recover, relieve, recooperate | Sunday social

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. Who do you call when you need to vent?
Depends on what I'm venting about, usually my mom, unless I know she's stressed out about something else, then my poor boyfriend gets to listen.

 

2. Where do you go when you need alone time?
 Usually my porch out back. P is good about playing by herself when I ask her too so I can relax alone. I'm also a sucker for a glass of wine and bit to eat at a crowded place where I can be invisible.

I really adore our back deck

3. What is your favorite alone time activity?
Sometimes I just sit, and watch the world go by. I do a lot of reading, and puzzles too. I love a nice hike when I can get away. 


 

4. What is something we should all stop and read right now?
In Blogland: Beyond the Clothing
Physically: Lust Lizards of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore

 

5. Who do you wish would read your blog that doesn't already? Family? Celeb?

I always appreciate new readers, but I don't necessarily want to know who is reading all the time from my real world... wouldn't want to censor myself 

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend.  

Taking advice from Crazy Eyes

"sometimes the feeling inside me get messy like dirt, then I like to clean things. Those things are like my thoughts, and clean my mind..."

I couldn't help but to rewind and get this quote down. It feels so close to home, so realistic. There are days my brain gets all muddled, my thoughts sloppy and, my personal state of sweet enthusiasm is lost in self-doubt and frustration. This will not be a clean post, it will not be spotless and refined. This post will be muddled.

Work is clear, well the basics of work is clear. My 9 to 5 checklist is filling out just fine, I'm accomplishing my daily tasks and meeting my goals. I've been recently approached with a consulting opportunity, which makes things all blurry. In one way, I really should take the opportunity. Start to make a name for myself, show off my skills, open future doors. But then I could fail... I could be less good than I think. I could be incapable of helping someone else do what I do well.

Home is clear in the daily tasks, checking things off, dinner, dishes, laundry and floors. The easy stuff is being kept up with. Now it's about planning a back lawn for the dogs, getting my garden planted and a yard sale organized. Everything else is half done. My desk isn't organized, the garage could use some work, the deck should be refinished.So many dirty little corner tasks that would make me much happier to be done, but for now they wait.

Family, friends, coworkers are clear on the surface. I text mom every day, keep up with friends each week, and help coworkers appropriately. I could do more. I could go sit with mom more, really talk to her. Friends deserve face time, not just Instagram comments. Coworkers deserve attention, focused attention, not just enough to satisfy them.

P is clear, she does her homework and her chores. We make dinner together, she earns her Netflix time. Again the basics get done. The day to day is fine. Then there seems to be something missing. We're not painting or drawing or doing cartwheels on the front lawn. We're not getting any deeper than the neat clear waters of a good kid, and a decent mom.

Where's my scuba gear, how do I get beyond the clear, clean top layer. Where do I go to find the dirt, and start to clean it. Today I start to clean, from the inside, today will be a day of affirmations, and taking notes from wonderful columns like The Other B Word, and finding inspiration in people like Tiana. If you need to come find me, please bring a mop.

"and you have to start from the inside out, or you step on the clean"

- Crazy Eyes, Orange is the New Black

Earn the Burn: This is Yogabitch

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I want to introduce you to someone I make snarky comments to several times a week. She's calm and encouraging, and gives great constructive criticism. Yet is a perfect example of why I don't go to the gym.

could she be anymore obnixoulsy supportive?

This is who I affectionately call Yogabitch. I'm slowly getting back into shape and the Wii U Fit has been a big part of my progress. Being a single mom hinders my ability to go out for a run, take a class, and my single mom budget hinders my ability to afford the gym membership plus daycare (is $10 per dropoff really necessary?)

So my most common workout happens at home, on the WiiU balance board, with Yogabitch. She instructs and encourages, and makes it so easy for me to take out my personal frustrations on. There's something so annoying about Yoga being hard for me... is that just me?  Stretching shouldn't be difficult, yet I find myself sore, sweaty, and being judgingly encouraged by Yogabitch.

It's funny to me how one calm voice, of a computer animated woman, can get under my skin. But I feel it has much to do with me facing my own inadequacies more than her being incorrect. However, my inadequacies taken out on a computer generated, non feeling personality, makes things just a little bit easier. She gives me a chance to be angry and get my frustration of daily duldrums out. Besides Yoga should get easier at some point right?

