Currently: The January Edition

from @ninacosford on instagram

How’s January going so far?  I feel like it’s been a year since the holidays — getting back into the swing of things has been tough.  Trying to get on top of things and stay there has been most of what I’ve been doing this month.

Lately I’m …

Sipping:  Anything and everything I can out of this Yeti thermos.  My sister gave it to me for Christmas and I’m loving it.  I’m a Yeti fan and I have quite a couple tumblers and a mug of theirs, but none of those can be completely sealed, which makes it way less convenient to use them outside of the house.  But you can completely close this thermos!  Game changer!

Watching:  Continuing my YouTube cooking video adventures (shout out to last month’s Alison Roman obsession), I’ve been bingeing all of Bon Appetit’s video content since Christmas.  Neither “bingeing” nor “all” is an exaggeration.

Reading:  I’m subscribed to the Dinner:  A Love Story monthly email and this fun resolution blog was shared in the most recent edition.  The author resolved to host a dinner party each month during 2019 — she was successful and each post is a recap of the month’s dinner.  I love it!

Hearing:  CÉLINE DION!  I got so lucky and was able to see her show earlier this month.  The tickets were a complete surprise and she was perfect.  If you’re a fan who maybe hasn’t listened to Céline on repeat for a while, here’s your nudge to revisit her discography and scroll through her Instagram.

What are you loving lately?

Currently: The January Edition

from @driftmag

How’s January going?  I feel like I’m finally back in the groove — it took me a while to recover from the holidays.  Now that I’ve got it back together, I’m still looking forward to another vacation in the form of this upcoming long weekend.  Ha!

Lately I’m …

Eating:  I’m a little over halfway through my Whole30, but I’m not sure it’s fair to truly call it a Whole30.  I’m taking a gentle approach this time, following the rules 99% of the time and giving myself reasonable, thoughtful wiggle-room when appropriate.  Having done a truly by-the-book Whole30 a couple times, I know that sometimes the restrictions throw me off my mental game, which I don’t want.  So maybe I should say I’m a little over halfway through my Whole(ish)FoodFreedom30.  I’m trying lots of new recipes and enjoying the process — new Happy Belly post coming next month!

Using:  These Etee reusable food wraps!  My sister gifted a pack to me for Christmas and I love them.  I try not to use a lot of one-use plastic storage in the kitchen, but I’m often running out of my glass storage containers and I need to save half of a cucumber or a little bit of leftover soup.  These wraps are perfect for stuff like that.

Trying:  This is an old, old style post from Anuschka Rees, but it’s something I’m trying to channel as I go through my closet and try to minimize my collection of clothes I (might like, but) don’t really wear.

Reading:  I was reading Julie & Julia, but I hated it!  Julie is the worst and she was making me feel negative in my real life, so I quit.  (Shout out to Gretchen Rubin for reminding me that finishing books you don’t enjoy doesn’t get you more street cred as a reader.)  Now I’ve switched to Ten Restaurants That Changed America, which is super-interesting so far.

Practicing:  I have been practicing daily at-home yoga since the start of January through Yoga with Adriene’s Dedicate series.  Most days only require about 30 minutes of my time and it’s been a nice thing to do for myself.  I’ve also been meditating daily for 53 days straight — I think it’s making me nicer!

What are you loving lately?

Getting Back to Business

After a nice break from work, my normal routine, and most of my usual responsibilities, it’s time to get back into the swing of things.  I didn’t get totally off track over the holidays — I mostly ate homemade food, I worked out and ran a few times, I even showered regularly — but I’m still feeling a bit out of sorts  So I’m reining everything in for the month of January so I can feel on top of it all!  Here’s a peek at what I’m doing to keep myself in check.

Set Clear Intentions for the Month:  My January is all about prep — I like to use it month as a time to get ready for the rest of the year.  My new resolutions are fresh and I’m trying to direct my energy into them right off the bat!  I’ve also set smaller, more manageable goals specific to this month too, like keeping up with my daily meditation and finalizing some blog content planning.  I find that as long as I understand what I want to accomplish, I can get more done than I think!

