My Self Care Blog

100 Resolutions for Taking Better Care of Yourself!

2012-01-01T03:34:00.000-08:00

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Resolve to make no resolutions this year (you really are perfect the way you are!)
Start a Journal
Buy yourself flowers once a month
Make this the year you finally try something that you have been wanting to try forever
Get debt free (see Dave Ramsey)
Get rid of the clutter in your home (see FlyLady)
Eat more fruits and veggies
Drink more water
Plan a date night each month with the person you love
Make Friday night (or Saturday night) Family Pizza Night
Increase your vocabulary with a new word a day
Read a book a month
Train for a marathon
Budget for a manicure/pedicure once a month (great way to stop biting your nails!)
Replace one bad habit with a good one
Make a regular night out with the girlfriends
Learn how to meditate
Clear a space in your home where you can go to daily for 15 minutes of peace
Eat less processed foods
Replace fruit juice with whole fruit (fiber from whole fruit helps your body process fructose better)
Stop smoking
Surround yourself with positive, happy people who encourage you.
Tell that negative voice in your head to take a hike
Send a love note a week to your honey....always put it somewhere that will surprise them!
Take a long hot bath each week (this of course should be in addition to your normal bath/shower routine)
Volunteer your time
Go to church
Join a club
Go back to school
Call you grandparents once a week...visit them as often as you are able.
Learn something new
Start a chick flick night with your girlfriends
Find a creative outlet
Allow yourself permission to feel fully (happy, sad, grumpy, jubilation!)
Listen to your gut (did you know that you have brain cells there? Amazing!)
Embrace change
Do something that scares you
Take a nap
Hire someone to clean your house
Make a vow to live more simply
Re-use, Reduce and Recycle
Share your talents with the world - become a teacher or a mentor
Walk
Pray
Get a new hairdo
Do the opposite of what you normally do
Keep a stash of chocolat tied with a bow
Get rid of those traditions that don't feel good or cause you too much stress
Start new traditions
Clean out your cupboards each month and donate to Good Will and the food bank
Get on a budget
Cut out sugar
Unplug one day a week
Send thank you cards for small things
Eat more fiber
Take sick days
Write down your goals
Get regular massages
Go hiking
Start a vegetable garden
Take more pictures
Say "I love you" more often
Forgive
Don't gossip
Listen better
Finish something you started
Give hugs
Compliment yourself more often
Snuggle more
Get your teeth cleaned
Get a physical
Find a physical activity that you enjoy doing
Stretch each morning (yoga is wonderful)
Find a mentor
Learn to speak a new language
Take a cooking class
Set small goals
Make a 1year, 5 year and a 10 year plan- be sure to write it down and track your progress!
Adopt a signature fragrance
Add more color to your life
Feed the birds
Spend more time at the beach and in the woods
Visit a day spa
Treat yourself to a fine dining experience
Wear matching a bra and underwear (make sure you are wearing a bra that fits you!)
Buy and wear comfortable shoes
Start a collection
Let go, let God
Eat dinner at the table with your family - if you live and eat alone, set a beautiful table
Make sure you have a will and estate paperwork is up to date
Have regular one on one time with your kids
Join a cooperative or CSA - support local farms in your community
Try a new food each week. There are lots of fruits and vegetables you may never have tried
Moisturize.
Say No more often
Buy luxurious, high thread count sheets for your bed
Count your blessing daily
Buy fuzzy, warm socks
Be true to yourself
Don't justify, explain or defend your choices.

Have a Happy New Year!

Self Care Girl Book Review: Mastering Your Metabolism, by Jillian Michaels

2011-11-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Reading (again): Jillian Michael's "Mastering Your Metabolism".

Frankly, her approach on The Biggest Loser kind of scared me, but after reading this book (the first time) my perspective was altered. I think this book about weight loss, environmental toxins and hormones are spot on!

The science she promotes is not mainstream. I think this might be one reason why she left the Biggest Loser. You cannot write a book about the negative impacts of over-processed food, and toxins in our environment (ie: Plastics, pesticides, GMOs) and still promote Yoplait yogurt or Cheerios as acceptable "diet food" on national television!

Highly recommend!

Day 10: I Made Some Comfort Food

2011-10-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

“Onion soup sustains. The process of making it is somewhat like the process of learning to love. It requires commitment, extraordinary effort, time, and will make you cry.” - Ronni Lundy

Yesterday was a rainy, windy, miserable day here. Perfect for making soup.

I love to cook; to try new recipes...to chop celery and carrots and onion and pancetta and garlic! I love the smell of good food cooking on the stove top. And, I also love to eat....cooking engages all of the senses...to me it is just fabulous self care!

If I had more time I would probably start up my food blog again....unfortunately, (or fortunately, if you consider that saying NO to being overwhelmed is just good self care) I have left my cooking blog long neglected. I still cook...I just don't write about it.

You can check out my old blog here: My Home Cook N Blog

Did you practice some good self care today (is there such a thing as "bad" self care, really? Hmmm) Let us know!

Day 9: Self Care Girl Stepped Away From Her Lap Top For The Day...

2011-10-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

Unplugged.....Off Line....Out of Office....Away...

Photo borrowed from The Unplugged Learning Project: http://www.unpluggedlearning.org/

Day 8: I Watched An Entire 80's Top #50 Countdown.

2011-10-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Spent the afternoon reliving my teen years. One of the television music channels was playing an 80's countdown and I couldn't help but get completely roped in. I love the music of that era!