What helps you work out?

 Does calmness help you when you're frustrated?

Monday Social?

This weekend encoutered a scheduling fail (oops!) So I give you Sunday Monday Social This week!

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. What is your ideal way to relax?
A glass of wine while sitting on the deck.

2. Where is your favorite place to be?
Outside, just about anywhere. Home is such a pretty place most of the time it's hard to not want to be outside. 

My Backporch // St Helena // Downtown Napa

3. Who do you consider your biggest role model?
 My mom. She's taught me so much about how to live a life that doesn't make you crazy. Keeping calm, letting things go, and allowing yourself a cocktail and a steak are some of her key pointers.

She's a darn good grandma too

4. What does your life look like in 3 years?
Princess will be 9 - ugh I'm not sure I want to think about it

 

3 ........ 6 ......

5. If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?
I might re-think the terrible bob I got in 8th grade though. 
(sorry no picture of that one!)

6. What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far?

Choosing to raise P alone, and being ok. I don't think I thought I could do it, but I have.

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend.   

Cookies, Walks, Succulents and Sleepiness

This weekend was delicious and relaxing I don't usually do a weekend recap because I am typically TERRIBLE about taking pictures. Somehow I pulled it off this weekend:

Made these awesome cookies, I'd been craving cookies for a while and finally just did it. They were pretty darn good if I do say so myself.

My lovely succulents were all looking a little sad and crowded in their previous arrangement (forgot a before picture oops) but they're much happier in their new homes.

Took our babies for a walk, or well Chester may have been leading a little bit. They're getting so much better on their leashes. 

This amazing salad happened for lunch. BBQ sauce may have not been the healthiest topping, but it sure was good!

 And the theme, of everyone's weekend - pure exhaustion.

In the wake of Valentine's our world could use more love

In the wake of candy hearts and pink sparkles you would think love has some overwhelming hold on the world. You'd think all the mushy flower-buying saps would have worn off on general society. That trends like galentines day might have brightened this weekend. However I feel like I experienced more F(orget) Valentines day sentiments than ever before. Which really makes me sad. This year I happen to be attached, but I've spent many Valentine's days single and found much more fulfilling ways to celebrate. At the end of the day, what is wrong with a day focused on adoration and telling someone you care about them. If you're having trouble being alone make plans with your girls, send flowers to your sister or take yourself to the spa.I think my conclusion about how to make Valentine's a better day is this: Romantic relationships aren't the only ones you should express you should celebrate. Moms, friends, dads, cousins and even coworkers could use a little spoiling too.

So what prompted this express your love ramble? Looking around my world, regardless of their relationship statuses, too many people need a little extra love. So I guess watching the sulking singles was a little hard for me. I have friends and family waiting on pins and needles over test results, planned surgeries, and simply hoping their loved one wont get worse. My aunt is grieving for a friend who lost her husband, suddenly, without any current answer as to why. A childhood friend and fellow blogger is simply questioning her faith and spending time trying not to panic. My future father in law and his wife spent Sunday at a celebration of life saying goodbye to a friend of 53 years. We live in world with so much pain, and tragedy. So many heart-wrenching tales of pain I wish I could help with, that seeing anger over hallmark's favorite holiday just feels like a waste of energy this week.

So here I would like to challenge you, and will participate myself. Next week, spread more love than sugar on Valentine's day. Take this week to buy an extra cup of coffee, send a friend a cute 'thinking of you' card, call your grandma even if she talks for 45 minutes. Invite that girl at work out for a drink, you know the one that just moved here and doesn't know many people.

I want to make an effort this week to do this as well. Write thank you cards, bring flowers to a friend, drop off a casserole for a neighboring family. I have a list of ideas but also want to hear yours! Please share any kindness you've extended, or wish to extend this week.

Kick-backs and Lazy days | Sunday Social

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. What are your favorite things to do on a lazy day?
Netflix or go explore a new restaurant or store

2. What is your tv guilty pleasure?
 One Tree Hill over and over and over and over

source

 

3. What is your favorite road trip music?
 Something laid back and relaxing like Citizen Cope or Black Mill

4. What are your favorite magazines of books to read by the pool or laying around?
James Patterson is always a favorite or gossip mags

5. What is your favorite snack?

 Dried snap peas or frozen grapes

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend.