<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>wellness Archives - ON TAP FOR TODAY</title> <atom:link href="https://ontapfortoday.com/tag/wellness/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>http://ontapfortoday.com/tag/wellness/</link> <description>fun loving, inspired living</description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:23:53 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-ACS_1560-1.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1</url> <title>wellness Archives - ON TAP FOR TODAY</title> <link>http://ontapfortoday.com/tag/wellness/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">42026970</site> <item> <title>What *even* is self care?</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2023/01/14/what-even-is-self-care/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2023/01/14/what-even-is-self-care/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 14 Jan 2023 15:27:30 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[meditation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[self care]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=11022</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>I’m coming to you from the sofa in our sunroom… but there’s no sun.  Because it’s January in New England.  I’ve been working on a Winter Comfort Kit for my newsletter subscribers, but I felt like we really needed to chat about self care first (because that’s sort of a prereq to thriving rather than just surviving, right?).  If you’re not already on the list, I’d love to have you join (I promise to email you rather infrequently and always with a cute printable or playlist in tow). 🕵🏼♀️ WHAT *EVEN* IS SELF CARE? I think, in the US at least, self care is seen as something shop-able— something with a price tag— something we think we need to throw money at *and* something that feels indulgent or selfish— likely because we’ve also been told self care is a woman’s thing.  (Why? I’m guessing it’s because women are essentially doing the heavy lifting of what amounts to self care *for* men, but hey…) But in my opinion, at least, most of what we can do to care for ourselves is less of a money or product thing, and more of an investment of time and energy. And a lot of that is digging into our attitudes towards ourselves and the way we talk to or interact with ourselves.  And there’s kind of no getting around that hard stuff… and when you’re having a rough day, like— that inner work might be the last thing you want to be tackling. Which brings me to this other myth that self care is what you do when you’re having a low time, or an off day, or you’re frazzled, or burnt out.   Is that when you probably need the most care? Of course.  It’s that when you’re the most able to provide that for yourself? Maybe — but likely not.   🛒 STOCKPILING SELF CARE So that’s why I like to practice what I think of as stockpiling self care on the days when I do have a bit more energy, or patience, or time, or resources.  This stock piling of self care might look like: 🐣 WHAT WOULD IT FEEL LIKE TO PARENT OR BEFRIEND YOURSELF? Beyond tangible tasks and actions, self care is all about the relationship we foster with ourselves.  Think about all the relationships you have with other people — friend, maybe partner, maybe parent, child, sibling, neighbor — and all the really good, healthy ways you show up in those relationships. Can you be those things and that person for yourself? Can you mother yourself in the best, healthiest, most life giving ways you mother other people? Can you listen to, support, counsel, and laugh with yourself in the way that you do with a dear friend?  Can you save some of your best interactions and energy for yourself? And not in a way that deprives your other relationships — but in a way that you consciously don’t deprive yourself. Can you feed yourself, for example, as well as you feed your family or roommates? I’m talking meeting your own basic needs — but also how you talk to yourself, how patient you are with yourself, how curious you allow yourself to be, how forgiving you are with yourself, how you care for your physical body— all of this.  🏰 BUILDING YOUR SELF CARE PALACE I also like to think of self care as having levels — there’s the gold standard (what I do to feel my absolute best version of myself), the baseline (what I need to feel comfortable, and what I can reasonably expect of myself on most days), and the basement (doing the absolute least, but it’s something). I guess if we were going to see that basement and building analogy through, it would be penthouse, ground floor, and basement— so if you want to think of your self care routines in terms of a palace — it might look like this (let’s use getting ready for bed as the sample routine): Penthouse: Full bedtime routine (skincare with maybe a couple extra steps, dental care, write out gratitude, read for 30 minutes, meditate, heating pad) Ground floor: Wash face, moisturize, brush teeth, think of 1-2 things I’m grateful for, listen to calming sounds (for me, it’s crashing waves on my Hatch) Basement: Use a face wipe, brush teeth, take a couple deep breaths You can go through this exercise for all parts of your day — meals, movement, work routines, family engagements, how you navigate certain relationships — and ask yourself:  😉 IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT (with a few caveats, obv) Answering questions like those above, and setting up systems for yourself, will come from simply knowing yourself and trusting yourself… and this takes practice.  I’m nearly 41 and I’m still finding ways to surprise (and sometimes concern 🧐) myself… Knowing what makes us feel good, and (assuming it doesn’t harm yourself or others) leaning unapologetically into those things, is excellent self care.  I quite literally keeps lists of things that make be feel great (sometimes not immediately, but still)— it’s silly but I swear it helps.  Want to see a few of those things? And yes, some of the things on my list have an add to cart vibe— but it’s really the intentionality, the preparing baseline quality experiences for the days when we only have basement energy, of sharing the best parts of ourselves with ourselves — that are at the heart of all of this.  Looking for a cute little worksheet to help you cultivate your own “what feels great” list, sort through the palace of your own self care, or make a plan for stockpiling? Join my newsletter list + I’ll gladly get that out to you. As always, I’m truly grateful + love having you part of my community. xx Elizabeth</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2023/01/14/what-even-is-self-care/">What *even* is self care?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>I’m coming to you from the sofa in our sunroom… but there’s no sun. Because it’s January in New England. I’ve been working on a Winter Comfort Kit for my newsletter subscribers, but I felt like we really needed to chat about self care first (because that’s sort of a prereq to thriving rather than just surviving, right?). If you’re not already on the list, <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/615da57dc71e8685f183bf2a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">I’d love to have you join (I promise to email you rather infrequently and always with a cute printable or playlist in tow)</a>.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-blog-width"><img data-recalc-dims="1" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="919" height="1127" src="https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-10.24.21-AM.png?resize=919%2C1127&ssl=1" alt="let's talk self care image depicts a white desk top with a note pad, white pen, and small shell inside a dish - what is self care?" class="wp-image-11023" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-10.24.21-AM.png?resize=919%2C1127&ssl=1 919w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-10.24.21-AM.png?resize=245%2C300&ssl=1 245w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-10.24.21-AM.png?resize=835%2C1024&ssl=1 835w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-10.24.21-AM.png?resize=768%2C942&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-10.24.21-AM.png?resize=572%2C701&ssl=1 572w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-10.24.21-AM.png?resize=952%2C1167&ssl=1 952w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-14-at-10.24.21-AM.png?w=1052&ssl=1 1052w" sizes="(max-width: 919px) 100vw, 919px" /></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f575-1f3fc-200d-2640-fe0f.png" alt="🕵🏼♀️" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> WHAT *EVEN* IS SELF CARE?</h2> <p>I think, in the US at least, self care is seen as something shop-able— something with a price tag— something we think we need to throw money at *and* something that feels indulgent or selfish— likely because we’ve also been told self care is a woman’s thing. (Why? I’m guessing it’s because women are essentially doing the heavy lifting of what amounts to self care *for* men, but hey…)</p> <p>But in my opinion, at least, <strong>most of what we can do to care for ourselves is less of a money or product thing, and more of an investment of time and energy. And a lot of that is digging into our attitudes towards ourselves and the way we talk to or interact with ourselves</strong>. And there’s kind of no getting around that hard stuff… and when you’re having a rough day, like— that inner work might be the last thing you want to be tackling. Which brings me to <strong>this other myth that self care is what you do when you’re having a low time, or an off day, or you’re frazzled, or burnt out. Is that when you probably need the most care? Of course. It’s that when you’re the most able to provide that for yourself? Maybe — but likely not. </strong></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f6d2.png" alt="🛒" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> STOCKPILING SELF CARE</h2> <p>So that’s why I like to practice what I think of as <strong>stockpiling self care on the days when I do have a bit more energy, or patience, or time, or resources</strong>. This stock piling of self care might look like:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Buying a few Trader Joe’s freezer meals to keep on hand — whether to feed myself or to give myself a night off from making a meal for my family</li> <li>Sticking an extra trash bag in the bin, so that when I empty it— there’s already a bag there (this is so stupid, but the relief I feel is very real when I see that little bag liner waiting for me <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f605.png" alt="😅" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />)</li> <li>Clearing out a cluttered area of the home or tackling a similar project that’s been taking up both physical and mental space for me</li> <li>Taking 10 minutes and schedule all my necessary doctor, dentist, haircut, auto care, vet, etc. appointments for the next few months</li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f423.png" alt="🐣" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> WHAT WOULD IT FEEL LIKE TO PARENT OR BEFRIEND YOURSELF?</h2> <p><strong>Beyond tangible tasks and actions, self care is all about the relationship we foster with ourselves. </strong> <strong>Think about all the relationships you have with other people — friend, maybe partner, maybe parent, child, sibling, neighbor — and all the really good, healthy ways you show up in those relationships. Can you be those things and that person for yourself?</strong> Can you mother yourself in the best, healthiest, most life giving ways you mother other people? Can you listen to, support, counsel, and laugh with yourself in the way that you do with a dear friend? </p> <p>Can you save some of your best interactions and energy for yourself? And not in a way that deprives your other relationships — but in a way that you consciously <em>don’t </em>deprive yourself. Can you feed yourself, for example, as well as you feed your family or roommates? I’m talking meeting your own basic needs — but also how you talk to yourself, how patient you are with yourself, how curious you allow yourself to be, how forgiving you are with yourself, how you care for your physical body— all of this. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f3f0.png" alt="🏰" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> BUILDING YOUR SELF CARE PALACE</h2> <p>I also like to think of self care as having levels — there’s the gold standard (what I do to feel my absolute best version of myself), the baseline (what I need to feel comfortable, and what I can reasonably expect of myself on most days), and the basement (doing the absolute least, but it’s something).</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Side note, but an important one, so I’m making it a bullet point: <strong> Something is better than nothing. And sometimes doing nothing *is* doing something — resting or saying no is making a choice and it can be a really safe, healthy, loving, restorative action.</strong></li> </ul> <p>I guess if we were going to see that basement and building analogy through, it would be penthouse, ground floor, and basement— so if you want to think of your self care routines in terms of a palace — it might look like this (let’s use getting ready for bed as the sample routine):</p> <p><strong>Penthouse:</strong> Full bedtime routine (skincare with maybe a couple extra steps, dental care, write out gratitude, read for 30 minutes, meditate, heating pad)</p> <p><strong>Ground floor:</strong> Wash face, moisturize, brush teeth, think of 1-2 things I’m grateful for, listen to calming sounds (for me, it’s crashing waves <a href="https://bit.ly/3NZ81mz">on my Hatch</a>)</p> <p><strong>Basement:</strong> Use a face wipe, brush teeth, take a couple deep breaths</p> <p>You can go through this exercise for all parts of your day — meals, movement, work routines, family engagements, how you navigate certain relationships — and ask yourself: </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>What’s the ideal situation?</li> <li>What is enough?</li> <li>What is your sort of bare bones/lowest spend of energy situation?</li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f609.png" alt="😉" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT (with a few caveats, obv)</h2> <p><strong>Answering questions like those above, and setting up systems for yourself, will come from simply knowing yourself and trusting yourself… and this takes practice. </strong> I’m nearly 41 and I’m still finding ways to surprise (and sometimes concern <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f9d0.png" alt="🧐" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />) myself…</p> <p><strong>Knowing what makes us feel good, and (assuming it doesn’t harm yourself or others) leaning unapologetically into those things, is excellent self care. </strong> I quite literally keeps lists of things that make be feel great (sometimes not immediately, but still)— it’s silly but I swear it helps. Want to see a few of those things?