There are so many memories associated with the songs we grew up with. I can remember where I was and the various people I was with (who I honestly have not thought of in years) as each music video played.

My grandmother is one person who I think of fondly during this era. She was so cool! I have such great memories of watching MTV with her...we watched Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, and Prince together...I remember the first time we saw Boy George and weren't completely sure if he was a He or a She! I remember my grandmother entertaining us with a very funny Madonna 'like a virgin' impersonation and how wooed she was by the barefoot guitar player in Dire Straits.

Singing and dancing along to some of this great music is so good for the soul! My husband and I grew up in different countries (He is English, I am American), but we share a love of the same era of music. It was interesting to compare notes and hear his perspective and favorites too.

In the words of Don McLean, American Pie "music soothes the mortal soul." It is just very good self care.

Day 7: We had a Pajama Party

2011-10-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

“Oh no! I should do something....but I am already in my pajamas.” - Farnsworth from Futurama

Fabulous Artwork from Blue Yonder (http://blueyonderranch.com/)

A pajama party was the theme today in the high-rise flat of Self Care Girl and her Prince Charming, Mr Self Care. The dashing couple decided to stay in today, curled up on the sofa with a commitment to do nothing in particular, but laze about and eat gelato.

Self Care Girl was stunning in a fabulous pair of soft cotton pajama bottoms of candy striped pinks...topped with an mismatching, but comfy, adidas t-shirt in a heavenly sleeping baby blue. She topped her look with her favorite worn "house sweater" and a slightly disheveled "bed head" hairstyle.

Mr Self Care looked absolutely dashing too in his white t-shirt and khaki reebok shorts...not one to really wear pajamas (meowwww!), Self Care Girl was pleased to see that he did attempt to dress for the occasion. (Also she was selfishly aware that Mr Self Care's attire clearly made him a better candidate for making the all-important gelato run)

Mr Self Care (aka SCG's personal barista) kept the coffee brewing, while SCG compromised on her agenda of chick flicks, in favor of a more man- friendly Bourne Identity movie marathon. "The important thing is that we are spending time together today" she was overheard saying as she popped in the dvd and curled up next to him on the sofa.

The menu of the day was a delivered Pizza and chicken soup (and whatever other munchable faire they could scrounge from their cupboards), topped off with a delightful scoop(s) of raspberry gelato.

The couple had been feeling a bit puny over the last few days and is hoping that this pajama party will restore them to their good health.

Have you had a pajama party recently? Let us know!

Day 6: How to Get Your Self Care In on A Very Hectic Day

2011-10-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

The best time to take a break is when you don't think you have time for one! - Unknown

Today was just one of those hectic days where I didn't think about self care until it seemed almost too late to do anything about it.

Some days are like that.

I had a good think about this after kicking myself for not making myself a priority. And then I decided that step one should be to not kick myself. I felt better immediately. You have to do the best you can some days and I really believe I did just that!

The second step after forgiving myself for being human....develop a list of quick, small tasks I could use in the future to get my little self care fix in.

1) Be gentle with yourself (no kicking or beating yourself up about it!)

2) Make a plan for next time you find yourself in the same circumstance

3) Create a "done" list in your head or on paper - give yourself credit for what you have accomplished!

4) Take 10 deep breaths

5) Do only what needs to be done...and nothing more. (I like to clean house before I go to bed, but I really needed to just go to bed)

6) Have a piece of chocolate, a cookie or some little treat.

7) Stop and get yourself something to drink...refocus your eyes and stretch

8) Grab some lotion and massage your hands, arms...feet, legs.

9) Name 5 things you are thankful for

10) Ask for help.

Got any other good, quick self care remedies? Let us know!

Day 5: Booked A Vacation Home

2011-10-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

There is no place like home! - Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

Yesterday I booked a flight home for a 2 week holiday.   I am quite looking forward to getting home and sleeping in my own bed, cooking in my own kitchen, seeing my friends and family and driving my own car.

I am blessed to have my current job. It is allows me to see the world, spend my days doing what I love and meet some really wonderful people.   I have not been home since early June, though.   That is a long time to be away.

While I was gone, Mr SC had rooms painted, finished a huge renovation to put in french doors out to our back deck and had the exterior trim and garage door touched up.    I missed seeing my roses bloom, blueberry season and the first crop of apples on our little apple tree.

Going home is going to be great self care!

Did you do something good for you today?   Let us know!

Day 4: I Ate Chocolate...Lots of Chocolate.

2011-10-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty. ~Lora Brody

I ate two of these wonderful slices and a chocolate bar.

Why? Well....Because they were there.

And I confess that if there had been more chocolate available to me, I probably would have devoured that too! I simply could not get enough chocolate in me. Tell me you've never had one of those days!

Recently, I read that you can curb your chocolate cravings by eating bell peppers. When you crave chocolate your body may be lacking in magnesium. Apparently Bell peppers are a more healthful option for getting that all-important nutrient than chocolate.

Bell peppers are lower in sugar and calories and higher in Vitamin C. From a dietary perspective, they are much better for your body than chocolate is (although raw dark chocolate may be a contender here.)

But in my opinion why in the world would anyone in their right mind choose a bell pepper over a decadent piece of chocolate? Peppers don't taste as great as chocolate does and they do almost nothing for one's soul.

The official Self Care Girl position on this: If Chocolate makes you happy, don't opt for a stupid bell pepper!

Being happy is good self care!

