Friday Favorites 12.9.22
I am writing this as I sit on a plane from Boston To Vail, CO to ski with my Dad and Sister. I’ve been reflecting on this series of blog posts, what it means to me and how it can be helpful to you all. I want this to be equally a resource/ a place of learning and a place of inspiration. So with that in mind, I updated some categories and added some new categories.
Books: I am currently have a difficulty sticking to one book and finding myself bouncing all around. Part of my “problem” is there a few books i REALLY want to read but I want to buy them because they are just STUNNING books (and authors) and the other part of the problem is I have been alternating listening to audio books and hard copy books because I have been doing a lot of driving. I am listening to Force of Nature By: Jane Harper on Audible.
Force of Nature is good but it’s a bit slow moving. I am intrigued by the storyline and I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of good twists and turns coming towards the last third of the book. The story is of 5 women entering the backcountry of the bush in Australia on a corporate retreat and only 4 coming out. The search for the missing women issues as other storylines unfold throughout.. It weaves in these other storylines seamlessly— a secret police investigation, a past serial killer, complicated parent/child relationships and sketchy business endeavors. I have about 2.5 hours to go and I have a gut feeling that things are about to all come together shortly.
At the same time, I have been reading She Can Tell By Melinda Leigh on kindle and Season of a Magical Life on hard copy. She Can is a fun series– I started with the first in the series– She Can Run which I liked. These kind of series are my favorite guilty pleasure books– easy reads with a thriller/scandal twist and always a side of steamy romance. I love Melinda Leigh books for an easy, intriguing lead.
Seasons of a Magical Life is a book about seasonal living and seasonal self care. Some research for a future project of mine:)
Some books I am looking forward to reading: Shea Ernshaw’s new book: A Wilderness of Stars, Leigh Bardugo’s Hell Bent and Rachel Griffin’s Wild is the Witch.
Beverages: As you know, beverages are BAE. But more seriously, I love staying hydrating and there is joy in having a variety of beverages throughout a long work day. Lately, I have been utterly obsessed with all things magnesium. One of my biggest struggles in my health journey has feeling uber sensitive to stress. When going through a stressful period of time, I feel like I can easily set off a flare up of my chronic gut health issues and chronic pain. Prevention really truly is the best medicine (see mindfulness below) and one thing that has helped me exponentially is adding magnesium to my daily routine. For hydration, I drink LMNT packets- -these are my FAVORITE hydration packets in the game. I have tried plenty of other over time and not only does LMNT taste delicious but the science behind the ingredients (potassium, sodium and magnesium) is unparalleled. Also no added sugar is an absolute bonus! My favorite flavors are raspberry salt and citrus salt. I drink about 1-2 a day. Every night, I also have The Miracle Worker by Gut Personal. It’s the best quality magnesium I’ve had an tastes delicious. One of my favorite evening rituals and helps with all things constipation, stress and sleep!
Herbs: Part of the reason Chris and I moved to the Berkshires was to have some more space to garden and spend time outdoors. As I have learned more and more about gardening, I have found a new passion– herbalism. While one day I would love to study herbs more in depth, for now I am learning where I can, planning my herb garden and trying things out. I personally have found great healing through herbs– specifically working with an acupuncturist, functional medicine doctor and herbalist. My all time favorite herb is Calendula– not only are they little balls of sunshine and so so abundant if you trip them but they are so therapeutic. My two favorite ways to use Calendula are in my homemade boy oil and tea. You can learn more about
Movement: This weekend is going to be all about skiing, skiing and more skiing. I finished up my Ski Prep Program this past week and I am feeling pretty good so I am feeling really ready to hit the slopes. I am hoping for fresh powder, sunshine and good runs all weekend. It’s my first ski weekend of the season and I am secretly (not-so-secretly) hoping for a snowy winter in the Berkshires.
Mother Nature: I’ll be honest, I don’t think I have been hiking in a month. I KNOW! I really thought moving to the Berkshires would make it a non negotiable part of my life. And for the most part, it had. Until recently, I’ve had a bit more travel to Boston for clients, Chris got sick, I took on a new part time job and it’s been super rainy and dreary lately. I found those familiar excuses for not getting outside come back up and accidentally let them win. While yes, hiking and being outdoors is SO SO much more accessible where I live now– it can still be hard to get outdoors. I am finding joy in the small bits– daily dog walks, getting my feet in the grass, sitting on the front porch and watching the rainfall. Simultaneously, I am planning for future adventures so I can get back to those immersive Mother Nature benefits. My advice: savor what you can, make small shifts and plan ahead.
Mindfulness: I teach mindfulness everyday– to Physical Therapy clients, to my yoga students, to my corporate clients and honestly, to myself. Mindfulness is a PRACTICE. It’s not something you perfect or accomplish. It is a lifestyle that you practice and sometimes you forget to practice. Lately, my practice has been simple: a cup of lemon water/coffee/tea, a few deep breaths, a stare out the window and a check in with my physical body– asking myself “What do I need today?” Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Rituals: Lately, I have been feeling a bit… off. I think the mix of the sun setting early, a change of seasons and a busier schedule has increased stress levels and decreased outdoor time. This has definitely taken a toll on my mental health, my motivation and my ability to find a routine. This past week has also been full of travel back and forth to Boston for work and for travel, visitors, change of schedule and more. Sticking to routine during busy times can be tough. Instead of overwhelming myself with a million to dos, I am trying my best to slow down and pick 2-3 things everyday that can anchor me into the present moment and soothe my soul a bit. Right now that looks like: grounding (getting my barefeet in the grass), morning lemon water and reading for fun.
Reminders: This time of year is busy– parties, end of year hustle, commitments, sickness, deadlines. It can feel overwhelming and utterly exhausting. It’s also much darker out for much longer which plays a role in how we feel and act. Remember two things:
Be kind to yourself this time of year– you are doing the best you can
A little bit of something is better than nothing– movement, mindfulness, mother nature, roll outs, 1 minute is better than no minutes.
Roll Outs:
Have you been wearing heavier boots lately? I don’t know about you but my feet and calves feel like they have been needing a little more TLC. Try this 24 minute lower leg and feet roll out for some foot and calf love.
Woah, I wrote a bit more than I expected today. I guess a few hours alone on a plane and a blank canvas will do that to you. I love writing, I admire writers and I not-so-secretly hope to be a published author one day (in some way/shape/form) so this series is near and dear to my heart. If you’ve read this far, thank you, it means so much.