxing Day and I am looking forward to spending time with them.

I am looking forward to seeing Miss. E experience Christmas this year.  She is just getting over an ear infection (poor girl!).  It seems that she will be back to her regular self for the big day!

I am looking forward to watching White Christmas.  I have never seen it and I am going to watch it this year.

I am looking forward to Mass and celebrating the birth of Jesus.

I hope all of you have a joyous Christmas.  Wishing each of you safe travels.  Merry Christmas!

Peaceful Simple Holidays

For a long time, Christmas lost it's shine for me.  I found it so disheartening that people seemed to focus on "getting stuff", rather than focusing on family, friendship and the birth of Jesus.  A few years ago, I decided to pursue a peaceful and simple holiday season.  Here are some of the ways we keep our holiday season stress free:

1.)  We have ceased all gift giving on my side of the family, with the exception of Miss. E. Any gifts that we give on my husband's side of the family are heartfelt or consumable.  Hubby and I keep our gift giving in check for our daughter.  We choose a few small items and Santa brings one gift.  We don't want gifts to be the focus in our family.  Things are just things.  The important parts of Christmas can't be bought in a store.

2.)  Our decor is minimal.  We decorate our tree, set up our nativity and I usually put together a Christmas centerpiece.  Hubby strings lights along our house.  It can all be put up (and taken down!) in a couple of hours.  I don't worry about making it look perfect, but rather try to use the decor that is meaningful to our family.

3.)  I send cards.  This might seem unnecessary, but I think that letter writing is a dying art.  I love to receive cards and letters in the mail ,so I always make sure that I send out holiday cards.  They brighten everyone's day and help us feel connected to family and friends.

4.)  We use our Advent wreath.  We bought our Advent wreath this year.  I looked for one last year, but was unable to find one.  We light the candles at supper time and pray Advent prayers, preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus.

5.)  We watch the original "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" on Christmas Eve.  We started this tradition because we didn't know where we would be on Christmas Eve, be it at home or away visiting family.  We thought that this would be a great tradition that we could do virtually anywhere.  We really enjoy it.

6.)  We attend Mass.  Hubby and I are very aware that Christ is the reason for our Christmas celebrations.  We always go to Christmas Mass and enjoy celebrating His birth with other members of our church.  We usually sing "Joy to The World" at the end of Mass and it always makes me joyful and a little teary.

7.)  I don't break the bank.  I make a small list and purchase the few gifts that we need.  I don't spend crazy amounts of money of gifts.  I choose to give small, thoughtful gifts that fall within our family's budget.

8.)  I don't bake (much).  I generally don't bake any treats for my family at Christmas time.  My Mom always makes our family's favourites and my Mother-In-Law makes their family favourites.  Hubby and I always look forward to eating the treats our Moms prepare and we indulge for the holidays.  I don't feel the need to add to the baking.  I often bring a dish for Christmas dinner, if I am not making the dinner myself.  I leave the baking to the experts.  I do have to bake a few treats at this time of year for my workplace's Bake Sale.  The proceeds go to purchasing things that our Long Term Care residents need.  A very worthy cause and definitely a good reason to bake.

How does your family enjoy the holidays?  What are your tricks for remaining stress free?

Contentment & Letting Go of Bitterness

We all have been through challenging situations.  The situation itself is often something that we can't change.  In my case, it was infertility.  The pain of that situation was very difficult for me and I spoke about how I handed that pain up to God in this post.  It felt so much better knowing that my pain and my problems were in much more capable Hands.  I did have a lot of work to do, however.  I had to learn to let go of my bitterness.

I am a total type A personality.  I like my life to go in a neat pattern of cause and effect.  Good and bad.  Black and white.  Life doesn't work that way.  It is messy, complicated and often filled with grey areas.  The hardest lesson of all?  We don't control any of it.  The only thing we have any power over is ourselves.

I had spent a lot of time thinking that other people were getting things that they didn't "deserve" and that I was not getting what I "deserved".  I was bitter and angry about my situation and I had allowed that to colour my view of those around me.  I became closed off, judgmental and harsh.  I quit communicating with friends who had been dear to me, I refused to participate in certain events/functions and I was constantly criticizing others.  I was not a good person.  I had allowed my pain to take over my life. 

After I had handed up my pain, I began to work on myself.  I could not continue on the path that I was on.  I needed to learn to be kinder to others and to myself.  I made amends with friends that I had ignored.  I humbled myself and asked for forgiveness.  I learned to give people the benefit of the doubt.  I learned that other people are free to say what they want to say and to act the way they want to act.  I have no control over it.  Accepting this was huge.  I don't have to like every decision that every person makes, but I do NOT have a right to judge them for it either.  

I stopped being angry that other people had what I did not.  I focused on all of my blessings.  I learned to be grateful for my wonderful life.  When I stopped wanting what my neighbour had, I became content with what I had.  I was able to fully embrace my life and where I was at.