What did you do for Day 4? (Note: It is not to late to have a piece of chocolate)

Day 3 - A Hot Bath with a Mani-Pedi

2011-10-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

"We start to realize that there are anodynes in life that help us through the day. I don't care if it's a walk in the park, a look out the window, a good bubble bath - whatever. Even a meal you like, or a friend you want to call. That helps us solve all this stuff in our head." - Al Pacino

This is not my first post on bubble baths, nor will it likely be my last. There is simply nothing more soothing than a good hot soak when you have had a long day using your body and brain muscles.

I like my bath full and scented with lavender. I like the lights dimmed, a candle or two lit and the sound of water running gently. Tub time may very well be the most inexpensive, most simple and most beneficial form of self care available to those of us who possess bath tubs.

For Day 3 of the 31 Days of Self Care Challenge, I had a bath and gave myself a much needed mani-pedi. I was a nail biter for most of my life. However a few years ago I remedied that with a proper manicure. It is like most things in life- a little extra attention to one small thing can make a world of difference. Smooth nails are less likely to be nibbled. I love to go to the salon, but I have found that a simple manicure here in Australia is quite a bit more expensive than I would spend in the States. Fortunately manicures are easily performed at home.

The best time to give yourself a mani-pedi is after a nice hot bath. The soak will soften your nail and make them easier to work with. Clean your nails with a good nail brush then trim and file them. Gently push back the cuticles, (I learned recently that you should not cut your cuticles!) and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Previous experiences with painting my own nails have not been positive- so I skip that. I am perfectly happy with clean, neatly trimmed nails and soft, smooth hands.

For your feet, I recommend getting a good brush and pumice stone. Scrub out the rough spots. Trim and file the nails and then spend some time giving yourself a luxurious foot massage. I like the invigorating effects of a minty foot lotion. Coat your feet with lotion and then cover them with a soft pair of cotton socks. Your body heat will enhance the moisturizing effects of the lotion.

Home spa products can be a great self care treat and a new lotion or potion will definitely inspire a little pampering. However, you can find lots of beauty recipes on line using products you may already have in your home. What I have found is that the most important element of the home spa experience is not the products you use, but the actual time and attention you spent on YOU!

Did you give yourself some quality time today? Let us know!

Day 2 - Take a Hike!

2011-10-02T04:20:00.000-07:00

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir

I laughed when I saw this picture.

I walk a lot...in fact, I think I could be a walking "expert"....this picture is the most ridiculous thing I have seen in a long time.

If you are going to start walking and must look for a pictorial representation related to walking- for crying out loud- search Google maps...search for good shoes...search for charity walks.   The last thing you are going to need is a picture of someone showing you HOW to walk.   If you have reached adulthood and walk from say...your living room to the fridge...your bed to your bathroom...well, you can rest assured that you are more than capable of figuring out this walking-just-about-anywhere thing.   It is not complicated.

Mr Self Care and I were walking about 5 miles a night when we were both home.    Today, we are just getting settled in to our new temporary home in Melbourne, Australia and really feel the need to get back into that routine.   We love walking!

We have decided to use our car only to get to work.   We live in a very walkable community.   It takes about 20 minutes to walk to our favorite market and less than that to reach 3 different outlet malls.   There are paths all along the waterfront, to parks, to the beach....there is really no reason NOT to walk.

Day 2 of our 31 days of self care challenge we made this commitment to each other: we will walk as much as we can. We grabbed our grocery tote and headed to the market this sunny spring morning.

Walking is good self care for many reasons:

It is fabulous low impact exercise.
It is a great way to think things out
It is one of the best forms of transportation for the environment
It is a great way to connect with someone you love.
It is a wonderful way to get fresh air and see sites that you might not otherwise see.

Did you do something healthful today? Let us know!

Day 1 - Let the Self Care Festivities Begin!

2011-10-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

“As a rule, the mind, residing in a body that has become weakened by pampering, is also weak, and where there is no strength of mind there can be no strength of soul.” - Mahatma Gandhi (....who apparently has never experienced the soul enhancing properties of a good hot stone massage!)

Mr Self Care and I started off our 31 Days of Self Care in a big way yesterday.   We had a couple's hot stone massage at Body Freedom Day Spa!

The cold and rainy weather outside was completely miserable, but this is actually PERFECT weather for lying on a massage table all bundled up in warm blankets with a row of hot stones running the length of your spine.

In a hot stone massage, the therapist uses the smooth heated stones to warm and then work the kinks out of your muscles.    For a whole hour and a half, Mr SC and I were pleasantly pummeled into jello-like beings.   I caught myself falling asleep at least 3 times.    It was heavenly!

The worst part of a hot stone massage- and any relaxing spa treatment, really- is the end...when the therapist says in a low whisper..."okay, that is all for today...take your time getting up...stretch a bit...there is a glass of water here for you...."

I heard our therapists leave the room....and then complete silence.      No movement from Mr SC's table next to me.   And I was thinking "I just want to lay here....like ALL day." and I know that my dear husband was thinking the same thing.   I half expected to hear snoring...but eventually he did stir and I had no choice but to follow suit.

I have seen massages advertised for as low as $50 an hour in the U.S.    You can often find coupons on the internet or get last minute specials when a spa is looking to fill a slot in their calendar.    Check your local massage school too - massage therapists are required to put in a minimum number of hours to get licensed.   You can often get treatments at half price this way.

