It's ALMOST February!

Confession time! I've broken my No Spenduary rule and I do believe I'm going to break it again tomorrow morning--I'll get back to that in a sec. It's gone REALLY, REALLY well for the vast majority of the month.

Aside from the purchase of appliances (yay, adulthood!) and our backsplash (finally!) which are (A) investments and (B) planned BEFORE No Spenduary started, the FIRST purchase I made was last weekend when we picked up a couple things for the girls at DSG Warehouse Store and Carter's---the shoes I found for Alyssa, a whopping $8, are so darn worth it. We also treated the girls to takeout on their Half Birthdays; it seemed like they could use an extra shot of happiness, and we were glad to oblige. Chipotle for Ab and Hello Bistro for Lyss...happy kiddos, happy parents. They were extra grateful, knowing that we weren't supposed to spend.

Today, I treated myself to a quick (literally, I was speed walking through the store, most likely looking like a total dork!) whirl through Old Navy where I scored a Valentine's Day dress for Alyssa ($7) a pair of shorts for Abby ($1), jeggings for Ab ($15) and leggings for both girls, $3 a pair!

Okay, yes--I broke my self-imposed rule HOWEVER....as is the case with Whole 30, this was as much a mental exercise as it was anything else. This was about discipline and mindfulness, making thoughtful decisions instead of shopping out of habit or reflex. The results speak for themselves--looking at my bank account and the inactivity in there makes me smile.

As for W30, there've been no cheats*---even on my birthday yesterday. I mean, being THIS close to the end of the month, and being SUPER stubborn, I really wanted to see it through. The results we're seeing are pretty great motivators, too! How am I planning to break the rules again tomorrow morning? Ordering breakfast. Oooh, getting crazy, right? When I mentioned that this was as much mental as anything, I realized something---these sacrifices are about resetting habits, but they aren't the only barometer of mood/happiness. Yes, we both feel better...for the most part. Yesterday, for my Birthday, some of my dearest friends surprised me with a quick visit. I knew I missed my people, but I didn't know just how much until they were in my kitchen, my stomach and cheeks hurt from laughing and my heart was overflowing with joy and gratitude. We've been so focused on taking care of our physical well-being, between W30ing, working out and steering clear of COVID, we sorta lost track of how we're feeling mentally. I felt immeasurably better yesterday getting a sliver of time with my friends**. So tomorrow morning, Mark and I are going to order takeout breakfast from a new local joint. We're going to support their business, we're going to eat some yummy food (W30 approved!) and we're going to make an adventure out of running to pick it up. And we'll focus on the time we're spending, not the dime. And we won't feel one ounce of guilt over breaking the rules with this one!

There may be only three more days in the month, but the habits (and results!) will carry over into February and beyond. When you've got goals, ya know....put in the effort to get the results. I'll share a "final" recap next week. Until then---take good care of YOU!

xo, Amy

*I define cheats as breaking the rules in a big way. A glass of wine, eating dessert, having a handful (uhhh, bowl!) of Cheez Its...that kind of thing. NOT the "forbidden" Lara bar or the scant amount of real flour used in a recipe. You say justification, I say reasonable expectation. **Masked, socially-distanced, proper!

A Moment for Mousse

Some things just don't make sense.  Like how I was really hungry last night after dinner, but decided to make chocolate mousse.  Logical, right?  Can't eat it right now (Whole 30, Day #26 remember!?), already hungry, so why not exacerbate the situation.  I mean...that makes no sense!  I don't get it, so I don't expect you to get it.  

Said chocolate mousse was packaged up and delivered with hugs and love to a very special person--at least that part was logical!  Make it and get it the heck out of the house.  Logical, yes.  Without consequence?  No.  I ended up with a very disappointed 6 year old on my hands when she saw me deliver the entire batch.

So we applied more silly logic (wait, is that an oxymoron!?) this morning when, during our two hour delay, we whipped up another batch.  How else would you spend bonus time like that?!

Before you think we're real fancy or complicated, please let me assure we are neither.  This mousse is, in fact, delicious (I did eat it one time when I made it months ago!), really easy and seems much more impressive than the effort would indicate.

Wanna know how it goes?  It's quick--honest!  Don't miss it!

