Water, Interrupted

The 30 Day Water Challenge started out reasonably well.  At least for the most part.

Day One looked something like this...

5:30am - Filled gallon jug.  Drank first cup.

7:30am - Drank second cup.

8:00am - While fixing breakfast, I suddenly developed an irrational fear that all the water I plan to drink will cause the chia seeds I usually eat in yogurt to swell up much more than usual.  Google "can chia seeds cause digestive blockage"  Immediately regret said google.  (Short answer - yes, but unlikely)

12:00pm - Water consumption right on track.

8:00pm - One gallon of water consumed.  Indulged in a little self congratulations.

And so it went for the next week...

Some days I was rockin' the challenge.  Some days I came up a little short.  One day I came up miserably short of a gallon.

And then, toward the end of this past week,  it occurred to me.  I had not really thought through the timing of this challenge very well.  Tracking my water for the upcoming week or so is probably going to be difficult.  If not down right impossible.

That's why I have chosen to hit the pause button for the moment on my challenge.  It will be resumed in a week to ten days, when I can again focus on it and track my water correctly.

And...  as they say: "Stay thirsty, my friends"

Bittersweet

So, my "baby boy" turns 18 years old today. And in less than two weeks he'll graduate from high school.

I'm so excited for him.  Although he has no idea what he ultimately wants to do (how many of us really did at 18?), the future is wide open in front of him.  I can hardly wait to see where this next season of life takes him.  Who he is going to become.

I have to admit though, it's not just all joy and happiness and excitement.  There's also some nostalgia.  And some tears.  Some apprehension.

To be completely honest I find myself feeling a little disoriented.  Ungrounded. Unsure. In unfamiliar territory.

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

You see, he's not the only one facing a new season of life.  For the past 23 years I have been mom.  My main job has been to raise these 2 amazing people and help them get ready for..  well, exactly where he is now.  Preparing to step over that threshold into adulthood.

I know, I know...  once a mother, always a mother.  And I will always be here for my offspring no matter how old they get.  But motherhood is going to... should... look a lot different from here on out.

Which leaves me wondering what my own next season of my own life is going to look like.  What is my role?  How will I define myself moving forward?

I guess it's an exciting (and a little scary) time for both of us!

We Pause Our Regularly Scheduled Blog For A Water Break...

I have a teeny tiny little confession to make y'all.  I have NOT been drinking enough water lately.  Not. Even. Close.

That has got to change.  I know from experience that when I am drinking plenty of water I am less tempted to snack. I retain less fluids and am less bloated.  And I see other benefits with my skin.  So, why am I not making myself drink more?

Bring on the 30 Day Water Challenge!

Although the idea is simple enough: Drink 1 gallon of water per day for 30 days, I did think it wise to do a little homework first.  And sure enough - there are a few warnings one should be aware of before beginning a 30 Day Water Challenge.

*  Do not participate in the challenge if you do not have healthy kidneys
*  You SHOULD consult your Dr before beginning the challenge
*  Do NOT try to drink the whole gallon all at once.  In fact, don't drink more than 1 liter per hour

And there are a few basic "rules" to the challenge:

*  NO sodas during the challenge
*  NO sweetened coffee or sweetened tea during the challenge
*  NO juice
*  NO energy drinks
* If you miss the goal one day - DO NOT beat yourself up.  Just start fresh the next day

I'll be posting at least once a week to share my progress.  The highs and the lows.  I can only imagine there will be plenty of references to peeing.  You have been warned.

Wish me luck

Currently... freaking out that May is half over already!

Wait.  It's May what, already?  But, it was just May 1st the other day!  Right?
Of course, I am a very poor judge of time.  I'm still pretty sure Christmas was just a few weeks ago.  So, take that for what it's worth...

Currently...

Reading:  Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  I am less than a quarter of the way through, and it's already made me cry.  Despite that, I am enjoying it.  Much more than I thought I would.

Eating:  Breakfast.  I got back into a bad habit of skipping breakfast.  Which meant by 10 am I would be starving, resulting in poor choices at that point.  Now I am back on the breakfast train.  Usually a 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt, a teaspoon of chia seeds, some mix of berries and a sprinkling of walnuts.  Although I may switch the yogurt for oatmeal or some scrambled egg; as I am considering limiting dairy again.

Working on:  Staying focused.  You may remember that my intention for May is focus.  I had been getting distracted from my goals recently and need to narrow back in and get some things accomplished.

Enjoying:  Music.  Between guitar recitals, orchestra concerts, the radio, my iTunes, and Pandora - I have been soaking up the music recently.

Anticipating:  Fresh, homegrown veggies!  The Man of the House put a bunch of plants in the ground this weekend.  Which means garden season has officially started.  Now, I just have to be patient and wait for those goodies to grow and start producing.

Thinking:  About what it really means to be a Christian.  Love and grace vs judgment.  Trusting God's plan.  The Holy Spirit.  Soooo much thoughts.  Too many to share in this one little blurb.