To get a free massage, I suggest you add this to your wish list for Christmas, Birthday, Valentine's Day, or other important holiday or celebration day and let those people who really care about you know that an hour or so of pampering would be just perfect!

Did you start Day 1 off in a fabulous way? Let us know!

31 Days of Self Care

2011-09-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

“What is genius, anyway, if it isn't the ability to give an adequate response to a great challenge?”

- Bette Green

When was the last time you spent a full month doing nice things for yourself?

This month Self Care Girl wants to help you change that. For the month of October we are launching the 31 days of Self Care Challenge!

Each day of October I will post simple, inexpensive, and indulgent ideas to help you incorporate a little self love into your daily routines. Your mission- if you choose to participate- is to commit to doing something- anything- nice for yourself each day. Follow my suggestions, or create your own- the key is to just be good to yourself.

Sounds pretty easy? I hope you will share your experiences and ideas too!

Take Good Care!

Swap it, don't Stop It

2011-09-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

The Australian government has started a new healthy lifestyle campaign that encourages citizens to become "swappers" not "stoppers". I think this is a great self care philosophy for making lasting changes.

So often our attempts at adopting better habits fail to launch, or quickly fall by the wayside. If you are like me, the minute something is determined to be bad and in need of elimination, the cravings for it multiply exponentially!

In a nutshell, this campaign promotes moderation and encourages you to find ways to stop doing one thing by replacing it with something better. I have personal experience with this. When I was about 18, I stopped drinking colas and began drinking sparkling water. While my orthodontist is still not happy with this swap (the carbonation erodes tooth enamel), I have cut a huge amount of chemical and sweetener from my diet. Which is a very good thing. I may indulge in one or two cola drinks a year now, but I find them too sweet and can rarely finish a full can.

One more note....the campaign provides many examples of swaps you can make toward creating a healthier lifestyle. I think information is valuable, but I think these examples should come with another message that encourages changing one thing at a time, rather than changing every bad habit you have immediately . Lasting change takes time and focus. A concentrated effort on one or two changes will increase the likelihood of your success.

A few more effective ideas for making lifestyle changes:

Write down a specific goal. Small, incremental goals are best.
Plan ahead - it is easier to eat healthy, if healthy food is available!
Focus on health and the way you feel. Your weight is only a number- it reflects more than just body fat! It also includes bones, water, vital organs....
Celebrate small successes.
Be specific about where and when activities will take place ("after work, I will do one lap around the park", "when my alarm goes off in the morning, I will spend 30 minutes on the treadmill" etc...)
Do not deny yourself the things you love. Allow these things in moderation.
Pair up with a friend to support and encourage each other
Keep a journal of your activity and diet. This will help you to be mindful and serves as a good record if you find what you are doing isn't working for you.
Find activities that you enjoy and be mindful of keeping your body in motion
Develop routines. A piece of fruit at 10am. Get up from your desk at 1:30 for a 15 minute walk.

Self Care Girl Goes To The Day Spa

2011-07-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

As a reward for losing almost 60lbs, I opted to celebrate by getting a hot stone massage and spa mani-pedi last weekend at Body Freedom Urban Spa Retreat

The spa is located in South Melbourne, just a few short tram rides from my apartment in the Docklands. The spa has a very warm, peaceful and welcoming feel to it when you walk in.

Body Freedom is product conscious- they use and retail product lines that are free of harmful chemicals. For me this is an essential ingredient of a good spa. The aim of going to any spa is to take good care of yourself, so the products need to be good for you too.

The Body Freedom philosophy:

Hmmm....sounds a lot like the Self Care Girl philosophy....I like it!

I arrived a bit early for my appointment. I was greeted by Fiona at the counter and after taking a few pictures and browsing a bit in the shop, I was welcomed to a cozy little room to wait for my appointment. The waiting area was soothing. It is wintertime in Melbourne and a nice fire was burning in the fireplace and a pot of herbal tea was brewing. It was a great way to transition into "spa mode".

Julie Ann greeted me when my appointment time arrived. She escorted me upstairs to a lovely treatment room which also boasted a fireplace. The spa aims to create a completely relaxing experience, so a conversation at the start of your appointment takes place to ensure the practitioner is up to speed on any concerns, issues or needs that you may have and then conversations are kept at a minimum during the course of the actual treatment. I really liked this approach. It kept the focus on the luxurious experience at hand and allowed me to get absolutely relaxed.

A few pictures of the cozy spa room:

Really loved the decor...especially the fabric used on the bedspread below and the pillow above

After the massage, I was brought to another room with a fireplace where two other women were getting pedicures and manicures.   This was also a pleasant experience.   A bit more social but also luxurious.

I had a nice conversation with Julie Ann about her self care philosophy.   She is a vegetarian and passionate about yoga, health and learning.   She is very knowledgeable about self care.

One self care tip she shared: Mornings should be peaceful times.   She is concerned that many people get up, turn on the television or radio and rush about completely oblivious to the positive energy that exists at this time of day.   Practicing yoga and meditation are just some of her suggestions for harnessing that morning energy and getting your day started off on the right footing.

Overall, I believe this was one of the best spa experiences that I have.   I enjoyed it so much I scheduled a couple's massage and will be back at the spa for more pampering (with Mr SC) later this week.

If you are ever in Melbourne, I encourage you to check it out!