Take 1/2 of a cup of heavy cream and warm it up in the microwave for 1 minute
Add 1 cup of chocolate chips; I splurge and get Ghirardelli 
Mix those together until the chips melt and you've got a lovely, silky, chocolaty mixture
Set that into the fridge for 5-8 minutes to cool off
Whip 1 cup of heavy cream until it forms stiff peaks--4-5 minutes
Scoop out about 1/2 of a cup of the whipped cream to use as topping
Gently fold the chocolate into the remaining cream, incorporating fully
Place the mousse into whatever serving bowl you'd like (I've used stemless wine glasses and even Oui yogurt jars!)
Top with a little whipped cream and shaved chocolate

That disappointed 6 year old was quite joyful when I presented her with a Hershey kiss and a mircroplane and told her to get after it!  At 8:30am!  Then, why not, we popped a little bit into a bowl and tossed it into her lunch bag.  Go 'head, Girl.  Savor that treat in the elementary school cafeteria!!

You'll have to find your own helper, mine's taken!  But even if you're left to your own devices, I promise you that you can make this happen and might even have everything on hand right now!

It's long been a fact (right?!) that many of life's troubles can be cured with chocolate.  It's also long been a fact (stop doubting) that it's a super way to celebrate.  So versatile, this treat.  But hey, no matter how, when or why you have it, ENJOY it!  

xo,
Amy

The Halfway Point!

Here we are, a little more than halfway through the month of January...No Spenduary & Whole 30, too.  Yes, we decided to take 2021 by the horns.  Now, here's the thing.  It's really easy for me to lament all the ways I got here.  The poor choices, the "pour" choices (oye, the wine!) and the choice to simply make it through the long, dark  pandemic days.  Too often that meant a different shade of self-care, one that was, if I'm honest, merely temporary.  

It's easy to go there.  It's not as easy, but extremely important, to give myself a whole heap of grace.  And focus forward.  Which is what this month is all about.  How I got here is only important in so much as it's good to understand my thought process so I can change it!

So how's it going?  Well, it's going pretty darn well.  We're both on track and haven't cheated.  Okay, wait.  Let's put that into context.  There are a handful of items for W30 that are a little harder to come by, so we use what we have, especially when it's a scant amount.  Two tablespoons of flour in an entire recipe?  I use what I have.  Or bacon with no sugar?  I go for the one with the least, knowing I'm using 3 strips for a whole meal for four.  Yeah, I know I should have almond flour or zero sugar bacon or any number of other options, but....I'm willing to bend the rules a bit for something this minor.  

We are steadfast with the other elements; no beans, no alcohol, no grains, no dairy.  We're not supposed to weigh in, but I can tell you that someone has (ahem, not me!) and has seen results.  So that's encouraging.

But really--how's it going?  Okay, truth be told, I have moments where I'm hungry.  Then again, I have days where I almost forget to eat because I feel full/satisfied.  So it changes.  And I really do miss munchies, but heaven knows I had more than enough munchies the past 10 months--a 30 day break won't kill me.  I don't really miss alcohol as much as I expected to.  Mostly because I'm feeling far more positive benefits from abstaining.

I'm less achy, my joints feel better, I definitely feel less puffy---though, again, I've not stepped on a scale.  I'm also feeling more energized through the day--most days.  And I'm sleeping much better.  I've gotten back on track with drinking plenty of water---an easy thing to skip when it's cold out, I find.  And decaf tea and I are buddy-buddy!  

Stubbornness may be a negative trait most times, but it's serving me well right about now.  I made three meals, two batches of Rice Krispie Treats and a batch of cookies recently.  Not a morsel passed my lips.  It would have been really easy to eat a spoonful of each dish--you know, to test it!--but I stayed strong and packed them up to deliver to their recipients.  I'm not even sneaking nibbles from the girls' dishes.  Another easy thing to do, almost without thinking.  And insignificant as they might seem, those sneaky calories add up.

Plus, my thought process has changed and I'm careful about what I say.  Tough day?  Oh, pour a glass of wine.  Wait--that's not the only way to cope, right?  Pens back on the ice?  Cool!  Grab a beer for the game.  Hold up--is that the best choice?  The focus here is on healthy choices---all around, and for all of us.  Even the girls are getting in on the act, blessedly!