Feeling:  Loved. 💗

What are your "currentlys" ?

Sunday Inspiration: When You Feel Overwhelmed

Favorite Finds Friday: Spring Essentials

Welcome to another Favorite Finds Friday!  Spring has been in full swing for a couple of months, but if spring where you are us anything like spring here - that means some rather erratic weather.  Even in the middle of May we can get some cool mornings.  With blazing hot afternoons.  And back to chilly for the evening. All this back and forth can make dressing more than a little complicated at times.

Despite that, there are a few items I consider my "Spring Essentials"...

Scarves:  I know what you're thinking...  "Scarves?  I thought she was talking about Spring essentials.  Not winter!"  Scarves, for Spring?  Uh... YES!  I love a good scarf year 'round.  Especially with a cute sweater or tunic and boots during autumn.  But once the weather turns warmer, I put away the knit scarves for lighter and brighter materials.

Scarves are perfect for adding a not-too-heavy layer on those cooler days when you need a little extra to keep the chill off.  Plus they can add a fun something special to a tshirt dress or a simple shorts and top combo.

Fun Nail Polish:  After wearing darker shades for winter (think navy, deep grey, and rich wines), or being downright neglected because they're hidden away inside my boots - my toes are ready to come out and play!

This means a wardrobe change to fun, bright colors.  Bring on the corals, the teals, and the bright pinks!

Dresses & Skirts:  I find pants a challenge any time of year.  It's difficult to find a comfortable, well fitting pair of pants.   Which is why I lean heavily on skirts and dresses once the weather warms up. (And I no longer have to worry about a winter wind finding it's way up my skirt...  brrr!)

Easy.  Cool.  And comfy.  That has Spring into Summer written all over it!

Speaking of being comfy pants challenged - I am crazy curious about the pants at Betabrand.com .  They have these Crop Dress Pant Yoga Pants which look perfect for Spring and Summer.  I am dying to try!  If I could look dressed, while having the comfort of yoga pants... yes, PLEASE!!  Check 'em out for yourself!  And while you're there, have a peek at some of BetaBrand's suggestions for Spring Essentials:

What are your Spring Essentials?  Share in the comments!

A Spirit of Gratitude: May 12

Another week has flown by, filled with so many blessings.  I hope you will all take a moment with me to reflect on all the goodness in your life!

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

My nephew's birthday

Being caught up

Leftover chicken

Milkshakes

Graduation announcements

The male offspring's cap and gown

Guitar recital

New dresses

Root beer floats

A necklace from the Man of the House

Rainbow beehive

Chocolate
A Mother's day bubble bath

A perfect end to a lovely day

Eskimo kisses from the grandbaby

Moth on the door frame

3 deer crossing the road

A quiet breakfast

What are you thankful for this week?

They really like me! (Or they do an awesome job of pretending to like me)

As y'all probably know - Sunday was Mother's Day.  A day for showing moms a little love and appreciation for all that mom stuff she does all year round.  My family happens to be very good at this!

The male offspring made french toast and fruit for breakfast. With some help from his dad.  Add some orange juice and coffee - and I start the day as one happy mom.

The Man of the House surprised me with an adorable silver "Queen B" necklace.

The male offspring made me a simple card and stocked up my stash of chocolate.

The female offspring created a lovely beehive picture for my office/craft room.  The colors were chosen because the grand baby told her he wanted to give me a rainbow.  Their gift also included a home pedicure kit and a fun nail polish.

I had quiet time that afternoon to take a relaxing Mother's Day bubble bath and do my nails.  A treat which can be difficult to fit into my usual routine.

The Man of the House made a delicious buffalo chicken salad for dinner and finished the meal with a Biltmore vanilla bean cheesecake. Yum!!

I have to thank all of them for making me feel quite special and giving me a very nice, very relaxing day.

Currently... post-Mother's Day

I hope each and everyone one of you had a pleasant Mother's Day - whether you are a mother, are married to a mother, or have a mother. Mine was wonderful (more on that later this week)!

What's everyone up to this week?  I am looking down the barrel at a pretty full to do list, myself.

CURRENTLY...

Reading:  Still trying to get through The Paying Guests.  And still not enjoying it much.  As much as I hate giving up on a book, and usually make myself finish no matter what - I have been tempted many times to toss in the towel on this one.  At least the pace is picking up a bit.

Eating:  So many delicious and oh-so-not-good-for-me things over the past weekend! A milkshake. Cake at the reception following the male offspring's guitar recital. French toast.  Cheesecake.  I honestly gained 4 pounds this weekend.  Much healthy eating catchup work to be done this week!

Working on:  Some cotton bath puffs for my sister and her daughter.

Enjoying:  pretty toenails thanks to the beautiful new polish the female offspring gave me for Mother's Day

Anticipating:  A fun little crochet project - something just for me!