Take Good Care!
Self Care Girl

3 Important Ingredients for Success

2011-07-11T15:12:00.000-07:00

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. -Unknown

I am currently working on a pretty complex project in Australia. The project really interests and excites me- it is all about taking an old way of doing things and transforming it into a new and better way. Being able to collaborate with the people who do this work and help to improve the quality of their work life makes this project even more appealing to me. I am all about building teams and improving morale.

My confidence level does not necessarily match my enthusiasm. I am effectively feeling my way around in the dark here- having to rely heavily upon the experts to understand work flow and a lot of high tech processes- like fabricating composite parts etc etc etc...and the project isn’t just one little section of this factory, but includes the entire factory and quality department.

I have found over the years that three things are important when expanding into new, uncharted territory: Be gentle with yourself, Surround yourself with positive, supportive people and take baby steps.

1) Be gentle with yourself. Allow yourself some flexibility, including permission to fail. When you are doing something new, you cannot always expect to be perfect the first time around. You need to learn, and this is often best achieved by finding all the wrong ways first! Permit and accept the possibility of failing up front and it makes the task seem not so daunting. Ask questions, take in the ideas and feedback that others offer, and be sure to listen to your gut.

2) Surround yourself with positive supportive people. I cannot advocate this enough. I have a great management team that I am reporting to here. Today, I expressed my approach to this project and was told, “Great- that sounds like the right thing to do.” My confidence was raised ten-fold.

This is also a good reminder to be that positive, supportive person to others. If you have knowledge, share it where it is needed. Don’t shoot down ideas that may be different from your own. Be mindful that there is always more than one better way. New ideas deserve consideration and support.

3) Baby Steps…Sometimes thinking of the whole picture can be debilitating. Focus instead on the little steps to get to the end of your goal. I was asked today by the same manager above if I was comfortable with the project- it is a big one! I told him that right now I felt I was moving in the right direction. If a few steps down the road I don’t know what to do, I will ask for help. You only have to worry about one moment at a time. Make the best choice you can when each moment presents itself and you will do marvelous!

Take Good Care!

Lessons From My Weight Loss

2011-06-27T05:08:00.000-07:00

When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty.

~Woody Allen

My Before & After pictures: The picture on the left was taken in November 2010. The picture on the right was taken last weekend

I am not a big fan of Woody Allen, but I do love that quote!

This weekend, I anticipate celebrating a huge milestone. I am on the brink of having lost a total of 50 lbs!

I am not sure how I will celebrate yet - but I can tell you I will not be having cake or pizza or a cheeseburger. I was thinking a nice bouquet of flowers and a massage, maybe a manicure and pedicure would be nice.    I am still actively losing weight and adhering to the strict HCG food plan for another 3 weeks.. I will not be swayed by celebratory cheeseburgers!! No way! No how!

But I do have a few weight loss tips to share. Just a few tid-bits that were important in helping me get going and stay the course:

1) Just do it.   I made excuse after excuse-and quite frankly I felt that my crazy globe-trotting job was a pretty good one! (Its hard to diet when you travel!) I was waiting for the right time to begin to get healthier until my fabulous cardiologist gave it to me straight "You know, you have been coming here for over 2 years now...I remember you were in grad school...it wasn't a good time for you to make lifestyle changes...then you had a big project you were starting at work....when I saw you again you were headed off to Italy...and then Australia....and then Japan...I think you might want to consider that the time might never be just "right" to start making improvements...it might be time to just decide to make them anyway."   He paused and waited for my response. Which I didn't have.   What could I possible say?   He was absolutely right.

2) Talk to your Doc.   I went in specifically to talk about my weight.   I had been walking miles each night after 2 months I only lost 2lbs.   I ate really healthy food 95% of the time. She referred me to one of her colleagues, who helped me find the right plan for me.   One benefit of the HCG diet is that you get good results fast. Continuous progress served to reinforce my commitment to the diet each day.

3) Set a Goal.   My first goal was to impress my cardiologist by getting off of the blood pressure medication. My second goal was to reach 199.   My current goal is 175.   Celebrate milestones.

4) Plan ahead and set routines. I would have failed hundreds of times if I didn't have a plan.   Having a good routine helps too- the less thinking you have to do, the better. I buy groceries once a week with my plan in mind.   Whatever I make for dinner I have for lunch the next day. My day starts with a cup of coffee and ends with a cup of tea.   I eat an apple or fruit throughout the day to stave off hunger.   There will be lots of temptations: Pizza Day was held in my office last week. Smelled fabulous! I brought in my ground beef in a tomato sauce on lettuce leaves- it was seriously good (didn't miss the pizza at all!)

5) Get creative.   Spice things up - try some herbs and seasonings that you haven't had before.   Modify a new recipe to make it more diet friendly.   I have made an HCG version of pizza, burgers and tacos just by changing the seasoning and using lettuce instead of bread. The possibilities are endless.

6) Focus on flavor.   Sweet strawberries, my morning coffee, Crisp apples.   These have become real treats for me as I appreciate their simplicity.

7) If you fall off the diet, immediately start again.   You don't have to do it perfectly. Forgive yourself and get back on it.   Set backs don't have to be failures.   Just begin again from where you left off.

8) Clear away temptations.   It is a good idea to get the bad for you foods out of your house.   And stay away from bakeries! (Bakeries are diet kryptonite!)

9) Celebrate your milestones and achievements.   Reward yourself with non-food items.   A bouquet of flowers, a manicure...

10) Social occasions are about connecting with people...not stuffing your face. I have survived a handful of parties and gatherings and avoiding temptation is tough. Go to these with a commitment to focus on the people there. Eat before you go. Drink water, tea or other healthy beverage while you are there.