#JanuaryWhole30:  I decided a month or so ago to take on a Whole30 with my sister to kick off the new year.  While I don’t really feel like I need a Whole30 for my diet right now, I really appreciate the mental impact of doing a Whole30; it requires me to spend time and energy on myself, to pay attention to how I feel, and to be intentional about the food I’m eating.  Whole30s are a lot of mental work, but they leave me feeling centered and focused.

Mindfulness All Over:  Even though I’m getting back to business, I don’t want to stress myself out.  I am hoping to approach everything this month with a dose of mindfulness.  When it comes to food, I hope to pay attention to what and how much I’m putting in my body (my Whole30 will help with that!), and to enjoy every bite.  When it comes to stress (especially the work kind that seems inevitable after an extended vacation), I hope to manage it and respond appropriately.

Lots of Lists:  I’m keeping a ton of lists going this month!  I created a handful of “to do”, “to buy”, “to prep”, and “to plan” lists over the holidays so that I wouldn’t be running around like a headless chicken when my break ended.  Having a bajillion lists going isn’t for everyone, but they help me keep my priorities top-of-mind.

I’m determined to kick January’s butt instead of letting it kick mine!  What’s your game plan?

Currently: The January Edition

Folded arms line drawing – Bora by The Colour Study

We’re a little over halfway through the first month of 2018.  More importantly, we’re a little over halfway through my Whole30!  I’ve spent most of this month trying to get back into the swing of things after the holidays — getting my laundry schedule back on track, making regular full-blown grocery shopping trips, etc.  I’m sure we’re all in that boat.

Lately I’m …

Sipping:  Over the holidays I tried two new beers, both funky and delicious!  The first was a Kombucha beer from Unity Vibration.  I picked up the Raspberry flavor on a whim during a trip to Whole Foods and I really enjoyed it, but beware that it is truly very Kombucha-y.  The second was Chai High from Avery Brewing, which I had at an Indian restaurant alongside a vegetarian kofta.  It was delicious, just a little spicy and warm.

Eating:  All kinds of Whole30 things.  When I wrap up the challenge, I will share all my favorites from the month.

Watching:  My boyfriend and I are working our way back through the TV show Psych.  We started watching the show a few years ago when it was on Netflix and fell in love with it’s goofy nerdiness — we were so sad when it was removed!  After watching Psych:  The Movie in December, we went looking for a way to watch the show again.  Good news for all you Amazon Prime members:  all of the seasons live there now!

Wearing:  I recently ordered this nightgown from Target.  (Shout out to my sister!  I copied her again with this purchase.)  It is so cozy and so soft — I’m trying to transition from frumpy, old, over-sized t-shirts to cuter pajamas without sacrificing comfort, and this gown is doing the trick.

Trying:  Morning workouts!  This month has been all about that 5 AM wake-up call.  I’m working on a list of tips and tricks that are helping to make it possible for me, which I’ll be sharing soon.

What are you loving lately?

Currently – The January Edition

Welcome to 2017!  I’m still trying to adjust and get back into the swing of things after the holidays.  Somehow I have managed to write the date correctly each time so far, so I’m going to go ahead call January a win.

7 Bedtime Habits to Wake Up Feeling Refreshed from Hello Fashion

Lately I’m …

Wearing:  Last weekend, I got my hair cut and put in a little sunny balayage.  It’s subtle, but I am loving it!

Using:  My new spiralizer — so far I’ve made zucchini noodles (zoodles!) and potato noodles (poodles!)  Delish.

Eating:  My sister and I kicked off a Whole15 at the start of this week.  I completed a Whole30 last year and I was really happy with the takeaways — we were just looking for a little reset, so 15 days it is!  There have been lots of eggs on the menu.

Reading:  Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert.  It’s especially interesting considering this recent announcement.

Trying:  My love of ClassPass and the studio-hopping it allows me to do is no secret.  Recently, my sister and I have been going to a bunch of reformer and megaformer classes.  I have never been so bad at something!

What have you been digging lately?