</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Quiet time (like, going to bed v early and reading or scrolling on my phone in the dark without self judgement)</li> <li>Meditation (even/especially when it’s hard)</li> <li>Cute ice cubes</li> <li>Reading whatever I want + not finishing books/articles that aren’t doing it for me</li> <li>Having one empty shelf or drawer (and freeing up visual clutter, in general)</li> <li><a href="https://bit.ly/3NZ81mz">Sound machine/wakeup lamp</a> + two fans + one heating pad + <a href="https://bit.ly/3XyzQWt">my favorite body oil</a> + a generally <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/2728.png" alt="✨" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />extra<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/2728.png" alt="✨" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> bedtime routine</li> <li>Nature/outside time</li> <li>Comfort reads (or shows or podcasts)– what interests me (i.e. politics + crime) is not always what makes me feel good– so this is its own category (think Smartless and Derry Girls)</li> <li>Maintaining baselines systems (for example: the things. I almost always have in my bag, car, and pantry– and enough to share because being prepared to swoop in for other people is <em>the ultimate</em> for me)</li> <li><a href="https://a.co/d/10Shh2K">Portioning out my vitamins and medicine for two weeks</a></li> <li>Hiding cash + mints + other surprises for myself in various drawers and pockets <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f606.png" alt="😆" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></li> </ul> <p>And yes, some of the things on my list have an <em>add to cart</em> vibe— but <strong>it’s really the intentionality, the preparing baseline quality experiences for the days when we only have basement energy, of sharing the best parts of ourselves with ourselves — that are at the heart of all of this</strong>. </p> <p><a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/615da57dc71e8685f183bf2a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Looking for a cute little worksheet to help you cultivate your own “what feels great” list, sort through the palace of your own self care, or make a plan for stockpiling? Join my newsletter list + I’ll gladly get that out to you.</a></p> <p>As always, I’m truly grateful + love having you part of my community. </p> <p>xx Elizabeth</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2023/01/14/what-even-is-self-care/">What *even* is self care?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2023/01/14/what-even-is-self-care/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11022</post-id> </item> <item> <title>My sole New Year’s resolution</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2019/01/16/my-sole-new-years-resolution/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2019/01/16/my-sole-new-years-resolution/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jan 2019 01:17:15 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category> <category><![CDATA[New Year]]></category> <category><![CDATA[New Year's Resolutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=10442</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>It’s mid-January and I’ve kept my sole New Year’s resolution thus far, so I feel like it’s safe to report on it. (Reporting live from my sofa. Why did I say “report it?” Too lazy to change it. I’m officially a reporter. Mostly a weatherperson. But I know lots of sportz things too.) Anyway, this is the only resolution I made for 2019: I will make all my/our follow-up appointments before leaving the doctor’s office, hair salon, speech therapist, dentist, etc. Seems fairly simple (and maybe obvious to better equipped adults), but I recently realized I have a terrible habit of rushing out the door with the best intentions of calling to schedule a follow-up… and then I don’t, and then I’m scrambling to be squeezed in at the last minute. Which we all know, rarely goes well. In the month of December alone, I managed (I was probably touched by angel or something that day) to snag a very last minute hair appointment… but only one long enough to get my roots done. The rest of my lion’s mane remained, well, wild. There wasn’t even time to dry it. And I left no fewer than 5 voicemails for Nicky’s speech therapist (I finally got a call back last week) trying to get an appointment for him. And then it dawned on me that I hadn’t scheduled the kids’ annual physicals– which they’ll need for their new school. The first available family physical (I love that they happily see both kids at once) is on my birthday. Celebrate good times, c’mon. Do do do do do do do do. Woo hoo. Once I recognized the unnecessary stress I was bringing down upon myself (and my hair), I couldn’t un-see the pattern. And so this month, I left the hair salon with a full on appointment scheduled for six weeks out (color, gloss, trim + blow dry). We left Nicky’s first dental cleaning with a prize for joining the “no cavity club” …and an appointment scheduled for July. It’s partly (mostly?) about making life easier. But it’s also a way to ensure that we get what we need, when we need it. It’s prioritizing my wellbeing, and the wellbeing of my family. On the most basic level, it’s self-care. So while my sole New Year’s Resolution is fairly small, fairly boring, and fairly… well, it’s something everyone else is probably already doing… it’s a big one for me. And I’m quite pleased with my commitment so far. Please check back in February, when I will have an in-depth follow-up report from the anchor’s desk. Or maybe I’ll get one of those giant election night map touch screen things. Definitely going to wear a pant suit. And one of those clip on microphones. Also On Tap for Today: Making a big pot of my favorite lentil mac + cheese Implementing some of the tips from last weekend’s happy/healthy winter workshop at Audubon Finishing up plans for Grace’s birthday party Ok. Dying to know. Did you make any resolutions, or set intentions for the year ahead?</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2019/01/16/my-sole-new-years-resolution/">My sole New Year’s resolution</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>It’s mid-January and I’ve kept my sole New Year’s resolution thus far, so I feel like it’s safe to report on it. <em>(Reporting live from my sofa. Why did I say “report it?” Too lazy to change it. I’m officially a reporter. Mostly a weatherperson. But I know lots of sportz things too.) </em>Anyway, this is the only resolution I made for 2019:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>I will make all my/our follow-up appointments <strong>before</strong> leaving the doctor’s office, hair salon, speech therapist, dentist, etc.</p></blockquote> <p>Seems fairly simple (and maybe obvious to better equipped adults), but I recently realized I have a terrible habit of rushing out the door with the best intentions of calling to schedule a follow-up… and then I don’t, and then I’m scrambling to be squeezed in at the last minute. Which we all know, rarely goes well. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="783" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/calendar.jpg?resize=783%2C1024&ssl=1" alt="sole new year's resolution" class="wp-image-10443" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/calendar.jpg?resize=783%2C1024&ssl=1 783w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/calendar.jpg?resize=230%2C300&ssl=1 230w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/calendar.jpg?resize=768%2C1004&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/calendar.jpg?resize=572%2C748&ssl=1 572w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/calendar.jpg?resize=952%2C1244&ssl=1 952w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/calendar.jpg?resize=919%2C1201&ssl=1 919w, https://i0.wp.com/ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/calendar.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px" /></figure></div> <p>In the month of December alone, I managed (I was probably touched by angel or something that day) to snag a very last minute hair appointment… but only one long enough to get my roots done. The rest of my lion’s mane remained, well, wild. There wasn’t even time to dry it. And I left no fewer than 5 voicemails for Nicky’s speech therapist (I finally got a call back last week) trying to get an appointment for him. And then it dawned on me that I hadn’t scheduled the kids’ annual physicals– which they’ll need for their new school. The first available family physical (I love that they happily see both kids at once) is on my birthday. <em>Celebrate good times, c’mon. Do do do do do do do do. Woo hoo.</em></p> <p>Once I recognized the unnecessary stress I was bringing down upon myself (and my hair), I couldn’t un-see the pattern. And so this month, I left the hair salon with a full on appointment scheduled for six weeks out (color, gloss, trim + blow dry). We left Nicky’s first dental cleaning with a prize for joining the “no cavity club” …and an appointment scheduled for July. </p> <p>It’s partly (mostly?) about making life easier. But it’s also a way to ensure that we get what we need, when we need it. It’s prioritizing my wellbeing, and the wellbeing of my family. On the most basic level, it’s self-care. So while my sole New Year’s Resolution is fairly small, fairly boring, and fairly… well, it’s something everyone else is probably already doing… it’s a big one for me. And I’m quite pleased with my commitment so far. </p> <p>Please check back in February, when I will have an in-depth follow-up report from the anchor’s desk. Or maybe I’ll get one of those giant election night map touch screen things. Definitely going to wear a pant suit. And one of those clip on microphones.</p> <p>Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Making a big pot of <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/10/26/lentil-mac-and-cheese-with-mushrooms-and-thyme/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="my favorite lentil mac + cheese (opens in a new tab)">my favorite lentil mac + cheese</a></li><li>Implementing some of the tips from last weekend’s happy/healthy winter workshop at Audubon</li><li>Finishing up plans for Grace’s birthday party</li></ul> <p><strong>Ok. Dying to know. Did you make any resolutions, or set intentions for the year ahead?</strong></p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2019/01/16/my-sole-new-years-resolution/">My sole New Year’s resolution</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2019/01/16/my-sole-new-years-resolution/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">10442</post-id> </item> <item> <title>WELL Summit Boston 2018 | 4 Favorite takeaways</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2018/04/27/well-summit-boston-2018-4-favorite-takeaways/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2018/04/27/well-summit-boston-2018-4-favorite-takeaways/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2018 19:09:49 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mediation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[well summit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[well summit boston]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[yoga]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=10165</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>I took some time last night to read through the notes I took at WELL Summit Boston 2018 this past weekend and wanted to share some of my favorite takeaways. It was such an uplifting day, and I left with pages of ideas, inspirations and action items. WELL Summit Boston 2018 | 4 Favorite takeaways From Agapi Stassinopolous‘ keynote: COMPARISON IS AN ADDICTION TO LOSING. I underlined that one. Twice. Agapi’s keynote was so encouraging, uplifting, and energizing. This was actually the only note I took from that session, mostly because I was busy clapping, dancing, and just plain enjoying myself. I’m planning to go back through her book with a pencil + highlighter — but in the meantime, I’m focusing on that one line whenever I catch myself comparing myself or my situation to others. Making healthy changes to your how you care for yourself, your home and your family should not be overwhelming… nor should it feel like a sacrifice. There are so many safe, effective, beautiful options available to us now. I am choosing to focus on what we gain (which is a lot) by using safer products, rather than on what we lose (so maybe my new mascara doesn’t stand up quite as well to Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercials… we can deal). AND! Learning about and researching options is the key to staying informed and therefore empowered… rather than fearful and overwhelmed. Consider the messages your diet sends to your children (or loved ones). This was posed during the Eating WELL panel, which covered current food and diet trends — and this part of the conversation really resonated with me. As an example, the panelists talked about the concept of cheat days, and how cheating is something we generally don’t accept in all other areas of our lives (work, school, relationships, sports, etc.). If we need to cheat on how we eat, that’s likely a signal that something needs to be fixed (or at the very least, that this is not a sustainable way of eating). Knowing that I (obviously) want my children to be healthy and thriving– I need to be mindful of the messages I am sending them through the choices I make for myself. Practice does lead to progress. There were a number of opportunities throughout the day to meditate (including a sound bath with Sara Auster, which was really amazing), and I noticed (even in a room of 500) how much easier it was for me to quiet my thoughts + surrender to whatever was happening than it had been in years passed (both at this event and others). I’m coming up on a year of mediating almost every day (I forgot to meditate on Thanksgiving, which really chapped my a-s-s… which was neither a helpful nor a particularly meditative response), and for the first time… I felt aware of my progress. And it feels good. I felt similarly proud during Sara Divello‘s yoga practice at the beginning of the day– the act of simply showing up and quietly getting it done pays off, little by little. Other highlights included: Spending time with some of my favorite women <3 Acupuncture with the ladies from Yintuition, while people watching + sitting in a beanbag chair Chatting with the co-founders of Branch Basics, the safe cleaning company that I am legit in love with (more on this soon) Sneaking a peek at some of the Design Center showrooms P.S. Tickets have just gone on sale for the next WELL Summit event, October 5-6 in Brooklyn. Also On Tap for Today: Starting a support group for parents of carsick toddlers (semi-serious) — mostly we’ll just talk about how sad/gross it is… and also we’ll invent a vom-proof carseat. Your ultimate guide to waking up early from Medium Looking forward to Yoga Reaches Out on Sunday! What’s something cool/interesting/wonderful you’ve learned this week?