11) Get a good night's sleep! There is a correlation between how much you sleep and how much you can lose. Your body needs time to recover from your busy life. That recovery process burns calories.

12) Belts are your friends...I wore a pair of pants today that was way too big,around the waist. A good belt made it possible to get one more good day out of those favorite pants!

13) When you grow out of clothes, donate them

14) If you are actively losing weight, consider buying clothes from your local thrift shop. I've got two really nice pairs of pants this way and they were $2.99 each.

15) Recognize that you are beautiful and valuable and lovable no matter what your size.   Losing weight should be about getting healthy so that you can share your gifts with the rest of the world for as long as possible. Love yourself!

Take Good Care!

25 Things That Really Suck...

2011-06-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

"Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud; Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun, And loathsome canker lies in sweetest bud. All men make faults" - William Shakespeare

Contrary to what you may think, this is not a negative post.

Knowing what you don't like is just as important as knowing what you do like. In fact it is very good self care, because once you've identified what what makes you tick and what ticks you off, you can start to change or avoid those things quite successfully.

Sometimes when you are not sure what you want, identifying what you DON'T want can help you navigate through the endless list of options. (ie: I don't want criticism! = I want support!)
There is nothing more self-reinforcing than knowing what you want and refusing to settle for less! It is just a very good self care habit to get into.

So without further ado....lets get to my list (in no particular order) of 25 things that really suck :

1) Closed minded thinking. (I am guilty of this sometimes too- but we limit ourselves so much when we do this)

2) Comments on my Blog that link to porn sites (rare, but vile)

3) Cantaloupe (I keep trying it...I keep not liking it)

4) Being told what to do. (If I don't ask, I don't want to know...share your ideas, make suggestions, but telling me that I have to do something in a particular way is the surest way to make me rebel)

5) Those little bottles of shampoo and conditioner they give you in hotel rooms (on a few rare occasions I have been surprised by a good brand, but rarely are these acceptable to me)

6) Bureaucracy - I prefer simple solutions to simple problems.

7) Party Politics - If you step back and take a neutral view you will see that neither side is better (or better behaved) than the other. How can so many people possibly fit in two different parties anyway?

8) Bank of America, Citibank (insert other large heartless banking institution here). - Too big and impersonal; pray you never have to deal with these in an estate situation.

9) United Airlines - The flight experience was bad...the customer service experience was the worst I have ever encountered. Just see how they treat people who have complaints on the United Airlines facebook page. It is ridiculous.

10) Processed food. Nothing tastes better- or is better for you -than homemade. Everything processed contains either corn, soy or wheat in addition to salt, sugar, chemical flavorings & colorings, preservatives and other unnatural ingredients. Eat REAL FOOD as much as possible!

11) Emotional Vampires.   (Twilight vampires, excluded)

12) Being apart from my Husband.

13) Not being able to access my Netflix or Pandora accounts in Australia

14) Jealous, non-supportive people.   (There is no reason to not be happy and celebrate the successes of others)

15) Cell phone use in public bathrooms

16) Arrogant doctors. Answer my questions- I am paying YOU!

17) Power trips

18) Company politics

19) TSA and the airline security theater - Travel the world for a moment and understand that no where else in the world would security have confiscated my small, unopened container of yogurt. (Customs is a different story, but security?)    Also had one agent on input side of scanner tell me to leave IPAD in my bag..then agent on output side of scanner chastised me for leaving it in. (They REALLY suck)

20) Cancer.   (I hate it)

21) Plastic soup-style spoons- the ones that are slightly deeper and rounder than regular plastic spoons.   They cut the corner of my mouth.

22) School lunches - how can anyone think that feeding our kids this crap is acceptable?

23) Child abuse.

24) Artificial Sugar substitutes.   First of all- they taste nasty. Second of all there are plenty of natural sweet alternatives that will satisfy your sweet tooth and are way better for you.

25) Not practicing regular self care!

One more note about things you don't like..It is okay and essential to have opinions about things. Your opinions- even the negative ones- are an expression of you and your unique experiences and perspective.   My dislike for cantaloupe does not mean that cantaloupe is terrible. It simply means that my experience with it has never been positive.   Putting together a list of things you can't stand is kind of fun. I had a difficult time thinking of 25, although I am certain that I have a lot more I will think of later! See how many you can come up with. Then from that list identify an alternative.

Your comments about things that suck are very welcome below!

Take Good Care!

The Official Self Care Girl Guide To Being Queen

2011-06-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

“It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained.” - Queen Elizabeth

This weekend is the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's birthday.

Her actual birthday is in April, but a June date was selected centuries ago for this regal affair, supposedly, to increase the likelihood of blue skies, sunshine and bird's singing.    All should be right with the world on such a momentous occasion, afterall.

This is the birth date held by whomever the reigning English monarch is.   Commonwealth citizens around the world will get a three day weekend (although I learned yesterday that different Australian states celebrate the birthday on different dates. And I cannot confirm this...but I highly suspect that the Queen - wanting to be celebrated multiple times throughout the year, may have had a hand in this).

At any rate, pomp and circumstance will reign in London and 3 day weekends will abound and certainly, the Queen will be enjoying a full agenda of celebration, a nice meal, a new outfit, a present or two…and maybe even a nap.