Bottom line, we've got 12 days to go and we're going to see it through.  From past experience, we stick to a good chunk of this even beyond Day 30, too.  We're not as strict, but we're also not so slack.  We recognize the effort brings results, and we're not so keen on ruining the results by Day 35.  We've not only changed our eating habits, but our thinking habits as well.  That's huge!

And No Spenduary?  Still going strong, however....we did have a few expenses.  One was a tournament fee for Abby, one was a small care package for my Mom and then there were the kitchen appliances.  The appliances were a long-time in coming, so while we made the purchase this month, the funding had already been set aside.  So maybe that one sort of doesn't count?  And maybe the crazy good deal we got makes it better, too?  Crazy....as in saved HUNDREDS and got better pieces than what we initially chose.  So yeah, we'll take a mulligan on that one.

The other expense we had was a KidPik for each kiddo.  Thanks to my inability to pay attention to the shipping date, they showed up as a lovely little surprise.  I was prepared to simply send them back, because they fall firmly into the "extra" category, but they were kinda on point--and not outrageously-priced.  Soooooo, Happy (early) Valentine's Day, ladies.  But this is a prime example of paying attention to spending habits.  I should have known this was coming so I could have suspended it further*.  Mindless spending, just like those mindless nibbles, can getcha!

No other extras.  No eating out/ordering in.  No drive-thrus, no popping into TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Home Goods--none of it.  No Add to Cart, no just because-s.  I guess being mostly homebound helps with that, but even our online shopping has been shut down.  All it takes is a glance at my bank balance (and the activity ledger that's pretty empty!) to see that this is making the impact we set out to make with this exercise.  

Twelve days to go (with two half birthdays, one REAL birthday and two report cards to celebrate!) and we're determined to hold the line, stay true to our goals and make the most of this first month of 2021.  After last year, flipping the script and trying new ways of doing things felt like an obvious and popular choice.  Cheers to however you're choosing to welcome the new year.

xo,
Amy

*The neat thing about KidPik is that there's no up-front fee and no return postage fee.   So I really could have sent the entire box back without paying a dime.  The girls LOVE getting mail and these packages are so well done, it's hard to squelch their joy!  Like I said, Happy (early) Valentine's Day!  

A List of Likes

My girls have this thing, lately, where they ask me for my favorite EVERYTHING.  Favorite song?  Color?  Movie?  Vacation spot?  Book?  Food?  Thing to do outside?  Thing to do inside?  And my answer is nearly always the same.  "I don't really have a favorite."  It all depends on the mood and the context.  

Favorite movie?  I could go with Keeping the Faith because of the memories it evokes (and its message is pretty cool, too) but I could just as easily point to Dirty Dancing when the need to mindlessly engage in nostalgia and fun music is the call of the day.  It depends.

With that in mind, I decided to curate a List of Likes.  Some would say "these are a few of my favorite things" and I suppose that could be true.  It's a random list, but here it is!  

Crabtree & Evelyn Tarocco Orange Eucalyptus & Orange ultra-moisturizing hand therapy.  I found two small tubes of this gem a week ago as I was cleaning out some baskets in my linen closet.  Smells very spa-like, feels awesome going on, lasts a good long while (even through frequent handwashing!) annnnnnnnnnnnd it's no longer available.  Because that is exactly "on brand" with the way things are rolling these days, right? 

The fact that it’s still light out at 4:57pm!  Who's with me?  Who's enjoying the idea that days are getting longer?  It's subtle, but it's happening.  And it's a lovely reminder of what's to come.

The luxury of curling up with a cozy blanket, a mug of tea and a good book.  Bonus if one of the girls curls up on/with me!  Extra bonus if it’s dreary enough to turn the fireplace on and really get the mood!  I'm determined to stay the course with my goal of at least 10 pages a day, so reading has returned to its spot on the TO DO list.  It still feels like such a luxury, but maybe that's the point?

Driveway visits from my Mom---with food!  So yes, COVID stinks.  And being apart from family really stinks.  Not being able to hug my Mom and Dad?  Ugh---temporary though it is, it's still a gut punch.  So when my Mom invents reasons to pop over for a driveway visit, we indulge.  And when the reason she invents involves bringing food, we're extra happy.  I really believe that no matter how old you are, having your Mom take care of you in big or even small ways is a huge blessing.

