Where the Heck Have I Been??

Well, I have been frazzled. That is putting it lightly. And to deal with my frazzledness I have been eating ice cream, not sleeping, grabbing coffees, not exercising, and doing everything I would tell my clients NOT to do.

So, after my trip to the Book Expo - I am starting a thirty day challenge to take my own advice. I am going to lecture myself, look in the mirror and raise my eyebrow when I claim I have no time to exercise or eat a vegetable, and TAKE CARE OF MYSELF!! I don't mean getting massages, eating bon bons, and ordering people around. I mean eating healthy, incorporating stress relieving practices, and not taking too much on.

So read on or join in!!! I would love to have some peeps relaxing with me!!!

I will be ready to chillax on Thursday (the next few days will actually be filled with relaxing since I am not working, but I felt like that was cheating.....)

Quick Bit, Lots O Sugar!!

So quickly, as the frazzled dazzler, I have been quite frazzled and not at all dazzling. Working full time while writing a book and taking care of the little man and two dogs is not actually easy. And funny, it makes my eating habits totally crazy. Of course stress is a great thing to blame for my most recent Robin Egg habit. You see, Robin Eggs are also on sale now because Easter is over, so not only is stress at fault for my indulgence, but also, CVS should take some responsibility. I mean what do they expect me to do? Not buy them, save my money, and eat the yogurt that I put in the fridge at work on a weekly basis???? It would certainly be healthier if I did that!!

So, since I was (and am) so frazzled, some things had to go-- blogging, physical therapy, my hair appointment (I could be saddest about that), cleaning the house, and diet have all taken the back burner. I do feel as though most were good choices. I should keep up with PT and a healthier diet, but I knew I could do my PT exercises on the floor of the playroom with my little guy who thinks they are quite funny, and I know the poor diet is only temporary since I feel so nasty from all the sugar already. I had to let go of certain stressors like cleaning the house. It isn't dirty, but it isn't spotless, and that is okay. My peeps and dogs are happy and almost healthy (Izzy has a UTI--poor puppy!!) I am making progress and hoping to be done by next weekend. I am celebrating with a nice glass of water and a bunch of veggies!!

Despite not being able to keep up with the blog, I have been doing some research for it and have all sorts of fun stuff to share--like delicious meals with plantains, free yoga and tai chi if you are in the South Shore area this summer, my favorite favorite favorite coffee shop (okay it is the Coffee Break Cafe if you must know!!), and how to meditate in five minutes!!

So stay tuned. I will be back and embarking on the journey to drop sugar yet again.

Veggies and Peace to all of you.

Frazzled Friday and Tasty Treats

Actually, today wasn't as frazzled as I thought it would be. I was swamped at work, but got a lot done which always makes me feel very accomplished and proud of myself. I don't know that anyone else really cares so I have to give myself some props. Sometimes, when I do something at work - like call someone back or finish some notes - I write it on my to do list after the fact just so I can check it off!! I get so excited when I can check things off my to do list!! It is very exciting. I think I liked that when I was in school too and had my little homework notebook. Crossing off an assignment once it was finished was very exciting!! It is funny, people have so many systems of writing their to do lists - some have a separate notebook, some incorporate it into their planners, some keep it on their phone or computer. Some like to check off completed tasks, some delete them, and some scribble them out. Funny.

Eating Local and Supporting Local Businesses

So my goal is to support local businesses and try to eat more local foods, while also easing into a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. For now, I am going to start with supporting local eateries, but as time goes on, I plan on researching restaurants to find out where they get their ingredients and if they are being as kind as possible to the planet. I have GOT to finish my book by May 1st so until then I can't fully commit to the Kind lifestyle without being disappointed in myself when I fall short. I seem to have breakfast under control as far as eating vegan. The rest of the day is still a challenge and often filled with M&Ms and coffee.

Local businesses I supported today include PS Deli - fabulous coffee in South Boston - so good in fact that it could potentially keep me from going vegan. It is right in Perkins Square - hence the PS - right at the crazy intersection with Broadway and Dorchester. The coffee is delicious - the Almond Joy Mocha is heaven in a cup.

Babycakes is the other local business - a wonderful cupcake shop in Quincy. Pumpkin Spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, chocolate with peanut butter - both amazing!!! I highly recommend them! I am trying the vanilla and chocolate cupcakes tomorrow, and maybe the lemon coconut - yum. Maybe she can make a vegan cupcake....

http://www.babycakesshop.net/

New Blog, New Attitude

Okay, so this is my new blog - the old one The Stress Less Home seemed to have a funny effect on my life. Once I started it, my newborn got croup, conjunctivitis, adenovirus, some weird liver results, and needed to change daycare. I ended up with conjunctivitis, a URI (upper respiratory infection - cool slang!!), sinus infection, and more and more stress. My husband chugged along just fine which was super annoying to me. My stepson went to London by himself (kind of, it was a school sponsored trip but no parental figure was there) and he is turning 21 tomorrow. My job became helatiously stressful since I am in mental health and January and February in the Northeast honk in terms of well-being in the winter.

So I am off to a new start! The currently healthy (knock on wood) babe just started a new daycare with super nice teachers, my stepson is still turning 21 - I can't stop him from growing up so I have to learn to enjoy it, I do love my job despite the stress and without it I would have more stress, I have learned to accept my husband's laid back attitude (I am really just jealous that he can chill out and I can't), and it is mid-February which means us Bostonians are about halfway through winter which is not too bad.

So, what is this blog about? Instead of the artificial zen stuff I was trying to incorporate into my life and everyone else's in my old blog - this one is going to be the real thing. How do you deal when life keeps tossing stuff at you while you are down? There will be humor, there will be helpful tips, there will be honesty.

I do actually have a degree in mental health and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor so I do know a thing or two about a thing or two, but I am also human, and sometimes all the schooling and theory in the world just doesn't do the trick so you have to be creative.

One more thing I will post in this blog are some local reviews. Random right? Totally, but I have decided since watching Food Inc. - very interesting film, that I am going to do my best to support my local peeps and small businesses. So if you are a Bostonian, or even better - a Braintreeite, you will see reviews on places you can get to and support as well!!

Well, toodles for now, I have to go pump (more on the pleasantries of that later).

Hope your day is filled with dazzles and you aren't too frazzled!