To commemorate this important day- the birth of a monarch- we are declaring that all Self Care Girlfriends everywhere should also be celebrated as Queen's on this day as well.   Being treated like the royal being you are is just very good self care!

Now, to ensure that this declaration is easily carried out (We "Queens" shun all things tedious, afterall)   Self Care Girl (your Fairy Godmother Extraordinaire) has put together this simple Queen guide to ensure a seamless transition as you are transformed from "awesome everyday woman" to "most regal and revered Birthday Queen."

The Official Self Care Girl Guide to Being Queen:

The Very Secret "Transformation To Queen" Step:

The first step in being Queen, is to believe -with all your heart-that you are capable and deserving of that title.   (and YOU ARE because being Queen IS a birthright!) Look in the mirror, raise your head high, adopt a proud demeanor and give yourself a regal and approving nod!

There you go.....You are Queen! And now you are ready to go about planning your royal day....

One Very Important Rule for being Queen for A Day:

1) There are no rules...well, none that aren't put forth by her majesty anyway.

That being said….You may prefer to celebrate in any way you choose. You may choose, and then exercise your Queenly perogative to change your mind half way through if a particular decision no longer suit you...and then- without a fuss- choose something completely different.

If you don't know quite where to begin...well, we have a guide for that too!

10 Very Queen-Like Activities for Queen's Who Don't Quite Know Where to Begin

Making royal decisions all day can be exhausting work, so I have ordered a compilation of 10 very Queen-like activities to ensure that YOU are properly equipped to celebrate your important day.

Buy yourself a cupcake…buy one for yourself and one for your best friend (or daughter…or sister...or mom). Let them know that you are celebrating you and them and Queen's everywhere.

Procure a tiara. Nothing says "Queen" like the right piece of headdress bling.

Practice your wave…then wave away all domestic duties goodbye (That sink full of dishes…that pile of laundry. Unfortunately these WILL all be here tomorrow, but there's no need to allow these trivial things to mess up OUR royal day.)

Refer to yourself in the plural. "We" and "Us" are appropriate pronouns today. These convey consensus; agreement; full backing of your decisions; (Believe me, no one will even question that your minions of supporters are imagined). Practice this and see how effective it is. (to anyone in your home who will listen:) "WE will not be doing (insert mundane household task here) today!", (to your spouse:) "No dinner is being prepared tonight, but WE do hope you will join US for dinner at (insert fancy restaurant here)", (to your manicurist:) "WE will be having a French Manicure today…and perhaps a very regal shade of purple on OUR toes" (to your child) "Today WE are only going refer to mommy as 'Our Queen Mum'"

Buy that bouquet of flowers…the pretty ones

Wear your best jewels.

Bring out and utilize any special china, flatware, crystal glasses etc...that you have stashed away with an edict to use only for special occasions. (If this is NOT a special occasion, then I don't know what is!)

Do not allow anyone to treat you poorly today (even that little negative voice inside your head should be SILENCED!)

Take a nap if the urge strikes you.

Recognize your "Awesomeness" throughout the day. This can be a simple statement to yourself quietly, but it is most effective if you proclaim it loudly when you do something marvelous. (and be sure to use that plural pronoun!) "WE are marvelous today, aren't WE?", "WE did that well, didn't WE?", "WE are so proud of US" etc...

If you have any additional ideas in support of celebrating in a royal fashion, please add to the comments.

WE hope that YOUR day goes marvelously!

Self Care Girl Likes....

2011-05-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. ~Attributed to Howard Thurman

Self Care Girl Likes: People who follow their passions.

When our only son decided to drop out of college (3 classes shy of his AA) we were really disappointed.

He is an intelligent kid, academically gifted, and so very capable.   We were not so concerned about what professional field he should pursue, we just wanted him to get a degree. A degree would lead to a respectable career. A respectable career would help him achieve independence, and Mom and Dad could then sleep at night knowing that their parental duty to launch a productive citizen into society had been successfully fulfilled.

Our son now plays bass full time in a country rock band.

We spent last weekend in Boise, a quick visit to see him play at a bar there. We were blown away by two things.   His good bass-playing skills have gotten even better (the new band is very good!)...and he had a lump on his neck the size of a gumball.

So the better part of this last week was spent chasing down a cause for this lump. They took blood, did an ultrasound, scheduled him to see a specialist.   We googled the possibilities (a little knowledge is power...and dangerous) and we became increasingly concerned that he had all the symptoms of Hodgkins Lymphoma.     Suffice to say, this really was one of the worst weeks of our lives.

We were told on Thursday that he has an infection in his lymph gland - looks like he had a bout of mono recently. They want to see if a round of antibiotics will cure it.   The specialist really believes it isn't cancer.

My blood pressure is lower. I slept better the last two nights. I am getting ready to re-book my business trip to Australia (I was supposed to leave last Wednesday for 3 months).    But most important, I have a new perspective on my son's career choice.

Life is fragile and short. Don't waste it. Find a way to make a living doing what you love to do.   Just do it.

My son plays bass in a country rock band. It took a lot of courage for him to stand up to us and choose his own path. I am so glad he did that. Now is the best time for him to pursue his dreams- he is young and he is fostering his passion. I have never seen him happier and I couldn't be more proud.

Givin' In To Your Inner Whim: 10 Ideas For Self Compassion

2011-05-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

Cultivating an attitude of compassion and developing wisdom are slow processes. As you gradually internalize techniques for developing morality, concentration of mind, and wisdom, untamed states of mind become less and less frequent. You will need to practice these techniques day by day, year by year. As you transform your mind, you will transform your surroundings. Others will see the benefits of your practice of tolerance and love, and will work at bringing these practices into their own lives.