Today, I am content most of the time.  I slip up here and there, but I am human.  When I have a negative inner dialogue or when I feel jealous, I simply remind myself not to be judgmental and to be grateful.  We must appreciate our lives.  We must be thankful.  We must be kind to one another and give people grace.  Only then can we be content.

10 (Free!) Ways to De-stress

We all deal with stress in our lives.  At times, it can be overwhelming.  Over the years, I have found that a few simple acts can help my stress levels significantly.  I have compiled a list of 10 (free!) ways to De-Stress.  I have chosen free ways because not everyone has the money to spend on themselves and this is a minimalist blog.  I don't want to have to spend money or accumulate more stuff in order to feel better.

1.)  Spend time in nature.  Go for a walk.  Admire some flowers.  Check out a local park.  Try bird watching.  Admire a sunset. (Or sunrise if you get up that early!)  Nature is renewing and good for the soul.  I always feel better after I have spent some time reconnecting with the earth.  It is nice to spend time admiring beauty and knowing that we are part of something magnificent.

2.)  Laugh.  A few years ago, I went to be trained as a Certified Laughter Leader.  Laughter is so important to our mental and physical well-being.  Unfortunately, a lot of us don't laugh enough.  There are two types of laughter:  spontaneous and deliberate.  Spontaneous laughter occurs when something funny occurs, prompting us to bust a gut.  Deliberate laughter is what I am trained to lead.  It is the act of laughing as an exercise.  I learned different exercises to help people laugh.  The easiest way is to simply sit on the floor with your hands on your tummy.  Do a full belly laugh.  You should be able to feel your stomach muscles moving.  The amazing thing about laughter is that your body doesn't know the difference between spontaneous laughter and deliberate laughter.  Your health benefits are the same.  You may feel a little silly, but this will make you feel lighter and happier.

3.)  Deep Breathing.  This is fantastic if you don't have much time to spend de-stressing.  I used this at work all. the. time.  Health care can be fast paced and stressful.  This was an easy way to help me combat my stress.  Inhale deeply through your nose.  You should feel your ribs and tummy expand.  Slowly exhale through your mouth.  Repeat 2-3 times.  It really helps!  I usually envision the air going in all the way to my toes and then back out.

4.)  Exercise.  Go for a walk, run or a bike ride.  Swim, hike, dance or do some yoga.  Do some squats or push-ups.  Exercise releases endorphins and get the blood pumping.  This can help greatly when dealing with stress.

5.)  Call a friend.  Sometimes we need to vent and sometimes we don't want to talk about it.  Either way, calling a friend is a good thing to do.  Our friendships offer us support, love and a safe place to land.  They can also offer distraction, camaraderie and laughter.  Your friends love you and want to help.  Pick up the phone.

6.)  Grab a form of escapism.  Dive into a mystery novel, enjoy a romantic comedy or tune into America's Funniest Home Videos.  Sometimes we want a distraction and escapism is a wonderful way to do this.

7.)  Pet your pooch. (Or your cat!)  Studies have proven that pet owners are happier and live longer lives.  Our pets love us unconditionally.  They don't care if we burn dinner, if our hair is frizzy or if our breath stinks. (God bless them!)  Spend some time snuggling, throwing the ball (or mouse toy) and enjoy the love your pet has to offer.  If you don't have a pet, you could check with your local pet shelter and see if they have volunteers come spend time with the animals.  Many shelters do this.  You can help lift the spirits of an animal, while lifting your own.

8.)  Take a bath/ paint your nails/ pamper yourself!  As women, we often spend our time taking care of those around us.  Unfortunately, we often neglect ourselves in the process!  Take 20 minutes and indulge in a bubble bath.  Paint your nails.  Spend time doing something that makes you feel great.  Take care of you!

9.)  Start a gratitude journal.  When things seem to be going wrong, gratitude can help us shift our attitudes.  There is always something to be grateful for.  Take time daily to jot down 5-10 things that you are grateful for in your life.  This act can transform the way you view your life.  Looking for the positives will buoy your spirits and will help you to see all of your blessings.

10.)  Volunteer.  Go outside of yourself and do some good in your community.  Volunteering is a wonderful way to take your focus off of you.  It is important to remember that we are part of something much larger than ourselves and we have a responsibility to help our fellow man.  You will meet new people, experience teamwork and help improve the lives of others.  Serve at a soup kitchen.  Work for Habitat For Humanity.  Become a Big Brother or Sister.  There are voids to be filled in every community and if you are willing to lend your time, someone will surely be thankful for your help.

These are the ways that I combat stress.  What works for you?

Tuesday Talk- Handing It on Up...

Hi Everyone!  I am doing my first link up with Tuesday Talk.  I have decided to share how I deal with my worry and how I find peace.  The answer is simple, yet sometimes hard to do.  I hand it on up to much more capable Hands.

A couple of years ago, Hubby and I were still in the throes of our infertility struggle.  I felt despair, jealousy, bitterness and anxiety taking over my life.  I could not understand why we couldn't get pregnant.  I had done everything "right".  I was eating well and exercising.  I had a career in place and so did my Hubby.  We had a house and we were stable.  It was the right time, yet things weren't working.