Thinking:  About everything that I should be doing while I sit here taking far too long to write this post.  And how maybe it will rain this evening and the Man of the House will get to come home early if his double header gets cancelled. And that I still need to buy stamps so we can start getting graduation announcements mailed out.

Feeling:  A little nauseous today.  Maybe from all the sweets I ate all weekend?

Sunday Inspiration: Happy Mother's Day

Favorite Finds Friday: Mother's Day

Mother's day is in two days y'all!  If you have a mom or are married to one, you have a couple more days to get prepared. And while all we really want is to know you appreciate us, and would be perfectly happy with a handmade card and breakfast in bed - we certainly aren't  going to be disappointed with a little something extra.

Target.com

If there is one thing every mom needs, it's probably more sleep.  And a comfy pair of pajamas to do it in.  Right now Target has select pj's on sale. Like these super soft (and adorable!) pants.

target.com

I am always happy to hear the words "mani-pedi".  A little relaxing that ends with cute toenails?  Yes, please!  Or, you could put together a fun little set for a DIY mani-pedi, including a bottle of polish in her favorite color.

Etsy.com

Jewelry is usually a safe bet for Mother's Day (and most other gift giving occasions).  And in my case, if it involves a bee or a crown - even better!

Lesliefreemandesigns

If mom is a coffee or tea lover, consider a beautiful handcrafted pottery mug.  I am completely infatuated with this mug by Lesliefreemandesigns on Etsy!


Of course, you can also find lots of great gifts at Queen B's Busy Work (wink, wink!)

 Unfortunately, you procrastinated to the point where it won't arrive in time for Mother's day. But sometimes a nice handcrafted Spa Bath Set is worth the wait!

A Spirit of Gratitude: May 5

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

Grandbaby playing outside with the dog

the NFL draft

Playing cards with the grand baby

Nutella crepes made by the female offspring

Sitting in the Man of the House's lap

the male offspring making dinner

Enjoying a glass of wine with the Man of the House

Rainy evening

New asthma medicine

Finishing a project

Blackberry winter

A decent night's sleep

Slow Down

I heard this song yesterday, and I'm not gonna lie - it made me cry a little. Maybe more than a little.  Ok...  I may or may mot have been driving down the road weeping like a baby.  As I prepare to have my "baby" achieve the milestone of high school graduation with a crazy mix of pride and sadness; this song spoke straight to this mama's heart.

Enjoy...

May Goals and Intentions

Can I be real with y'all for a minute? April felt like it should be categorized in the "total bust" column.  I accomplished very few of my goals for the month.  And the ones I managed to check off did not happen in the intended time frame. Cue the game show "fail" sound: wah,wah, waaaaah.

But!  Moving on.  It's a new month.  With fresh intentions and new goals!  Out with the old and in with the new.  Today is a new day.  Put the past behind you.  (  insert cheesy motivational cliché here  )

My intention for May is to be focused.  This was a big problem in April.  I let my focus wander and got off track and off schedule too many times.  It's difficult to get things accomplished when that is happening. Stay focused on the task at hand.  Stay focused on the goal.

Which brings us to my May Goals:

Go to bed and wake up earlier:  I have been staying up later than usual.  Which leads to sleeping until I have to get up to get the male offspring to school.  This cuts into my morning quiet time and somehow makes my entire day feel a little off.  This could be part of the reason I have had trouble keeping focused.

Read more:  Going to bed later is also cutting into my normal reading time.  I need to watch less television and read more this month.  I am aiming to finish the book I am currently reading and read 2 more.

Mail graduation announcements:  Self explanatory.  Although maybe I should add the words "without getting teary" to the end of that.  Oh, who am I kidding?  That's gonna happen!  Bittersweet times.

Make time for fun:  May is looking to be a very busy month.  I want to be intentional about enjoying time with my loved ones.

What are some of your goals for the month of May?

Currently, the Beginning of May

April has officially come and gone; and now we find ourselves in the first days of May.  I'm not gonna lie y'all - I am kinda freaking out about how quickly this year seems to be zooming by!

I Am Currently..

Reading:  I finished The Alchemist last week and started The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters.  It's slow going and so far I'm just finding it to be a mediocre read.  Not caring much or feeling any connection with the main character yet.  Maybe that will change soon.

Eating:  Ginormous strawberries!  The last few packs of strawberries I have picked up have been huge berries.  We even had one that was the size of a small apple!

Working on:  Making smarter food choices and getting back into a healthier eating routine.

Enjoying:  Making plans with the Man of the House for some Spring and Summer fun together.

Anticipating:  The male offspring turning 18 later this month and graduating from high school next month

Thinking:  How quickly time flies.  One day your struggling to parent two young children and then in the blink of an eye you have two young adults in your life and even a grand baby!

Feeling:  Tired.  Very very tired.  Been staying up too late trying to catch up on work.  It's catching up with me.

What are you currently doing?

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Sunday Inspiration: and He will act...

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