Getting ready for ski season

Because ski goggles and a sun-dress are always in style.

Pink shoes, striped tights

Her favorite thing to wear these days.

December Views

I originally thought that participating in December Views was more than I could handle right now. The idea of posting every. single. day for a month is a bit overwhelming, but the more I thought about it, and the more I embraced the idea that there are NO rules (this is a hard concept for me to grasp)- I decided to go for it. It will be a great way to record what December is about for me and how it looks in my little corner of the world.

My thoughts today have been about maintaining health and wholeness during the hectic holiday season. It can get so crazy, and time seems to fly by, but I'm committing to staying on track and taking care of myself FIRST, so I can take care of the rest of my life. Self-preservation, baby. Self-preservation.

*Miscellany*

**This is the first year that Riley has really been into the holidays, and it's also the year that my condo is getting new windows. I don't really want to decorate if I'm going to have to tear it all down for the windows, but I don't want to NOT decorate when she's so excited for it. Still not sure what to do.
**Speaking of holidays, Riley is *loving* the holiday cartoons and tv shows. We're watching Rudolph right now...the one where the elf wants to be a dentist. It's cuter than I remember, even though she thinks that Abominable Snowman is a white monkey.
**This is my view from my downtown office. It's more impressive on sunny days, but I enjoy it all the time.
**When I asked Riley what she learned in church on Sunday, she replied that 'Jesus was a nice man who wore a dress,' and that 'men who wear dresses are nice.' I can't argue with any of her logic, so I figured she's right on track.
**We're making another batch of Chex Mix tonight. Riley calls it 'oatmeal' and she prefers to eat for breakfast. I figure that it's mostly cereal, so it's all good.
**It's a few weeks early, but Santa brought me new backpacking boots and snowshoes. Merry Christmas to me!
**My morning yoga practice is quickly becoming a mandatory part of the day. It sets me up mentally like nothing else.
**I don't know what I'd do without my go-to "man thought and action" translator. Thanks, Vin. You certainly do rock.
**I hate wearing socks. I really do.

Grateful for Sundays and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Church.
Yoga pants and sweatshirts.
No plans.
Staying home with my girl.
Watching the snow fall.
Movies.
Stacks of books to read.
Afternoon naps followed by restorative yoga.
Phone dates with long-distance friends.
Writing in my journal.
Baking cookies.
Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. With walnuts, to be exact.
Pretty much adds up to a perfect way to spend the day, in my book.

I'm grateful for days like today.

Grateful for the Little Things

Today, I am exceedingly grateful for the things that aren't necessary, per se, but sure do make life much more enjoyable. Today, I am grateful for:
*An evening at the spa that left me a bit sore (damn deep muscle work) but very relaxed.
*Tangled in 3-D with an 8 year old pixie and a very large bucket of popcorn.
*A good relationship with Riley's Dad. It's nice that we can work together for her best interests.
*The guy who sat on the end of my lane counting laps for me this morning. I love to swim, but I hate counting laps, so this was a nice respite from the dreaded task.
*An upcoming trip to Hawaii in April. I'm already day-dreaming of sandy beaches, amazing hikes, lovely sunsets and some quality time with one of my favorite people.
*A super-clean and well-organized home, thanks to a lost camera remote shutter and a slight OCD streak.
*Having my little one back after a few days with her Dad. I enjoy the break, but I am always happy to have her home.
*My christmas shopping is almost completely DONE! Yay! And the few things I still need can all be purchased online! Double YAY!
*I still have a day left in this long, lovely weekend. It's going to be a lazy Sunday with no plans, except making chocolate chip cookies with my kiddo and phone dates with a couple of friends.

What about you? What little thing is making your world a bit brighter today?

Grateful for A Healthy Life

There was a time in my life that I didn't appreciate my body and didn't value my health. I didn't take care of it, ignored it, and filled it with junk. Not surprisingly, I felt awful. I was sluggish and slow and I suffered migraines, back aches, any number of physical symptoms. In hindsight, I realize that my physical health was all tied up with my mental and emotional state. I was deeply unhappy, in an unhealthy marriage, and taking care of myself just wasn't something that was high on my list of priorities.

My return to good health started after I had my baby. It began as a way to lose the weight I had gained while I was pregnant, but I quickly found that exercise was a great stress reliever, something I desperately needed at the time. I was navigating my way through a divorce, had a newborn, and was working full time at a demanding job. Working out was usually the only thing I could do for myself and the only time I had to myself in the course of the day. Exercise led to better eating habits, better eating habits led to better sleep, better sleep made it possible to deal with the emotional demands of single motherhood, and dealing with those made me feel lighter and more stable. This led to increased energy, which led to...well, you can see...it's a cyclical thing.

Fast forward three years, and I feel like I am in the best health of my life. I bike, I swim (I learned a couple of years ago despite being terrified of it), I run (well, I don't for a couple more weeks-I'm rehabbing a torn hip flexor) and I make it a point to stay active all the time. I can bust out a triathlon with a few days notice. I can ride my bike insane amounts of miles if I feel the desire to do so. I am currently working on getting a more regular yoga practice incorporated into my day. I feel great about all of those things, but besides being phsyically fit, I am emotionally, mentally and spiritually healthy. I don't get sick, I rarely get headaches, I never suffer from backaches....I'm able to keep up with my fast-paced life and be the active, fun person and mother that I want to be. I'm happy and I get to teach Riley by example that good health is multi-dimensional and something that should be a priority in our lives.

It's not always easy to be healthy and balanced, and I don't believe it's really a destination you arrive at and - BAM!- you've achieved it. It's a continual pursuit, a way of life, a choice that you are constantly making, and I've learned to live with the 'two steps forward, one step back' approach. I truly believe, however, that good health is something that has to be prioritized in order to live a happy life. It's something that I, personally, treasure more than any money in the bank, more than any material possession. It allows me to fully enjoy my amazing life and all the incredible people and wonderful experiences that fill it up. And for that, I am so grateful.