</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2018/04/27/well-summit-boston-2018-4-favorite-takeaways/">WELL Summit Boston 2018 | 4 Favorite takeaways</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I took some time last night to read through the notes I took at <a href="https://wellsummit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WELL Summit Boston 2018</a> this past weekend and wanted to share some of my favorite takeaways. It was such an uplifting day, and I left with pages of ideas, inspirations and action items. </span></p> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">WELL Summit Boston 2018 | 4 Favorite takeaways</span></h3> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_9447_zpsgs9k4de3.jpg?resize=1024%2C768" alt="well summit boston" width="1024" height="768" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">From <a href="https://amzn.to/2vRCQ8c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agapi Stassinopolous</a>‘ keynote: <strong>COMPARISON IS AN ADDICTION TO LOSING.</strong></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I underlined that one. Twice. Agapi’s keynote was so encouraging, uplifting, and energizing. This was actually the only note I took from that session, mostly because I was busy clapping, dancing, and just plain enjoying myself. I’m planning to go back through her book with a pencil + highlighter — but in the meantime, I’m focusing on that one line whenever I catch myself comparing myself or my situation to others.</span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Making healthy changes to your how you care for yourself, your home and your family should not be overwhelming… nor should it feel like a sacrifice.</span></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">There are so many safe, effective, beautiful options available to us now. I am choosing to focus on what we gain (which is a lot) by using safer products, rather than on what we lose (so maybe my new mascara doesn’t stand up quite as well to Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercials… we can deal). AND! Learning about and researching options is the key to staying informed and therefore empowered… rather than fearful and overwhelmed. </span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Consider the messages your diet sends to your children (or loved ones).</span></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">This was posed during the Eating WELL panel, which covered current food and diet trends — and this part of the conversation really resonated with me. As an example, the panelists talked about the concept of cheat days, and how cheating is something we generally don’t accept in all other areas of our lives (work, school, relationships, sports, etc.). If we need to cheat on how we eat, that’s likely a signal that something needs to be fixed (or at the very least, that this is not a sustainable way of eating). Knowing that I (obviously) want my children to be healthy and thriving– I need to be mindful of the messages I am sending them through the choices I make for myself. </span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Practice <em>does</em> lead to progress.</span></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">There were a number of opportunities throughout the day to meditate (including a <a href="https://saraauster.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sound bath with Sara Auster</a>, which was really amazing), and I noticed (even in a room of 500) how much easier it was for me to quiet my thoughts + surrender to whatever was happening than it had been in years passed (both at this event and others). I’m coming up on a year of mediating almost every day (I forgot to meditate on Thanksgiving, which really chapped my a-s-s… which was neither a helpful nor a particularly meditative response), and for the first time… I felt aware of my progress. And it feels good. I felt similarly proud during <a href="https://amzn.to/2JwEL40" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sara Divello</a>‘s yoga practice at the beginning of the day– the act of simply showing up and quietly getting it done pays off, little by little. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Other highlights included:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Spending time with some of my favorite women <3</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Acupuncture with the ladies from <a href="http://yintuitionwellness.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yintuition</a>, while people watching + sitting in a beanbag chair</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Chatting with <a href="http://branchbasics.refr.cc/elizevans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the co-founders of Branch Basics</a>, the safe cleaning company that I am legit in love with (more on this soon)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Sneaking a peek at some of the Design Center showrooms</span></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://wellsummit.org/well-summit-nyc-2018/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">P.S. Tickets have just gone on sale for the next WELL Summit event, October 5-6 in Brooklyn.</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Starting a support group for parents of carsick toddlers (semi-serious) — mostly we’ll just talk about how sad/gross it is… and also we’ll invent a vom-proof carseat.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="https://medium.com/thrive-global/your-ultimate-guide-for-waking-up-early-3ecd7b232e0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Your ultimate guide to waking up early</a> <em>from Medium</em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Looking forward to <a href="http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/site/TR?px=1606058&fr_id=1701&pg=personal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yoga Reaches Out</a> on Sunday!</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>What’s something cool/interesting/wonderful you’ve learned this week?</strong></span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2018/04/27/well-summit-boston-2018-4-favorite-takeaways/">WELL Summit Boston 2018 | 4 Favorite takeaways</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2018/04/27/well-summit-boston-2018-4-favorite-takeaways/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">10165</post-id> </item> <item> <title>This week’s meal + workout plan</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/07/16/meal-workout-plan-week-of-july-17th/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/07/16/meal-workout-plan-week-of-july-17th/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jul 2017 23:09:38 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[fitness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[menu plan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[vegan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[vegetarian]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[workouts]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=9853</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Some weeks I fly by the seat of my yoga pants and things go well workout and meal-wise. But other times, we have a week like last week and the lack of planning nearly does me in. As much as I like to pretend I’m all Type C (is there one of those?), laid back and simultaneously highly motivated… I am not those things. I need a plan. I’ll be the first to admit I can be tightly wound and yet… given the chance to eat popcorn for dinner while watching three back-to-back episodes of The Great British Bake Off… I will take it. Every, single time. I thrive when my days are orderly and structured (which is sort of a pipe dream when you’re parenting). I like checking things (including workouts) off my list. And who doesn’t love knowing dinner is made and safely waiting for you in its nice little glass container in the fridge? I find a little planning and prep goes a long way. Even in the summer. When I’m trying to be all cool and casual. MEAL + WORKOUT PLAN | WEEK OF JULY 17 MEAL PLAN: Quinoa tabouli from Megan Gilmore’s Everyday Detox cookbook: I made this yesterday and have had it for lunch and two dinners since. It’s such a delicious, easy and nutritious meal. Ina Garten’s fresh corn salad Caprese salad with avocado: ‘Tis the season. Molly’s Herby Spelt Salad: Perfect for putting our little deck garden to use! I have been on such a farro salad kick lately, and am really looking forward to making this for dinner/lunches. Molly has so many great recipes on her blog— well worth a look. Chilled Lemon Dill Cucumber Noodles from The Kitchn: I finally joined the 2000’s and bought a handheld Oxo spiralizer and went down a major vegetable noodle rabbit hole. These noodles were a hit last week with baby Nick, so I’m planning to make them again with some farmers market cucumbers and roasted chickpeas for a little extra oomph (or protein, whatev). Baked stuffed sweet potatoes with black beans and pico de gallo. My super easy gazpacho with avocado toast. MEAL + SNACK PREP: Prepped today: Everyday Detox basil vinaigrette; smoothie for tomorrow morning (hemp milk, frozen pineapple, frozen peaches, raw honey + parsley); cooked farro; kale chips; cooked corn; washed + chopped fruit for breakfasts/snacks To prep tomorrow during naps (…God willing): Wash + chop vegetables for salads/snacks; bake sweet potatoes WORKOUTS I have a newfound love for our C2 Rower in the basement at the Cape. I’ve only ever rowed in short spurts during CrossFit classes, but realized this weekend how tough, effective and semi-fun a longer row can be. Monday: Stroller run/walk 4 miles Tuesday: Stroller run/walk 4 miles Wednesday: MB Tabata workout + row 30 minutes Thursday: Stroller run/walk 4 miles Friday: MB class or rest Saturday: Row 30 minutes Sunday: Rest Semi-related: If you’re looking for a new Spotify workout playlist, here are my current jams. Pardon the swear words. Also On Tap for Today: Some great (and summery!) menu ideas from The Kitchn Reorganizing our pantry (YOLO.) Oh, good… I am part of a micro-generation. What’s your workout or meal plan for the week?  </p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/07/16/meal-workout-plan-week-of-july-17th/">This week’s meal + workout plan</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Some weeks I fly by the seat of my yoga pants and things go well workout and meal-wise. But other times, we have <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/07/12/yesterday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a week like last week</a> and the lack of planning nearly does me in. As much as I like to pretend I’m all Type C (is there one of those?), laid back and simultaneously highly motivated… I am not those things. I need a plan.</span></p> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_7678_zpsa8zlqqbt.jpg?resize=658%2C1024" alt="meal plan July 17" width="658" height="1024" /></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I’ll be the first to admit I can be tightly wound and yet… given the chance to eat popcorn for dinner while watching three back-to-back episodes of <em>The Great British Bake Off</em>… I will take it. Every, single time. I thrive when my days are orderly and structured (which is sort of a pipe dream when you’re parenting). </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I like checking things (including workouts) off my list. And who doesn’t love knowing dinner is made and safely waiting for you in its nice little glass container in the fridge? I find a little planning and prep goes a long way. Even in the summer. When I’m trying to be all cool and casual. </span></p> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">MEAL + WORKOUT PLAN | WEEK OF JULY 17</span></h3> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_7675_zpslq8unjcp.jpg?resize=786%2C1024" alt="meal plan peach smoothie" width="786" height="1024" /></p> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">MEAL PLAN:</span></h3> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Quinoa tabouli from Megan Gilmore’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Detox-Recipes-Promote-Naturally/dp/1607747227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500242943&sr=8-1&keywords=everyday+detox" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Everyday Detox</a> cookbook:</strong> I made this yesterday and have had it for lunch and two dinners since. It’s such a delicious, easy and nutritious meal.</span></li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/fresh-corn-salad-recipe-1914351" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Ina Garten’s fresh corn salad</span></a></strong></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Caprese salad with avocado:</strong> ‘Tis the season. </span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.mollyrobsonwellness.com/blog/2011/06/summertime-eats?rq=Farro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Molly’s Herby Spelt Salad</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Perfect for putting our little deck garden to use! I have been on such a <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/07/04/farro-salad-tomatoes-herbs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">farro salad</a> kick lately, and am really looking forward to making this for dinner/lunches. <a href="http://www.mollyrobsonwellness.com/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly has so many great recipes on her blog</a>— well worth a look.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-lemon-dill-cucumber-noodles-246198" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chilled Lemon Dill Cucumber Noodles from The Kitchn</a>:</strong> I finally joined the 2000’s and bought a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Handheld-Spiralizer/dp/B013KAW5IQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500244811&sr=8-2&keywords=oxo+spiralizer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">handheld Oxo spiralizer</a> and went down a major vegetable noodle rabbit hole. These noodles were a hit last week with baby Nick, so I’m planning to make them again with some farmers market cucumbers and roasted chickpeas for a little extra <em>oomph</em> (or protein, <em>whatev</em>).