Supportive husbands!  He barely blinked when I declared January as No Spenduary AND another round of Whole 30.  And he could have.  He could have rolled his eyes and told me I was on my own.  But he didn't.  God love Mark, he dove into meal planning with me, committed to making the next 30 days really count and gave me a shot of encouragement.  I've always said there's a difference between being ALLOWED do something and being ENCOURAGED to do it.  I'm pretty glad Mark's along for the ride with me, because it's a lot easier with him in my corner, that's for sure!

Amazing friends--including those I've never even met!  Yeah, that's right!  I count myself incredibly blessed to have friends who cheer me on, talk me down, lift me up and bring out my best even when they've seen me at my worst.  And while the pandemic has done a banner job of limiting or eliminating our together time, our bonds have become even stronger.  

It's a 10 minute chat across the yard in the middle of a walk, a New Year's Eve tradition reimagined rather than altogether cancelled and the enthusiastic offer to support a work-related project that culminated in a Starbucks date where we sat outside, enjoying an abnormally warm December day!  It's the weekly TWOsday text train that's been going on for 5 years.  It's sharing books, sharing coping mechanisms for the heavy moments and sharing laughs.  Friends are rich treasures to be held close.  

And then there's this fantastic group of "pocket friends" (phrase borrowed from one of the lovely ladies in the group) that I was invited to join last year during Dry January.  I know ONE person in this group--my friend Sarah (the one I've never met in person, despite being friends for nearly 20 years...say whaaaaa!?) but that has zero impact on the value of this squad.  I'm so enjoying the humor, wisdom, support and perspective of this group of cool humans.  I could easily picture us all gathered around a huge farm table for a lovely brunch.  It's that kind of vibe.  And I'm grateful for it.  

Playoff football!  I've lost my dedication to the NFL, haven't watched many games in the past few years, but there's something about the energy of playoff football.  There's an extra urgency to each play, there's a level of stress that's just this side of too much--and I have tons of fond memories of watch parties at our house with awesome friends, food for miles and superstitions galore.  Bonus when there's some friendly trash talking going on with a buddy!  Good stuff!

And while we're talking sports....HOCKEY'S BACK!  As of this week, the Pens will be on the ice again and that just feels right.  Cozy nights watching them while wearing my lucky pants and listening to the girls go crazy when they score?  So.  Much.  Fun!

My job!  For so many reasons.  The normal ones--it's a paycheck, it's fulfilling, my co-workers are cool.  And then the other ones--it's a great way to teach my girls about giving back, about reaching for more, about being successful in more than one area in life.  About comebacks from setbacks and about the importance of being valued.  It's knowing that our work makes a difference in people's lives.  A real, lasting difference that often ripples outward, impacting more than we ever know.

Music!  There is no way I could ever pick a favorite.  Song, genre---nope!  A single one of my playlists includes everything from Frank Sinatra to Lauren Daigle to Blue October, Dua Lipa, Gavin DeGraw and even something from the Zombies soundtrack.  Honest!  But man does music do all the things.  Soothe my heart?  Yup!  Energize me?  No doubt.  Bring back amazing memories of a specific moment in time?  So frequently.  Via Alexa, Amazon Music or even good ole CDs, I'm forever playing something in the background.  

My Bellabeat.  I was fortunate to receive this gem as a gift, then sadly--it sat unused for way too long before I figured it out (eye roll, go ahead!) with the help of the lovely Kate.  Know I wear it daily and love the tracking, the gentle reminders to move more, grab water and even the 3:00 alarm that reminds me to pause and whisper a specific prayer.  There's a saying that your only competition is yourself.  With Bellabeat, I can see my daily activity levels and challenge myself to be better the next day.  It's a fun game, where even when I lose I win!  Plus, it's pretty and versatile, able to be worn like (because it looks like) jewelry. 

And finally, my blog! One of my 2021 goals is to write at least one post per week.  Sitting quietly (with music of course) at the computer and sharing thoughts or recipes or observations--it somehow both energizes me and calms me.  See?  I can't even pick a favorite emotion/response.  No matter.  I'll keep writing.  For one person, for a bunch of people.  For me, for an audience.  I'll keep writing.  Because that is, and has been for as long as I can remember, definitely one of my favorite things!

xo,
Amy