Life Update at 32 Weeks

Hello friends!  After having a successful month of blogging in September, it seems that I am not going to do well with my blog this month.  I do love spending time writing and connecting with my fellow bloggers but I have been struggling in the last few weeks.

A heavy work schedule coupled with me not feeling well has made for a rough few weeks.  I have felt exhausted and overwhelmed.  My last pregnancy was relatively easy.  I had only a few small issues to deal with and I seemed to maintain my energy up until near the end of my pregnancy.  This pregnancy has been very different.  I have had a lot of nausea (thankfully it doesn't result in actually getting sick!), headaches, dizziness and fatigue.  I really don't like taking things off my plate (something I clearly need to work on) so I have mostly just been powering through.  It came to a head last weekend when I just burst into tears and had a mini meltdown an hour before a fundraising event that I was helping organize.  Unfortunately, something's got to give.  I have focused this week on sleeping when I am tired, going to bed early and just saying no to pretty much everything that comes my way. 

I am lucky to have a very supportive Hubby who has been making meals all week, doing laundry and taking care of Miss. E.  I haven't had to do anything this week except go to work and come home.  It has really helped and I am feeling much better.  I have made the decision to take time to rest when I need it.  Growing a tiny human being is hard work and my body has been begging me to slow down.  It may mean that this blog suffers, that Hubby has to pick up the slack and that I might (gasp!) have to take a sick day from work.  I am determined to start paying attention to what my body needs because I can not keep functioning like this.  I also know that these last few weeks are precious and that I should enjoy resting when I can because that will all change with a newborn in the house!

The last few weeks have been quite the lesson in self care.  I really thought I was doing so well with that!  I guess I am still learning.  Thanks for listening.  Have a peaceful weekend!

January- Goals and The No Spend Year

I can't believe that the first month of 2017 is in the books.  This year is already flying by!  I have been working at implementing steps in order to reach my goals for this year.  I thought I would give you an update on how things are going.

Goal #1- Complete a No-Spend Year

This month went really well.  It was interesting for me to begin to identify my "triggers".  I like to buy a lot of "little" things, which all add up.  It was easiest for me to only go into a store if I needed something specific.  Otherwise, I avoided stores completely.  I replaced my mascara and face powder, but I stuck to my guidelines.  My face powder had run out in December and the mascara was old and clumpy.  We did buy a house this month, but we didn't count that in the no-spend year.  1 month down, 11 to go!

I took some proactive steps to help limit my desire to shop.  I unsubscribed from Texture (my online magazine subscription), I unsubscribed from emails and I began telling the people in my life that I intend to do a no-spend year.  All of these steps should help support me in the coming months.

Goal #2- Establish a Self-Care Routine

I made the most headway on this particular goal.  My Hubby and I decided that one evening per weekend would be devoted to alone time and one night per weekend would be for our date night.  We have these evenings planned for after Miss. E is in bed for the night, as family time is a priority for us (see Goal # 3).

I love having planned time to myself on the weekend.  I have fallen into a great routine on those evenings.  I generally have a bath with candles lit in the bathroom.  I do a hair mask with the deep conditioner that I have and a face mask with skin products that I already own.  I spend the rest of the evening watching YouTube videos, listening to podcasts, reading or watching a movie.  It is a refreshing routine and I am glad we implemented it.

I downloaded an app to help me track my water consumption and I have reached my goal most days this month.  I am still struggling with keeping up with my vitamins and I haven't strength trained as much as I would have liked.  These are things that I will work to improve in February.

Goal #3- Say Yes to Family Time

This goal has been going well.  We have not made plans on work days, we said no to a birthday party of an acquaintance (the guilt on that particular no is still nagging me, but I know it was the best decision for our family) and we booked our 2 family holidays for the summer.  It is hard to say no to certain things, but Miss. E is really enjoying the family time that we are carving out.

Goal #4- Start School in September

I have done absolutely nothing to help myself reach this goal.  Oops.

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

I have done a lot of reading this month and have learned a lot of history behind the prayers in my church.  I have started to incorporate these prayers into my prayer life and so far I am enjoying the dimension it has brought to my faith.

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

This goal is coming slowly.  I have been trying to determine where I want to narrow my focus.  There has been a lot of brainstorming and indecision.  I think this goal will come along as the year goes on.

I feel like the year is off to a good start.  I am enjoying the changes I have made and I am looking forward to working on my goals more in the coming month!  How are your New Year's Resolutions going?

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.

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?

Weekend Recharge

I love weekends.  I am one of the fortunate people who works Monday to Friday, so the weekend means a lot to me.  I work in health care in a small town.  I find my job extremely rewarding, but also emotionally draining.  It is hard to watch friends and acquaintances battle illness.  Usually by Friday, I am more than ready for the break from my work.  Taking time to recharge is very important to one's sense of peace and stability.  We are not created to run from activity to activity with no rest in between.  In recharging, we find our balance, strength and happiness.

As a person who works full time during the week, there is always work to be done at home.  I have to get some laundry done, clean my house and work on my minimalism.  These tasks are not my favourite things to do, but I do like that I don't have a specific timeline in which to complete them.  I get to create nice meals because of the extra time.  My husband and I can linger over them and not worry about rushing to get dishes done.  We like to watch a movie or catch the latest Saturday Night Live together, allowing ourselves to rest from our chores throughout the day.

As a couple that is soon welcoming a child, my husband and I have discussed the importance of traditions.  Most of my fondest childhood memories are linked to simple traditions that my family used to do.  My husband has similar memories with his family.  My husband and I already had the practice of attending church every Sunday morning.  We enjoy connecting with our faith once a week, bringing us back to center. We have started the tradition of eating crepes after mass, a tradition gleaned from each of our families.  Shaun's family would gather for lunch each weekend after Sunday services.  The crepe recipe is from my father.  He would make them on weekends when he wasn't working and we loved to eat them.  My brother and I each enjoyed different toppings, but we both had a strong enthusiasm for the meal.  I suspect that my mother, who did almost all of the cooking, enjoyed the break from playing chef as much as the meal.  My dad would even "dye" the crepes with food colouring to match holidays.  Pink for Valentines day, green for St. Patrick's day and so on.  The first time my husband ate a crepe in front of me, I actually gasped.  He was doing it all wrong!  He was eating the crepe as one would eat a buttermilk pancake.  I showed him our crepe eating "technique".  You put all the toppings on the crepe, roll it up and eat small sections of it with a fork.  My hubby thought it was hilarious that I took such offense to the way he had eaten the crepe, but has happily converted to the roll-up technique.  As we eat, my husband and I use the time to really talk and reconnect.  I cherish this time immensely.

It is important to make sure that you schedule in time to recharge.  I am aware that a lot of people don't have the luxury of a weekend to spend recharging.  Many people are required to work weekends or spend weekends rushing their children to tournaments and competitions.  Often, other obligations take up our "free" time, until we no longer feel that our time belongs to ourselves.  Like all other aspects of our lives, we must be vigilant in scheduling in time to recharge.  It could be simply having your family sit down once a week to share a meal and catch up with one another.  It could be walking your dog in the park.  Many harried mothers I know love just being able to take a bubble bath without interruption.  One must simply ask themselves when they truly feel peaceful and happy.  When you discover the activity that allows you to find that sense of calm, schedule it in!  Make time to recharge yourself.  You will find that doing this will give you a much more peaceful outlook on your busy life, giving you the feeling that you can tackle it all.

What are the ways that you like to recharge?  What moments of peace get you through your week?  I would love to hear from you!  Thanks for reading!