</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Baked stuffed sweet potatoes</strong> with black beans and pico de gallo.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2014/03/10/today-organic-patio-gardening-cant-wait-summer-gazpacho/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>My super easy gazpacho</strong></a> with avocado toast.</span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">MEAL + SNACK PREP:</span></h3> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Prepped today: <em>Everyday Detox</em> basil vinaigrette; smoothie for tomorrow morning (hemp milk, frozen pineapple, frozen peaches, raw honey + parsley); cooked farro; <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2014/10/23/today-dill-lemon-garlic-kale-chips-and-snack-prep/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kale chips</a>; cooked corn; washed + chopped fruit for breakfasts/snacks</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">To prep tomorrow during naps (…God willing): Wash + chop vegetables for salads/snacks; bake sweet potatoes</span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">WORKOUTS</span></h3> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I have a newfound love for our C2 Rower in the basement at the Cape. I’ve only ever rowed in short spurts during CrossFit classes, but realized this weekend how tough, effective and semi-fun a longer row can be.</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Monday:</strong> Stroller run/walk 4 miles</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Tuesday:</strong> Stroller run/walk 4 miles</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Wednesday:</strong> MB Tabata workout + row 30 minutes</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Thursday:</strong> Stroller run/walk 4 miles</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Friday:</strong> MB class or rest</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Saturday:</strong> Row 30 minutes</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Sunday:</strong> Rest</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Semi-related: If you’re looking for a new Spotify workout playlist, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/elizabethev/playlist/0zroLO7m3LmQ9May2D6kyS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here are my current jams</a>. Pardon the swear words. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/next-weeks-meal-plan-5-drool-worthy-dinners-for-the-week-ahead-246223" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Some great (and summery!) menu ideas from <em>The Kitchn</em></a></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Reorganizing our pantry (YOLO.)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Oh, good… I am part of <a href="http://didyouknowfacts.com/theres-now-a-name-for-the-micro-generation-born-between-1977-1983/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a micro-generation</a>.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">What’s your workout or meal plan for the week?</span></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/07/16/meal-workout-plan-week-of-july-17th/">This week’s meal + workout plan</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/07/16/meal-workout-plan-week-of-july-17th/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9853</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Currently | January 2017</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/01/12/currently-january-2017/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/01/12/currently-january-2017/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2017 00:32:33 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category> <category><![CDATA[currently]]></category> <category><![CDATA[january 2017]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mama Beasts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=9671</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p> CURRENTLY | JANUARY 2017 I don’t want to jinx it, but I think I’ve finally recovered from President Obama’s Farewell Address… which was Tuesday night (i.e. nearly 48 hours ago). Baby Nick woke up bawling just seconds after the President said “Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, girl of the South Side…” I was bawling at that point too, cradling my sweet child, grateful that both our children were born at a time when such an incredibly smart, respectful, kind and caring family lived in our nation’s White House. I am doing my best during these remaining days of Barack Obama’s presidency to watch every video of the President + kids, the President + dogs, and the President + VP (especially today’s Medal of Freedom presentation) as humanly possible… rather than give into the sadness and anger simmering below the surface (real talk). Also, it was snowing and single digits this weekend… but it’s 55 degrees in Boston today. The world is ending. On that uplifting note… CURRENTLY EATING Variations of the Sprouted Kitchen lentil soup I raved about a couple weeks ago Simple snacks to share with Baby Nick… because these days, he has major food FOMO and needs to sample any/everything on my plate. Blackberries and cottage cheese have been a big hit this week. All the winter citrus, all the winter citrus, all the winter citrus… put your stems up. (Or whatever.) I especially love satsumas, and not just because you can buy them with the leaves and stems still attached. CURRENTLY DRINKING Water (obvi) Not a single Diet Coke today (not so obvi) Fiveway Veggie Broth (definitely unexpected) – I received a complimentary sample right before the holidays and am totally hooked on this incredibly flavorful broth, which you can straight up drink from the bottle. I like warming it up on the stove and drinking from my beloved “BC Grandpa” mug, it’s both delcious and fortifying. Non-vegetarians will likely dig their bone broths. Fiveway products can be found locally in Massachusetts + New Hampshire. CURRENTLY MAKING More gouache chairs Plans for Grace’s “unicorns doing gymnastics” birthday party Finishing my tutorial for the upcoming Get Messy Art Journal season (***stay tuned for a membership giveaway coming soon!) CURRENTLY WEARING Bean boots (the ones without laces, because I’m lazy stylish) + Bean boots socks (so cozy) + a smug smile for having ordered them early enough in the year to beat the inevitable selling out (at last check, there were still sizes 9 + 10 available) My new FitBit (a Christmas present from Nick), the Charge 2 special edition (lavender + rose gold, so pretty) — I really liked the Charge HR, but there are so many design/functional improvements in this version. I especially like the 2 minute guided breathing program. People like me need tiny wrist computers to remind them to breathe. CURRENTLY WATCHING The babes enjoy winter… it’s just the best. Nick, Grace, Baby Nick, Clark and I had so much fun being snowed in down the Cape last weekend. I love watching the kids and Clark explore in the yard. I’m so grateful that we have an escape from the city (and that we have the city to return to, as well).   CURRENTLY LOVING Organic Bath Company’s Nourish Night Balm — this stuff is pure magic. The Mama Beasts Winter (Partner) Challenge — I am so glad to be paired up with Julie and be benefitting from some additional fitness/nutrition/mama wellness motivation this time of year. The new TIU workouts (with Jillian Michaels!) and this hilarious Wine Not Wednesday video We’re only two weeks into the year… but things are good. And so are you. Also On Tap for Today: Playing “You have a skunk in your clothes! Get the shovel!” with Grace (I don’t really know how to play, I just follow her lead and yell those two sentences over and over) Busting some behind closed doors clutter with Apartment Therapy Looking for a new book to read What’ve you been up to this month?</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/01/12/currently-january-2017/">Currently | January 2017</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"> </span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">CURRENTLY | JANUARY 2017</span></h2> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/FullSizeRender%2082_zpsfwjyrs08.jpg?resize=717%2C1024" alt="currently january 2017" width="717" height="1024" /></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I don’t want to jinx it, but I think I’ve finally recovered from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/us/obama-farewell-address-president.html" target="_blank">President Obama’s Farewell Address</a>… which was Tuesday night (i.e. nearly 48 hours ago). </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Baby Nick woke up bawling just seconds after the President said <em>“Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, girl of the South Side…”</em> I was bawling at that point too, cradling my sweet child, grateful that both our children were born at a time when such an incredibly smart, respectful, kind and caring family lived in our nation’s White House. I am doing my best during these remaining days of Barack Obama’s presidency to watch every video of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-with-kids-photos-2016-2" target="_blank">President + kids</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bo-and-Sunny-The-Obama-dogs-122230097848630/" target="_blank">the President + dogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/ode-to-the-friendship-between-barack-obama-joe-biden-29190" target="_blank">the President + VP</a> (especially <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nD9GxZ0HT0&app=desktop" target="_blank">today’s Medal of Freedom presentation</a>) as humanly possible… rather than give into the sadness and anger simmering below the surface (real talk).</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Also, it was snowing and single digits this weekend… but it’s 55 degrees in Boston today. <del> The world is ending.</del></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">On that uplifting note…</span></p> <h3><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">CURRENTLY EATING</span></strong></h3> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_1404_zpsf2qpcmai.jpg?resize=768%2C1024" alt="currently eating" width="768" height="1024" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Variations of the <a href="http://www.sproutedkitchen.com/home/2016/11/22/everyday-lentil-soup" target="_blank">Sprouted Kitchen lentil soup</a> I raved about <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/01/02/grocery-haul-meal-plan/" target="_blank">a couple weeks ago</a></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Simple snacks to share with Baby Nick… because these days, he has <em>major</em> food FOMO and needs to sample any/everything on my plate. Blackberries and cottage cheese have been a big hit this week.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">All the winter citrus, all the winter citrus, all the winter citrus… put your stems up. (<em>Or whatever.) </em>I especially love satsumas, and not just because you can buy them with the leaves and stems still attached.</span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">CURRENTLY DRINKING</span></h3> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_1262_zpsiqdqxyyr.jpg?resize=867%2C1024" alt="currently drinking" width="867" height="1024" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Water (obvi)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Not a single Diet Coke today (not so obvi)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.fivewayfoods.com/" target="_blank">Fiveway Veggie Broth</a> (definitely unexpected) – I received a complimentary sample right before the holidays and am totally hooked on this incredibly flavorful broth, which you can straight up drink from the bottle. I like warming it up on the stove and drinking from my beloved “BC Grandpa” mug, it’s both delcious and fortifying. Non-vegetarians will likely dig their bone broths. <a href="http://www.fivewayfoods.com/find-us.html" target="_blank">Fiveway products can be found locally in Massachusetts + New Hampshire</a>.</span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">CURRENTLY MAKING</span></h3> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_1374_zpsrp9fpiaj.jpg?resize=1024%2C768" alt="currently making" width="1024" height="768" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">More <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/01/05/the-aforementioned-purple-chair/" target="_blank">gouache chairs</a></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Plans for Grace’s “unicorns doing gymnastics” birthday party </span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Finishing my tutorial for the upcoming <a href="http://getmessyartjournal.com" target="_blank">Get Messy Art Journal</a> season (***stay tuned for a membership giveaway coming soon!)</span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">CURRENTLY WEARING</span></h3> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_1280_zpsplyuvxy0.jpg?resize=768%2C1024" alt="currently wearing" width="768" height="1024" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Bean boots (the ones without laces, because I’m <del>lazy</del> stylish) + Bean boots socks (so cozy) + a smug smile for having ordered them early enough in the year to beat the inevitable selling out (<a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/83445?feat=506697-GN2&page=women-s-tumbled-leather-l-l-bean-boots-7-shearling-lined-lounger&attrValue_0=Tan/Brown&productId=1397394" target="_blank">at last check, there were still sizes 9 + 10 available</a>)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">My new FitBit (a Christmas present from Nick), the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fitbit-Charge-Heart-Fitness-Wristband/dp/B01K9S29T2/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484250953&sr=8-1&keywords=fitbit%2Bcharge%2B2&th=1" target="_blank">Charge 2 special edition </a>(lavender + rose gold, so pretty) — I really liked the Charge HR, but there are so many design/functional improvements in this version. I especially like the 2 minute guided breathing program. People like me need tiny wrist computers to remind them to breathe. </span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">CURRENTLY WATCHING</span></h3> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_1268_zpsbktbeis8.jpg?resize=768%2C1024" alt="currently watching" width="768" height="1024" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">The babes enjoy winter… it’s just the best. Nick, Grace, Baby Nick, Clark and I had so much fun being snowed in down the Cape last weekend. I love watching the kids and Clark explore in the yard. I’m so grateful that we have an escape from the city (and that we have the city to return to, as well).