I have always been a Type A personality.  I wanted to control everything.  If I just did this, then this would happen.  If I did this, then that would happen.  I lived comfortably in a world of cause and effect.  I knew how to achieve what I wanted, until I couldn't.

Infertility brought me to my breaking point.  I was avoiding friends because they were pregnant.  I avoided Facebook because that was a mine field of baby pictures and pregnancy announcements.  I cried at holidays and I was miserable.

One night I was sitting alone on my bed and I was in tears.  I cried and cried until I couldn't cry anymore.  I was asking God "Why?" and "What did I do wrong?" over and over.  I was depressed and out of hope.  At that moment it dawned on me that I was approaching my prayers all wrong.  Life isn't fair.  God is a source of strength, hope and guidance.  He is not my personal butler.  I don't get to demand the kind of life that I think I should have.  Instead, I need to lean on Him and know that whatever will be, will be.  I have His love and strength to get me through.

I remember saying "I can't do this anymore.  This pain is too much for me.  I am giving it to You."  God can handle our pain, our disappointment and our struggles.  When life is too much, we can lean on Him and know that He will help us shoulder the storm.  It may sound corny but I had a strange sense of peace after that.  We didn't conceive for several months after this "revelation", but they were some of the most peaceful months of my life.  I focused on my relationship with God and my relationship with my husband.  I felt more content and I was a better partner to my husband.

I now know that when things were too much I can just hand it on up and I don't need to worry anymore.  Every time I feel anxiety creeping in, I just remind myself that I am not in charge of that pain anymore.  Taking back any of that anxiety would be a mistake because I will never be more capable than God is at handling my pain.

I still fight my Type A personality.  Handing up my worry and pain is still something that I have to pray about daily.  I do have to say that I have a sense of peace and calm more often than not.  When I don't, I pray.

I am linking up with the lovely hosts of Tuesday Talk today.  Be sure to click on the link above and check out some of the great posts!

Garden Dreams-Part Two

This past long weekend was a busy one!  I had 17 items on my "To-Do" list, 7 of which were labour intensive.  Not to mention all of the laundry and regular work that had to be done!  I am proud to say that Hubby and I crossed every single thing off of our list.  My favourite item?  We planted our garden!

I promised myself to do things a little differently this year.  I planned for half of my garden to be perennial flowers and the other half for vegetables.  I love flowers!  I chose to do perennials to help save myself some work (hopefully!) in the future.  I got Hubby to build borders around each vegetable patch.  I hope that it will help me know exactly where my plants are.  I thought that it might help to keep the plants separated and make it easier to weed.  We will see if that works out!

Hubby tilled the garden and then I grabbed my handy-dandy measuring tape and measured out my vegetable patches.  I had sketched out a scaled drawing in March.  I had already chosen where my veggies would be planted and how much of each plant would be planted.  Hubby built borders for my veggie patches, according to the strings marking each patch.

Cool, right?

I thought that the borders would take a while, but Hubby whipped them up really fast!  I was impressed, but he told me they were "easy".  Sometimes, he forgets that he is married to a woman whose construction skills are limited to Popsicle sticks and hot glue!

I planned my perennial garden out, using flour to section off each plant's area.  I heard that idea on T.V. somewhere.  The flour won't mess with the soil pH, making it safe to use.  I then planted according to the sections and my pre-determined garden 'blueprint'.  It felt like it took FOREVER because those seeds were so tiny!  I was pleased with how it turned out.  I hope all the plants come!

I am going to go crawl into bed, now.  I am exhausted after our busy weekend.  I hope everyone had a lovely weekend.  Take care!

Garden Dreams

I think that Audrey Hepburn said it best, "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.".  Around this time of year, I always find myself planning my garden and itching to plant it.  I love the idea of gardening, perhaps more than the actual garden.  I love sowing seeds into dark dirt and watching them poke their heads through the soil, finally reaching for the sunlight.  I like that a garden represents renewal, growth and hope.  It is a lesson in patience and also in love.

I actually didn't want to grow a garden this year.  I planted last year's garden at 40 weeks pregnant.  I thought that it would be a good way to coax my baby out.  It didn't work.  My plants sprouted, but with taking care of a newborn, the weeds quickly took over.  I actually had a decent harvest, despite the neglect my garden received.  I hated looking out my window and seeing my plot of weeds.  I vowed to never garden again.

Yet, here I sit, just having completed my seed order.  Last weekend, I meticulously planned my garden and what would go in it.  I chose plants for their beauty and some for their ability to feed my family.  I have vowed to myself that I will go out and weed my garden this year.  Miss. E is old enough to come out with me and play while I work.  I have tried to plan the garden so I will easily be able to take care of it.  We will see.

Gardening can be therapeutic.  I have pulled weeds while stressed and by the end of it, I always feel better.  Gardens are peaceful and allow you time to be with your own thoughts and meditations.  I love the smell of new plants and the feeling of pride when plants flourish.  I like that I can grow food and know exactly where it came from.

Gardening is one way that I find peace and simplicity in my life.  How about you?

One of my roses.