Around here I’ve been running really low on energy. I just want to go to sleep every afternoon and I struggle to make it through the evenings. I’m not sure whether to attribute it to the food I’m eating, low blood counts (I wasn’t able to donate blood recently due to anemia), or just bad sleep. Maybe a combination. My step count is abysmal and cooking is nonexistent. Most of my healthy habits have lapsed and although I’m not happy about that, I also can’t muster the enthusiasm to make big life changes, even though I know they’d give me more energy.
So I’ve been reading Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before which is about habit formation, and I’m looking to make some small changes to my routine that may potentially have a big payout. The last few days I’ve started with my morning routine and it’s making a big difference in the rest of my day.
Around here I’ve been all over the place for work. I’m a fairly competent pre-op and radiation nurse now, I’d say. I still have my infusion patients. And I travel to the medical center about once a week. I got new clogs that make being on my feet much more bearable.
Around here the kittens remain adorable and fun, but I’m having trouble fully litter-training them. They use the litter box most often, but they also don’t. (Actually it’s just one of them in particular.) We have two boxes that I keep clean. I don’t know much about cats so I’m not sure what to do.
Around here I’ve slowed down on my cross stitching, but have still made a little progress. I’m in more of a reading phase lately, and I’m tending to pick up a book in my spare time. My library queue is a little out of control so that motivates me; I hate returning books unread and I hate racking up fines. Also, I’ve added reading for pleasure to my morning routine and it’s been amazing! I hope to share more about this soon.
Around here I’m brainstorming seven fairly healthy + easy dinner ideas that we can eat every week, inspired by Miranda. So far I’ve got: tacos, egg salad, taco chicken bowls, meatballs, and breakfast. What else should I add?
Around here Meredith and I went to our first movie in the theater together. We saw “Home” and it was super cute. Her tantrums have improved a lot over the past few weeks, but haven’t gone away altogether. When one comes, I still don’t have much patience so I’m working on that. But for the most part she has been incredibly fun and adorable lately.
Liam is in the cutest stage right now and I just want to squeeze him all the time. He’s not perfect though! He’s a hitter and a thrower and is very messy and loud.
Around here it’s been raining nonstop and my poor husband got caught in a storm with a broken window on his truck so he got soaked. We finally got it into the shop to get fixed, which needed to happen because he’s going out of town next week.
Today I’m working on my weekend plans: I want to get in the habit of having my weekend to-do list prioritized and planned on Friday, as well as my grocery list made. We don’t have any social commitments this weekend other than church small group, but it’s supposed to keep raining and David has to work again so I’ll have to get creative to keep those kiddos entertained.
Happy Friday! What’s going on in your world?
From Nora:
Not sure if these options would work for dinner, but a few of my favs: buffalo chicken wraps; grilled burgers; grilled cheese. They are easy and delicious, usually have leftovers! I love breakfast for dinner nights, some of my favorites :)
We are supposed to get lots of rain and some potentially serious storms this weekend so will see how that goes. Hope the weekend goes ok while David is working.
Oh, and the food/steps thing: I know easier said than done, but grant yourself some grace. You do a LOT. Mom. Work. Wife. everything in between. I know i feel better when I workout but I’m also getting better at realizing when I need an honest to goodness break from working out/cooking etc. I think you’re awesome no matter what! <3
From Sarah Johnson:
Me too! Me too on a couple of things- reading more than cross stitching, not motivated to do healthy things, it’s been raining here for over a week, everyday. We love our crock pot- we cook our meatballs in there, pork loins, even baked potatoes!
From Becca Hoelscher:
We just had the oven fajitas from the Budget Bytes blog. You could have it all mixed up and ready to pop in the oven when you get home. So delicious. Also, do a pork tenderloin in the crockpot. Shred or slice up. Will give you lots if leftovers!
From Sarah K:
I think I might take my older son to see Home this weekend! It’s playing in our tiny one-screen movie theater. And yep – raining here too.
It’s a little scary how much we are on the save wavelength with trying to get our lives calmed down and organized to run fairly smoothly – such is the life of a working mama, I suppose!
From Sarah Johnson:
Also, what are those pages from?? I love that idea!
From Mikal:
We’ve been doing a rotation of the same meals every two weeks or so since I had a baby 12 weeks ago. It’s been a huge stress relief to have easy dinners to make and not have to work hard to make up a grocery list. We rotate between beef tacos one week and chicken fajitas the next week. Another easy meal I like is roast chicken pieces, we like thighs but you could do whatever and we roast a veggie at the same time, usually sweet potatoes. We also like to do ham slice with a side of roasted veggies.
From Melissa:
It’s so easy to fall out of healthy habits. It takes continual effort and I’m always wishing it was “easier” – a more natural thing. I’m wanting to get my 10K steps in as well and it hasn’t been … great. It’s been okay… but not great. I really need to get up early in the morning and get a workout in, but I don’t. Sometimes during my lunch break, if it’s nice, I’ll go for a walk and that really helps.
I’ve never had danskin clogs either! I used to be kind of against them when I was a brand new nurse, but 11 years in and I’m pretty intrigued. PLUS…I’m so short that I think they’d help give me that extra inch or so to keep the hems of my scrub pants off the floor. (HA!)
I was just thinking of writing a post of my “go-to meals”. Matt’s more the cook in our family so when I make things it’s always really simple things. I’ve made this a couple times and everyone seems to like it. Especially me! It’s really good if you add yummy toppings – we like crumbled tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado, and sour cream. http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/5-ingredient-easy-white-chicken-chili-recipe/ Plus…it’s sooooo fast and easy. Especially if you’re using already cooked chicken.
From Kathleen:
Hi Vera, thanks for visiting and commenting! I subscribed to your blog and am enjoying following you on IG as well. :) I’m STILL on H as you can see! Lol.