</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">CURRENTLY LOVING</span></h3> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_1216_zps3xbskk84.jpg?resize=768%2C1024" alt="currently loving" width="768" height="1024" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Organic Bath Company’s Nourish Night Balm — this stuff is <em>pure</em> magic. </span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.quietbeastsfitness.com/" target="_blank">The Mama Beasts Winter (Partner) Challenge</a> — I am so glad to be paired up with Julie and be benefitting from some additional fitness/nutrition/mama wellness motivation this time of year.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">The new TIU workouts (with Jillian Michaels!) and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tFs4m1qVXw" target="_blank">this hilarious Wine Not Wednesday video</a></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">We’re only two weeks into the year… but things are good. And so are you.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Playing “<em>You have a skunk in your clothes! Get the shovel!”</em> with Grace (I don’t really know how to play, I just follow her lead and yell those two sentences over and over)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/january-cure-2017-assignment-9-240078" target="_blank">Busting some behind closed doors clutter</a> <em>with Apartment Therapy</em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Looking for a new book to read</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>What’ve you been up to this month?</strong></span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/01/12/currently-january-2017/">Currently | January 2017</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2017/01/12/currently-january-2017/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9671</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Winter rest</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/12/30/winter-rest/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/12/30/winter-rest/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2016 20:43:39 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Cape Cod]]></category> <category><![CDATA[cape house]]></category> <category><![CDATA[family]]></category> <category><![CDATA[new year's]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wendell Berry]]></category> <category><![CDATA[winter rest]]></category> <category><![CDATA[year end]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=9656</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>This time between Christmas and the New Year has turned into the perfect little winter rest. Nick had a few days off from work, we let Grace play preschool hooky for the week, and welp… baby Nick, Clark and I live on a very flexible schedule that revolves around naps and snack time. And laundry. But mostly snack time. We’ve been hiding out (but not really, because everyone knows we’re here) down the Cape, watching the birds. And eating soup. Hanging up some artwork and setting up a basement gym. Reading my favorite Wendell Berry poem and resting. Binge-watching Super Store once the kids are in bed. Coloring and playing trains. Trying to perfect my recycling system. Hunkering down and staying in. The largest part of me is an optimist and is fed by hope. But there’s that tiny part of me that is cynical and practical and maybe even a little wary. So I’m grateful for this week, this winter rest, both because it seems like the perfect end to an imperfect year… and because I know that time like this will give me a deeper well to draw from in the future. That favorite poem I mentioned (you can hear Wendell Berry read it here) starts like this, “When despair for the world grows in me…” And it ends like this, “For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” So that’s where I will be until 2017. Resting. Also On Tap for Today: Spending a few hours at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History before it closes for the winter 5 heart-opening yoga poses for the new year from mindbodygreen Performing a very scientific experiment involving a waffle maker + cinnamon rolls How do you keep your well of sanity/balance/happiness/gratitude/Cheez-Its full (or at least, not empty)?</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/12/30/winter-rest/">Winter rest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">This time between Christmas and the New Year has turned into the perfect little winter rest. Nick had a few days off from work, we let Grace play preschool hooky for the week, and <em>welp</em>… baby Nick, Clark and I live on a very flexible schedule that revolves around naps and snack time. And laundry. But mostly snack time.</span></p> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_9779_zpsrfsnsaoj.jpg?resize=1024%2C767" alt="winter rest" width="1024" height="767" /></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">We’ve been hiding out (but not really, because everyone knows we’re here) down the Cape, watching the birds. And eating soup. Hanging up some artwork and setting up a basement gym. Reading my favorite Wendell Berry poem and resting. Binge-watching <em>Super Store</em> once the kids are in bed. Coloring and playing trains. Trying to perfect my recycling system. Hunkering down and staying in.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">The largest part of me is an optimist and is fed by hope. But there’s that tiny part of me that is cynical and practical and maybe even a little wary. So I’m grateful for this week, this winter rest, both because it seems like the perfect end to an imperfect year… and because I know that time like this will give me a deeper well to draw from in the future. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">That favorite poem I mentioned (<a href="http://www.onbeing.org/program/ellen-davis-and-wendell-berry-the-poetry-of-creatures/extra/the-peace-of-wild-things-by" target="_blank">you can hear Wendell Berry read it here</a>) starts like this, “When despair for the world grows in me…”</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">And it ends like this, “For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">So that’s where I will be until 2017. Resting.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Spending a few hours at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History before it closes for the winter</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-27989/5-heart-opening-yoga-poses-to-help-you-start-the-new-year-strong.html" target="_blank">5 heart-opening yoga poses for the new year</a> <em>from mindbodygreen</em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Performing a very scientific experiment involving a waffle maker + cinnamon rolls</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">How do you keep your well of sanity/balance/happiness/gratitude/Cheez-Its full (or at least, not empty)?</span></strong></p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/12/30/winter-rest/">Winter rest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/12/30/winter-rest/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9656</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Prioritize sleep.</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/30/prioritize-sleep/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/30/prioritize-sleep/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2016 01:26:27 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[healthy living]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mama Beasts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reading]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=9549</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>I missed an entire night of sleep this week (baby Nick were at the hospital– he was having a little respiratory trouble, but is much, much better). Remember when we were in college and did that on purpose, stay up all night? I’d like to travel back in time and give 2004 Elizabeth a real talkin’ to. And while I’m at it, I might as well travel back even further and tell 1982-ish Elizabeth that staying up all night and skipping naps is just wrong. Plus, it’s a crime against your sleepy parents. 34-year-old me cannot hang on no sleep. And even on a good night, I could stand to catch a few more hours of sleep. I’m guessing you can relate. So I’ve become obsessed with learning how to prioritize sleep. How to fall asleep sooner. How to stay asleep longer. How sleep affects our brains and our bodies and our moods and how many plates of nachos we want to eat and/or actually eat. PRIORITIZE SLEEP A few things that have caught my attention: Will a Warm Bath Really Help Me Sleep Better? from Van Winkle’s Spoiler alert: If it works for you, do it. (Slight bummer: It doesn’t work for everyone.) A good soak definitely seems to help me quiet my mind and relax my body after a long week. I love this epsom soak, especially after a tough workout. The Little Book of Healthy Beauty by Dr. Pina LoGiudice I really enjoyed this book (and it is little, relatively speaking, perfect for overtired readers). There’s an entire section devoted to sleep, one of the master keys of health, as Dr. LoGuidice calls it. Sleep Like a Champion: Sleep Tips for Athletes from Casper We’re big fans of Casper (even Clark, who has never missed a minute of sleep in his life and is currently cuddled up on the Casper dog bed Nick recently ordered for him), and I thought this info sleep stages, in particular, was interesting. I know my fellow Mama Beasts and I are likely years (decades?) away from getting 10 hours of sleep, but I like knowing that any increase in quality sleep could improve our speed, reaction time and overall athletic performance. And maybe it’s time I learn to nap when the babies nap. Yoga for Bedtime by Yoga with Adriene This gentle, nighttime flow is heaven. 9 Foods to Help You Sleep from Eating Well Even better: Most of these are already in my kitchen — tart cherry juice (also great for workout recovery), yogurt, whole grains, kale, bananas… even Cheerios. The 4-7-8 breath from Dr. Weil This is one my go-to tricks for falling asleep quickly. It’s sort of like counting sheep, but with, like… breathing. It seems a little weird, but trust me. Try it. On that note… time for a responsibly early bedtime. Also On Tap for Today: Looking forward to tomorrow’s family workout Secrets of people who are always full of energy from Apartment Therapy Getting October’s free printable calendar ready to go Do you have a bedtime routine?  </p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/30/prioritize-sleep/">Prioritize sleep.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I missed an<em> entire</em> night of sleep this week (baby Nick were at the hospital– he was having a little respiratory trouble, but is much, much better). Remember when we were in college and did that on purpose, stay up all night? I’d like to travel back in time and give 2004 Elizabeth a real talkin’ to. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">And while I’m at it, I might as well travel back even further and tell 1982-ish Elizabeth that staying up all night and skipping naps is just wrong. Plus, it’s a crime against your sleepy parents. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">34-year-old me cannot hang on no sleep. And even on a good night, I could stand to catch a few more hours of sleep. I’m guessing you can relate.</span></p> <p><figure style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/FullSizeRender%2064_zps1ggdt64e.jpg?resize=730%2C1024" alt="September sunsets are pretty great. So is sleeping for more than 2 hours and 12 minutes per night." width="730" height="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">September sunsets in South Boston are pretty great. As is sleeping for more than 2 hours and 12 minutes per night.</figcaption></figure></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">So I’ve become obsessed with learning how to prioritize sleep. How to fall asleep sooner. How to stay asleep longer. How sleep affects our brains and our bodies and our moods and how many plates of nachos we want to eat and/or actually eat.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>PRIORITIZE SLEEP</strong></span></h3> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>A few things that have caught my attention:</strong></span></p> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_6723_zps5ejzpbwt.jpg?resize=1024%2C768" alt="prioritize sleep bath" width="1024" height="768" /></p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://vanwinkles.com/warm-bath-or-shower-before-bed-good-or-bad-idea" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Will a Warm Bath Really Help Me Sleep Better? <em>from Van Winkle’s</em></span></a></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Spoiler alert: If it works for you, do it. (Slight bummer: It doesn’t work for everyone.) A good soak definitely seems to help me quiet my mind and relax my body after a long week. I love <a href="https://www.eoproducts.com/everyone/everyone-bath/everyone-bath-soaks.html" target="_blank">this epsom soak</a>, especially after a tough workout.</span></p> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_6560_zpsqkqgqz1i.jpg?resize=819%2C1024" alt="prioritize sleep book" width="819" height="1024" /></p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Healthy-Beauty-Glowing/dp/0399176934/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475282607&sr=8-1&keywords=little+book+healthy+beauty" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">The Little Book of Healthy Beauty by Dr. Pina LoGiudice</span></a></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I really enjoyed this book (and it is little, relatively speaking, perfect for overtired readers). There’s an entire section devoted to sleep, one of the master keys of health, as Dr. LoGuidice calls it. </span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Sleep Like a Champion: Sleep Tips for Athletes <em>from <a href="https://casper.com/" target="_blank">Casper</a></em></span></strong></li> </ul> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/Casper_athelete_sleep_v08_zpsrwic6bld.jpg?resize=366%2C1024" alt="prioritize sleep casper" width="366" height="1024" /></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">We’re big fans of Casper (even Clark, who has never missed a minute of sleep in his life and is currently cuddled up on the Casper dog bed Nick recently ordered for him), and I thought this info sleep stages, in particular, was interesting. I know my fellow <a href="http://www.quietbeastsfitness.com/" target="_blank">Mama Beasts</a> and I are likely years (decades?) away from getting 10 hours of sleep, but I like knowing that any increase in quality sleep could improve our speed, reaction time and overall athletic performance. And maybe it’s time I learn to nap when the babies nap.</span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://yogawithadriene.com/yoga-for-bedtime/" target="_blank">Yoga for Bedtime by Yoga with Adriene</a></span></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">This gentle, nighttime flow is heaven.</span></p> <p><figure style="width: 768px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_8071_zpsitgzq21s.jpg?resize=768%2C1024" alt="prioritize sleep smoothie" width="768" height="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Kale, check. Yogurt, check. Banana, check. Seasonally inappropriate glass, check.</figcaption></figure></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/9_foods_to_help_you_sleep" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">9 Foods to Help You Sleep</a> <em>from Eating Well</em></span></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Even better: Most of these are already in my kitchen — tart cherry juice (also great for workout recovery), yogurt, whole grains, kale, bananas… even Cheerios.</span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.drweil.com/videos-features/videos/the-4-7-8-breath-health-benefits-demonstration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The 4-7-8 breath</a> <em>from Dr. Weil</em></span></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">This is one my go-to tricks for falling asleep quickly. It’s sort of like counting sheep, but with, like… breathing. It seems a little weird, but trust me. Try it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">On that note… time for a responsibly early bedtime.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Looking forward to tomorrow’s family workout</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/secrets-of-people-who-are-always-full-of-energy-236250" target="_blank">Secrets of people who are always full of energy</a> <em>from Apartment Therapy</em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Getting October’s free printable calendar ready to go</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>Do you have a bedtime routine? </strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/30/prioritize-sleep/">Prioritize sleep.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/30/prioritize-sleep/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9549</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Guard your spirit.</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/27/guard-your-spirit/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/27/guard-your-spirit/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:50:54 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Clark]]></category> <category><![CDATA[guard your spirit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[healthy living]]></category> <category><![CDATA[introvert]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=9524</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>“Guard your spirit” is something I used to jokingly say to my dog, covering his eyes if there was violence on the evening news. I would tell Nick that our little Frenchie was very sensitive and needed to be protected from things like swear words and fighting and pizzas that have mini hotdogs where the crust should be (I still can’t believe that’s a thing. And we wonder why people think Americans are not okay.). I think I’ve always been a somewhat sensitive person. But I’ve gotten considerably more sensitive with age. And ever more so as a mother. I chalk some of this up to the fact that I haven’t slept since May of 2012, but I sort believe that the older we get, the more ourselves we become. (Please don’t check my grammar on that last sentence. We’ll both be disappointed.) I used to be able to watch six documentaries on serial killers in a row without needing to booby trap my own house. I could listen to the baddest, most inappropriate music on the dial without flinching. I could (for the most part– we all have our limits) hang with negative, bossy, rude people and not turn too awful myself. And I could watch the evening news without covering Clark’s eyes, and plotting to lock everyone that I love in a closet (with plenty of snacks and a good ventilation system, obvi) so that nothing bad could ever happen to them. Besides the whole being locked in a closet thing. Speaking of which, add claustrophobia to my growing list of issues sensitivities. So these days, when I say Guard your spirit (most often to myself), I actually mean it. And what I mean is this: I am the person who I am. And that person is part-sponge. And that’s okay. And I can do things to avoid becoming wrung out or water logged. Here are a few of those things (I’m pretty sure they work for all types of people). GUARD YOUR SPIRIT Be picky in the best way possible Choose to spend time with people who bring out the best in you. People who are kind, motivating, and encouraging. (And be that sort of person for other people.) Take advantage when opportunities present themselves. For me, this means embracing even a tiny bit of alone time. There are days when I sort of want to yell, “No one talk to me, no one touch me, no one look at me, no one stick a Duplo in my bra, no one breathe near me!” But that would be rude. So instead, I pretend I have to use the bathroom… and just hide in there for 3 whole minutes. For more civilized people, this might mean prioritizing a last minute coffee date with a friend over some other obligation. Be mindful of your goals and work to ensure your priorities (and like, daily behaviors) are aligned with these goals. Don’t do things that work in opposition to these goals. (Easier typed than done, I know.) Your time and energy are not endless in supply. Use ’em wisely. Be careful about what you consume This goes for food and drink and things you put on your body (like clothes and make-up and glitter gel from the 90’s and dogs that demand to sit directly on your chest whilst you try to relax). …But it’s equally important when it comes to media. You don’t need to follow everyone and their grandmother (and let’s be serious, the grandmothers are present and accounted for on Facebook). If what someone shares– tweets, photos, commentary, what have you– affects you negatively, unfollow. And don’t feel guilty. Think of it this way: our mental and emotional feeds are limited. Don’t waste that space on pictures of cats eating steak or racist Facebook rants. Save it for waves gently crashing onto the shore. Or whatever floats your proverbial boat. Get it… waves… boats…. cool. Know what works for you. I don’t read fiction or watch shows or movies that contain much violence (especially if it involves violence against women or children). This is not entertaining for me, and doesn’t make me a more informed or helpful person. YouTube videos featuring baby pigs eating tiny cupcakes do entertain me. Jury’s still out on whether or not they make me better informed or more helpful. Have a stash of treasured books, music, poems, artwork, movies, podcasts, drawings, pig videos, plants etc. at the ready when you need a little (or big) boost. Some of my favorites: Mary Oliver, Hafez, Rumi, the On Being podcast, Wendell Berry, Paris to the Moon, Peggy: A Brave Chicken on a Big Adventure. Default to kindness On my worst days, I default to giving people the finger as they cut me off in the Columbia Rd. rotary. But on my best days, I default to kindness. It’s a habit that takes work. I try to practice in little ways, like saying hello to strangers (but not in a creepy or unsafe way). Or being truly patient (rather than pretending to be patient, but actually being annoyed) while people cross the street. Or giving people the benefit of the doubt, that they’re doing their best for the moment. So much of being a parent to two young children feels reactionary. And prior to being at home with Grace and baby Nick, I worked in a very reactionary, which-fire-should-I-extinguish-first, kind of field. I’m (very) slowly learning to react with less stress, less need to be right, less authority… and more kindness. I think it’s sort of like when robots are re-programed so that they are, like, friendly robots instead of war robots in those war robot movies that you couldn’t pay me a trillion dollars to watch. Just a guess. Take care of yourself There are going to be plenty of times when we miss an opportunity to guard our spirits (like when you try to not watch the debate, but then you have to take your sick […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/27/guard-your-spirit/">Guard your spirit.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">“Guard your spirit” is something I used to jokingly say to my dog, covering his eyes if there was violence on the evening news. I would tell Nick that <a href="http://facebook.com/clarkthefrenchie" target="_blank">our little Frenchie</a> was very sensitive and needed to be protected from things like swear words and fighting and pizzas that have mini hotdogs where the crust should be (I still can’t believe that’s a thing. And we wonder why people think Americans are not okay.).</span></p> <p><figure style="width: 768px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_7906_zpsuxcxtjct.jpg?resize=768%2C1024" alt="guard your spirit clark" width="768" height="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">My (spirit) guard dog</figcaption></figure></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I think I’ve always been a somewhat sensitive person. But I’ve gotten considerably more sensitive with age. And ever more so as a mother. I chalk some of this up to the fact that I haven’t slept since May of 2012, but I sort believe that the older we get, the more ourselves we become. (Please don’t check my grammar on that last sentence. We’ll both be disappointed.) </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">I used to be able to watch six documentaries on serial killers in a row without needing to booby trap my own house. I could listen to the baddest, most inappropriate music on the dial without flinching. I could (for the most part– we all have our limits) hang with negative, bossy, rude people and not turn too awful myself. And I could watch the evening news without covering Clark’s eyes, and plotting to lock everyone that I love in a closet (with plenty of snacks and a good ventilation system, obvi) so that nothing bad could ever happen to them. Besides the whole <em>being locked in a closet</em> thing. Speaking of which, add claustrophobia to my growing list of <del>issues</del> sensitivities. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">So these days, when I say <em>Guard your spirit</em> (most often to myself), I actually mean it. And what I mean is this: I am the person who I am. And that person is part-sponge. And that’s okay. And I can do things to avoid becoming wrung out or water logged. Here are a few of those things (I’m pretty sure they work for all types of people).</span></p> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">GUARD YOUR SPIRIT</span></h3> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Be picky in the best way possible</span></strong></p> <p><figure style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/FullSizeRender%2061_zps14fwfhb7.jpg?resize=1024%2C768" alt="guard your spirit plants" width="1024" height="768" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">My best friends are self-sufficient plants.</figcaption></figure></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Choose to spend time with people who bring out the best in you. People who are kind, motivating, and encouraging. (And be that sort of person for other people.)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Take advantage when opportunities present themselves. For me, this means embracing even a tiny bit of alone time. There are days when I sort of want to yell, “No one talk to me, no one touch me, no one look at me, no one stick a Duplo in my bra, no one breathe near me!” But that would be rude. So instead, I pretend I have to use the bathroom… and just hide in there for 3 whole minutes. For more civilized people, this might mean prioritizing a last minute coffee date with a friend over some other obligation.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Be mindful of your goals and work to ensure your priorities (and like, daily behaviors) are aligned with these goals. Don’t do things that work in opposition to these goals. (Easier typed than done, I know.) Your time and energy are not endless in supply. Use ’em wisely.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Be careful about what you consume</span></strong></p> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_7251_zpsgm8mnotw.jpg?resize=1024%2C767" alt="guard your spirit waves" width="1024" height="767" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">This goes for food and drink and things you put on your body (like clothes and make-up and glitter gel from the 90’s and dogs that demand to sit directly on your chest whilst you try to relax).</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">…But it’s equally important when it comes to media. You don’t need to follow everyone and their grandmother (and let’s be serious, the grandmothers are present and accounted for on Facebook). If what someone shares– tweets, photos, commentary, what have you– affects you negatively, unfollow. And don’t feel guilty. Think of it this way: our mental and emotional feeds are limited. Don’t waste that space on pictures of cats eating steak or racist Facebook rants. Save it for waves gently crashing onto the shore. Or whatever floats your proverbial boat. Get it… waves… boats…. cool.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Know what works for you. I don’t read fiction or watch shows or movies that contain much violence (especially if it involves violence against women or children). This is not entertaining for me, and doesn’t make me a more informed or helpful person. YouTube videos featuring baby pigs eating tiny cupcakes do entertain me. Jury’s still out on whether or not they make me better informed or more helpful. </span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Have a stash of treasured books, music, poems, artwork, movies, podcasts, drawings, pig videos, plants etc. at the ready when you need a little (or big) boost. Some of my favorites: <a href="http://maryoliver.beacon.org/" target="_blank">Mary Oliver</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Faces-Love-Shiraz-Penguin-Classics/dp/0143107283/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474992215&sr=8-2&keywords=hafez" target="_blank">Hafez</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Rumi-New-Expanded/dp/0062509594/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474992243&sr=8-1&keywords=rumi" target="_blank">Rumi</a>, <a href="http://www.onbeing.org/" target="_blank">the On Being podcast</a>, <a href="http://wendellberrybooks.com/" target="_blank">Wendell Berry</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Moon-Adam-Gopnik/dp/0375758232/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474992081&sr=8-1&keywords=paris+to+the+moon" target="_blank">Paris to the Moon</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peggy-Brave-Chicken-Big-Adventure/dp/0544259009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474992122&sr=8-1&keywords=peggy+brave+chicken" target="_blank">Peggy: A Brave Chicken on a Big Adventure</a>.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Default to kindness</span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">On my worst days, I default to giving people the finger as they cut me off in the Columbia Rd. rotary. But on my best days, I default to kindness. It’s a habit that takes work. I try to practice in little ways, like saying hello to strangers (but not in a creepy or unsafe way). Or being truly patient (rather than pretending to be patient, but actually being annoyed) while people cross the street. Or giving people the benefit of the doubt, that they’re doing their best for the moment.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">So much of being a parent to two young children feels reactionary. And prior to being at home with Grace and baby Nick, I worked in a very reactionary, which-fire-should-I-extinguish-first, kind of field. I’m (very) slowly learning to react with less stress, less need to be right, less authority… and more kindness. I think it’s sort of like when robots are re-programed so that they are, like, friendly robots instead of war robots in those war robot movies that you couldn’t pay me a trillion dollars to watch. Just a guess.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Take care of yourself</span></strong></p> <p><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-blog-width" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/IMG_7006_zpschy5n4lo.jpg?resize=819%2C1024" alt="guard your spirit salad" width="819" height="1024" /></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">There are going to be plenty of times when we miss an opportunity to guard our spirits (like when you try to not watch the debate, but then you have to take your sick baby– he’s fine!– to the ER and all the TVs are tuned to CNN… WHY?). And there will be times when life goes sideways, in tiny or tragic ways. And the better we’ve cared for ourselves, the better prepared we will be for those unexpected, unwelcome, unhappy or un-whatever times.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">So take care of yourself. <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/06/23/what-to-eat-in-the-summer/" target="_blank">Eat well</a>. Drink plenty of water. And then a little more. Sleep well (assuming that’s an option and you don’t have a tiny human yelling at you all night). Exercise. Pray. Meditate. Paint. Hold a sleeping baby. Hold an awake baby. Do hula hooping in the park. Let a dog sit on your chest for no apparent reason other than that’s what he wants to do. </span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Be a nice person to yourself, and a nice person to other people. And don’t watch recaps of the presidential debate. Just kidding… kind of.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><em>P.S. Happy Birthday to the best mother and grandmother we could ever hope for!</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/5-cool-getaway-lines-so-you-wont-get-stuck-at-the-watercooler-235192?amp=&utm_campaign=xpost&utm_medium=web&utm_source=at" target="_blank">5 cool getaway lines so you won’t get stuck at the water cooler</a> <em>from The Kitchn</em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Meal prep Tuesday (because I sort of forgot to finish on Sunday)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Something I could use: <a href="http://nautil.us/issue/40/learning/how-i-rewired-my-brain-to-become-fluent-in-math-rp?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits" target="_blank">How I rewired my brain to become fluent in math</a> <em>from Nautilus</em></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever said to your dog? How do you guard your spirit?</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/27/guard-your-spirit/">Guard your spirit.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/09/27/guard-your-spirit/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9524</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Today: January goals (and a printable calendar).</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/01/01/today-january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/01/01/today-january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2016 22:27:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Art and Creativity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[calendar]]></category> <category><![CDATA[family]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[January]]></category> <category><![CDATA[new year's]]></category> <category><![CDATA[New Year's Day]]></category> <category><![CDATA[New Year's Resolutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[printables]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=9172</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Hello from the other siiiiiide of New Year’s Eve. (For the record: Now that we’re nearing a month of newborn-related sleep deprivation, everything I say and do is the funniest thing ever… to me, at least. It would seem my siblings feel differently. Either that or their phones are broken in such a way that they cannot reply to my hilarious bitmoji texts.) January goals and a printable calendar Materials used: Micron pen (black 01), Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pens, Winsor and Newton Professional Watercolors, random craft paint (acrylic), good old Microsoft Word (for the calendar table) My questionable comedienne status aside, it is New Year’s Day and I’ve got January goals and a printable calendar to share with you. Rather than setting year-long resolutions, I’m sticking to monthly goals and intentions. Mostly because I can barely imagine what tomorrow will bring, let alone how many days I can deprive myself of Diet Coke come November. The calendar is a part of a larger goal I have to both make and share more art. Please feel free to share, download and print as you like. Consider it a gift to offset the un-funny Adele joke above. And unless I completely space out, I’ll draw and paint a new calendar for you on the first of each month. click here to download your free, printable January calendar Here are the rest of my January goals, semi-organized for your reading pleasure. Family Celebrate Grace’s 2nd birthday in style (…whatever that means) 2 trips to the children’s library Photograph Grace and (baby) Nick and send out New Year’s cards/birth announcements (we sort of missed the boat on Christmas cards) Listen to Serial with (adult) Nick each week (Nerdtown, USA: Population of 2) Wellness Schedule doctor’s and dentist’s and vet’s appointments for the beginning of the year Get back in the workout groove (after being cleared to exercise at my six week postpartum check-up) and share weekly round-ups for accountability and motivation Drink fewer than 600 Diet Cokes a week Wear FitBit every day (this feels like a do-able precursor to setting a daily step or sleep goal) Set aside 10 minutes each day to make something (and make peace with the fact that these “somethings” will likely take days or weeks to be finished products) Home Throw out, recycle or donate everything Make a list of specific spaces in our condo to tackle and start chipping away at the decluttering Hire a new housecleaner (we parted ways with ours in December, and I am not an especially talented duster… and let’s just say, both are evident) Participate in Apartment Therapy’s January Cure Community Join a new parish (this is sort of major, and in the works — we love our current parish, but will be moving to one in our own neighborhood this year) Participate in at least one of my fitness group’s social activities (the group has monthly birthday parties for kids, a mom’s night out, recipe swaps, etc.) rather than ducking out right after the workout, as I’ve done in the past #awkwardfaceemoji Share at least one friend’s blog post or project per week Here’s to a productive, happy, healthy, sort-of-hilarious month. January goals and a printable, hand-painted calendar from @ElizabethEvClick To Tweet Also On Tap for Today: Watching the Winter Classic New Year, Same Pile of Laundry (as yesterday) Forget Resolutions: Embrace a Yearly Mantra Instead via Apartment Therapy What’s On Tap for your January?</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/01/01/today-january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar/">Today: January goals (and a printable calendar).</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><em>Hello from the other siiiiiide</em> of New Year’s Eve. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">(For the record: Now that we’re nearing a month of newborn-related sleep deprivation, everything I say and do is the funniest thing ever… to me, at least. It would seem my siblings feel differently. Either that or their phones are broken in such a way that they cannot reply to my hilarious bitmoji texts.)</span></p> <h3><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>January goals and a printable calendar</strong></span></h3> <p><a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar.pdf" target="_blank"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/january%20goals%20and%20a%20printable%20calendar_zpshhrcxmps.jpg?resize=776%2C1024" alt="january goals and a printable calendar" width="776" height="1024" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><em>Materials used: Micron pen (black 01), Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pens, Winsor and Newton Professional Watercolors, random craft paint (acrylic), good old Microsoft Word (for the calendar table)</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">My questionable comedienne status aside, it is New Year’s Day and I’ve got January goals and a printable calendar to share with you. Rather than setting year-long resolutions, I’m sticking to monthly goals and intentions. Mostly because I can barely imagine what tomorrow will bring, let alone how many days I can deprive myself of Diet Coke come November. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">The calendar is a part of a larger goal I have to both make and share more art. Please feel free to share, <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar.pdf" target="_blank">download</a> and print as you like. Consider it a gift to offset the un-funny Adele joke above. And unless I completely space out, I’ll draw and paint a new calendar for you on the first of each month.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar.pdf" target="_blank">click here to download your free, printable January calendar</a></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Here are the rest of my January goals, semi-organized for your reading pleasure.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Family</span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Celebrate Grace’s 2nd birthday in style (…whatever that means)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">2 trips to the children’s library</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Photograph Grace and <em>(baby)</em> Nick and send out New Year’s cards/birth announcements (we sort of missed the boat on Christmas cards)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Listen to <a href="https://serialpodcast.org/" target="_blank">Serial</a> with <em>(adult)</em> Nick each week (Nerdtown, USA: Population of 2)</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Wellness</span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Schedule doctor’s and dentist’s and vet’s appointments for the beginning of the year</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Get back in the workout groove (after being cleared to exercise at my six week postpartum check-up) and share weekly round-ups for accountability and motivation</span></li> <li><del><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Drink fewer than 600 Diet Cokes a week</span></del></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Wear FitBit every day (this feels like a do-able precursor to setting a daily step or sleep goal)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Set aside 10 minutes each day to make something (and make peace with the fact that these “somethings” will likely take days or weeks to be finished products)</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Home</span></strong></p> <ul> <li><del><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Throw out, recycle or donate everything</span></del></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Make a list of specific spaces in our condo to tackle and start chipping away at the decluttering</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Hire a new housecleaner (we parted ways with ours in December, and I am not an especially talented duster… and let’s just say, both are evident)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Participate in <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/get-ready-get-set-go-the-cure-begins-226924" target="_blank">Apartment Therapy’s January Cure</a></span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Community</span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Join a new parish (this is sort of major, and in the works — we <em>love</em> our current parish, but will be moving to one in our own neighborhood this year)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Participate in at least one of my fitness group’s social activities (the group has monthly birthday parties for kids, a mom’s night out, recipe swaps, etc.) rather than ducking out right after the workout, as I’ve done in the past <em>#awkwardfaceemoji</em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Share at least one friend’s blog post or project per week</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Here’s to a productive, happy, healthy, sort-of-hilarious month.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <hr /> <p><em>January goals and a printable, hand-painted calendar from @ElizabethEv</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=January+goals+and+a+printable%2C+hand-painted+calendar+from+%40ElizabethEv&url=https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/01/01/today-january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p> <hr /> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">Watching the <a href="http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2016/01/01/watch-live-2016-winter-classic-bruins-habs-from-gillette-stadium/" target="_blank">Winter Classic</a></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';">New Year, Same Pile of Laundry (as yesterday)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/forget-resolutions-embrace-a-yearly-mantra-instead-226656" target="_blank">Forget Resolutions: Embrace a Yearly Mantra Instead</a> <em>via Apartment Therap</em>y</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'PT Sans';"><strong>What’s On Tap for your January?</strong></span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/01/01/today-january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar/">Today: January goals (and a printable calendar).</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2016/01/01/today-january-goals-and-a-printable-calendar/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9172</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Today: Fear is not productive.</title> <link>https://ontapfortoday.com/2014/04/11/today-fear-is-not-productive/</link> <comments>https://ontapfortoday.com/2014/04/11/today-fear-is-not-productive/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:16:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[childbirth]]></category> <category><![CDATA[fear]]></category> <category><![CDATA[pregnancy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[spirit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[spirituality]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://ontapfortoday.com/?p=8152</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>For the record, this post is supposed to be suitable for all humans. It isn’t supposed to be about being a mom. Or boobs. Or CPR. It just starts that way, so like… bear with me. We took a bunch of classes in an effort to prepare for Grace’s arrival. Infant CPR felt both helpful and necessary. Breastfeeding Basics was, well, basically useless. None of it made sense until I actually started breastfeeding, and at that point, I had the invaluable support of lactation consultants in the hospital. They helped me figure that cool stuff out. During the class itself, we watched some weird slide shows (I have never seen so many boobs in my life, nor do I expect to, ever ever again), and a movie with credits that included a thank you “to the women of Bulgaria.” I am still not sure what to make of that. Our instructor for Child Safety went a bit rogue, so the class was more about how weird babies can look when their born, and less about… safety. Fortunately, the gaps left by the safety class were more than filled in when I had an appointment with a Boston Police officer to have our car seat inspected, just two days before Grace made her early arrival. What I thought would be a two minute check of our car seat (which Nick had expertly installed) turned into 90 minutes of me learning how to actually use our car seat (little did I know how soon I be putting this new found knowledge to work), how many air bags my car has, which items in the trunk could turn into projectiles if (God forbid) I got into an accident, how to safely flee an emergency by car with an infant in tow, how to use a car seat without a base if I were to flee an emergency by taxi, and the importance of actually reading safety manuals. Our childbirth class was cut short by a blizzard, so while we learned a bit about labor, we never learned about delivery. Needless to say, when it came time to deliver Grace… Nick and I both had a lot of questions. And I am certain our attending midwife and nurses had several questions about us. Anyway, in an ongoing effort to get my life together before going back to work in just a short time (don’t get me started, I am almost out of Kleenexes), I was sorting through various info packets from the aforementioned classes, and I came across a page of notes I had taken. In all caps, I had written, Fear is not productive. I remember one of the instructors mentioning that fear (and anxiety and worry) can slow down labor. I am pretty sure I wrote this sentence down so that I could remember it if I went into labor and we were stuck in traffic. Or in an elevator. Like, I would look at pictures of clowns (or something equally terrifying) and the fear would persuade our baby to wait until we were safely at the hospital. I think, at the time, I missed the point. The instructor meant that being informed, making preparations, and feeling a sense of control would have the opposite effect. Fear is not productive. Being empowered is. With seemingly so much more to worry about, to be anxious about, and to feel doubtful about these days, I needed this reminder. Sure, in certain cases, fear probably is quite productive. Say, if I were a cavewoman and a lion came into my cave to eat my cheese doodles, and I saw the lion, and I felt afraid… and that fear caused me to take my doodles (you can’t leave them behind, I imagine they were really hard to come by in those days) and run? Productive. Or that time I went skydiving with my ex-boyfriend in college (that should totally be the name of a Lifetime move: Skydiving with My Ex…. and maybe on the way to the airfield, before she actually skydives, the main character would find out that she had been switched at birth, just to keep things realistic interesting. Feel free to steal and pitch this idea to the network.), and I felt fear overwhelm me as I prepared to jump. That’s productive. People really shouldn’t jump out of planes for no reason. Fortunately, I survived, but I did lose a contact lens during free fall. Real, physical fear — the kind that has helped us stay alive as a species for so long — aside, the kind of fear that has us trying to predict the future, or read others’ minds, or play out all possible scenarios, is not productive. Worrying about whether or not Grace will be happy at day care is not going to make her any more or less happy. Getting anxious about making time to fit everything into the day is not going to fold the laundry, preside over meetings, pick out a semi-normal outfit for me to wear, and finish a workout. That kind of fear is just not productive. It wastes time. It wastes energy. And it leads to more fear. As much as I love cop shows (which is to say, a lot), I’ve always been squeamish when it comes to the violent parts. I like the intrigue, the plotting, and the cool police lingo, but I’ve always tended to cover my eyes during any of the real action. I got into the habit, jokingly, of covering Clark’s eyes, too and telling him to “guard his spirit.” This has always made Nick laugh, but I’ve caught myself saying this hippy b.s. more and more… and sort of seriously. And most often to, well, myself. When that unproductive fear creeps in, we’ve got to guard our spirits. And with that, I am off to legally change my name to Soleil Moon Frye Dreamcatcher Incense Flower. Also On Tap for Today: Happy Birthday to two of my favorite mammals, […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2014/04/11/today-fear-is-not-productive/">Today: Fear is not productive.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>For the record, this post is supposed to be suitable for all humans. It isn’t supposed to be about being a mom. Or boobs. Or CPR. It just starts that way, so like… bear with me.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="" src="https://i0.wp.com/i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q641/elizabethev/fearisnotproductive_zps7504f858.jpg?resize=645%2C483" width="645" height="483" /></p> <p> We took a bunch of classes in an effort to prepare for Grace’s arrival. <em>Infant CPR</em> felt both helpful and necessary. <em> Breastfeeding Basics</em> was, well, basically useless. None of it made sense until I actually started breastfeeding, and at that point, I had the invaluable support of lactation consultants in the hospital. They helped me figure that cool stuff out. During the class itself, we watched some weird slide shows (I have never seen so many boobs in my life, nor do I expect to, ever <em>ever</em> again), and a movie with credits that included a thank you “to the women of Bulgaria.” I am still not sure what to make of that. Our instructor for <em>Child Safety</em> went a bit rogue, so the class was more about how weird babies can look when their born, and less about… safety.</p> <p>Fortunately, the gaps left by the safety class were more than filled in when I had an appointment with a Boston Police officer to have our car seat inspected, just two days before Grace made her early arrival. What I thought would be a two minute check of our car seat (which Nick had expertly installed) turned into 90 minutes of me learning how to actually use our car seat (little did I know how soon I be putting this new found knowledge to work), how many air bags my car has, which items in the trunk could turn into projectiles if (God forbid) I got into an accident, how to safely flee an emergency by car with an infant in tow, how to use a car seat without a base if I were to flee an emergency by taxi, and the importance of actually reading safety manuals.</p> <p>Our childbirth class was cut short by a blizzard, so while we learned a bit about labor, we never learned about delivery. Needless to say, when it came time to deliver Grace… Nick and I both had <em>a lot</em> of questions. And I am certain our attending midwife and nurses had several questions about us.</p> <p>Anyway, in an ongoing effort to get my life together before going back to work in just a short time (don’t get me started, I am almost out of Kleenexes), I was sorting through various info packets from the aforementioned classes, and I came across a page of notes I had taken. In all caps, I had written,</p> <blockquote><p>Fear is not productive.</p></blockquote> <p>I remember one of the instructors mentioning that fear (and anxiety and worry) can slow down labor. I am pretty sure I wrote this sentence down so that I could remember it if I went into labor and we were stuck in traffic. Or in an elevator. Like, I would look at pictures of clowns (or something equally terrifying) and the fear would persuade our baby to wait until we were safely at the hospital.</p> <p>I think, at the time, I missed the point. The instructor meant that being informed, making preparations, and feeling a sense of control would have the opposite effect. Fear is not productive. Being empowered is. With seemingly so much more to worry about, to be anxious about, and to feel doubtful about these days, I needed this reminder.</p> <p>Sure, in certain cases, fear probably is quite productive. Say, if I were a cavewoman and a lion came into my cave to eat my cheese doodles, and I saw the lion, and I felt afraid… and that fear caused me to take my doodles (you can’t leave them behind, I imagine they were really hard to come by in those days) and run? Productive. Or that time I went skydiving with my ex-boyfriend in college (that should totally be the name of a Lifetime move: Skydiving with My Ex…. and maybe on the way to the airfield, before she actually skydives, the main character would find out that she had been switched at birth, just to keep things <del>realistic</del> interesting. Feel free to steal and pitch this idea to the network.), and I felt fear overwhelm me as I prepared to jump. That’s productive. People really shouldn’t jump out of planes for no reason. Fortunately, I survived, but I did lose a contact lens during free fall.</p> <p>Real, physical fear — the kind that has helped us stay alive as a species for so long — aside, the kind of fear that has us trying to predict the future, or read others’ minds, or play out all possible scenarios, is not productive. Worrying about whether or not Grace will be happy at day care is not going to make her any more or less happy. Getting anxious about making time to fit everything into the day is not going to fold the laundry, preside over meetings, pick out a semi-normal outfit for me to wear, and finish a workout. That kind of fear is just not productive. It wastes time. It wastes energy. And it leads to more fear.</p> <p>As much as I love cop shows (which is to say, a lot), I’ve always been squeamish when it comes to the violent parts. I like the intrigue, the plotting, and the cool police lingo, but I’ve always tended to cover my eyes during any of the real action. I got into the habit, jokingly, of covering Clark’s eyes, too and telling him to “guard his spirit.” This has always made Nick laugh, but I’ve caught myself saying this hippy b.s. more and more… and sort of seriously. And most often to, well, myself.</p> <p>When that unproductive fear creeps in, we’ve got to guard our spirits. And with that, I am off to legally change my name to <del>Soleil Moon Frye</del> Dreamcatcher Incense Flower.</p> <p>Also <strong>On Tap for Today</strong>:</p> <ul> <li>Happy Birthday to two of my favorite mammals, my brother <em>and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClarkTheFrenchie" target="_blank">Clark the Frenchie</a>!</li> <li>Naptime yoga (fingers crossed…)</li> <li>Looking for <a href="http://7thhouseontheleft.com/2014/04/easter-egg-decorating-ideas/" target="_blank">a little Easter egg inspiration</a></li> </ul> <p><strong>Do you have any unusual fears? What was the caveperson version of cheese doodles?</strong></p> <p>The post <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com/2014/04/11/today-fear-is-not-productive/">Today: Fear is not productive.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://ontapfortoday.com">ON TAP FOR TODAY</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://ontapfortoday.com/2014/04/11/today-fear-is-not-productive/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">8152</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>