- Dalai Lama


-Art by Sheena MacFarland

10 Things You Can Do Today To Increase Your Self-Compassion:

Listen to Your Inner Voice and Heed Its Call- Sleep if you are tired, Eat if you are hungry, Everything you need to know about taking good care of yourself today lies within you!
Be Gentle with Yourself. Speak kind and encouraging words. Do not speak to yourself in ways you wouldn't speak to a friend!
Nurture your body with fresh, unprocessed foods and exercise.
Take Some Deep Breaths of Fresh Air
Put your whole heart and Soul into a Few Hugs Today
Buy a Bouquet of Flowers to celebrate You and Springtime!
If you haven't had a physical or a good dental cleaning, make those appointments today!
Dream Big- Where to you want to be in 1, 5 and 10 years? Send the message out into the universe by writing it down!
Make a Joy List - Try to Think of 100 things that make you happy (Hint: heed your senses here- favorite smell, sound, taste...)
Say No and make No Excuses. "No" is enough, but you can follow with "I don't want that" or "I can't fit that in" if you need to clarify your response.

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl is Saving Honey Bees Today

2011-05-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

“The pedigree of honey Does not concern the bee; A clover, any time, to him Is aristocracy.”

- Emily Dickinson

I am away from my computer today...if you need me, you can find me in my garden...doing my part to save the Honey bees!

At the end of the month I am heading to Melbourne, Australia for a work assignment. As I won't be here for summer, I have changed my plans about having an amazing culinary herb garden.

Instead- Plan Bee (heheh) - I am on a mission to save honey bees by planting bee friendly plants- catnip, lemon balm, lemon mint, borage, cilantro, bachelor's button, phacelia, and purple cone flower- in my raised beds. Did you know that honey bees are becoming endangered? I feel that this is one small way that I can show my appreciation and hopefully help these little creatures along.

Here is some great information on the bee situation (includes some good news about the bee situation): beehaviour.com

And another great site: savehoneybees.org

Here are 5 good things you can do to save the bees:

Educate yourself on this issue
Plant Bee Friendly plants in your garden
Reduce your use of pesticides
Support your local beekeeper and companies that support bees: Good Companies
Avoid those companies that threaten bee populations: Evil Companies

I hope you will consider supporting this important cause with me!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Likes...

2011-05-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

“As long as there's a few farmers out there, we'll keep fighting for them.” - Willie Nelson

Self Care Girl Likes: Her Local Farmer's Market.

The Market season is here!

Mr Self Care and I were driving home from work on Thursday discussing what to have for dinner. We had some organic chicken sausages, but we were completely out of vegetables. Both of us had just returned from business trips and we hadn't had a chance to replenish our healthy food supply.     We were tired from a long day at work too, so neither of us were in the mood for grocery shopping.

It dawned on me as we pulled into old town Snohomish that it was "market day".    Every Thursday evening from May to October, local farmers, bakers, beekeepers, soap makers, spice mixers, florists, artsy-types, etc etc etc...come together to sell their wares at the farmer's market.    We stopped in, grabbed some asparagus (grown in my hometown on the other side of the mountains- yey!), browsed a little, and then went merrily on our way. The dinner problem was solved!

When you visit a farmer's market, you not only support your local farmer, but you get the freshest, in-season, food your money can buy.

The fabulous website culinate.com has a great little search tool to help you locate your nearest market.

Take Good Care!

The First Step In Improving Any Situation

2011-05-11T06:02:00.000-07:00

"Change may come to you in trinkets and I hope it adorns your life gracefully." ~Dodinsky

Visualize the ideal state.

I have slowly been making my way through a book about effecting change called "Switch" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

One important technique that this book offers in taking a step toward addressing any problem is to ask yourself the question:

"If tomorrow you woke up and your problem was gone...what would that look like?"

Provide a lot of detail as you devise your answer.   How do you feel? What is the first thing you do to start your day without the problem? What is the second? What else is different about this day? Who do you spend your time with? Where?

Once you establish this ideal picture of your life, decide how you can make one small change toward achieving it. Maybe you take the first action that you envisioned above- behave as though you have already reached your desired state.

Very often it is a small-seemingly insignificant- step that provides the momentum to get you on your way to big change.

If something is standing in the way of your happiness, this exercise can help you realize it. Visualize to realize! All the answers you need to lie within you!

Does Anyone Ever Read These Posts?

2011-05-10T05:06:00.000-07:00

Silence is a text easy to misread.
~A.A. Attanasio

I don't think I am the only blogger to ever wonder this.

The post on the Self Care Girl blog with the highest number of hits is one I wrote over a year ago about the importance of celebrating a regular Date Night with your significant other. It didn't take me long to realize that the traffic to that post was solely directed by the photo I chose of Disney's Lady & the Tramp. I would like to think that an occasional wayward surfer actually took a moment to read my blog, but judging by the comments on that particular post (zero comments), I cannot gauge inspiration, exasperation nor apathy.

In the beginning it is thrilling to find that someone found your blog interesting enough to "follow" it or leave a comment. Nobody has to know that the one friend who likes your blog is your Mom, or your sister, your best friend or YOU personally, for that matter (if you write under an alias).

And this is true of most posts, really. More often than not I get what I optimistically refer to as "silent applause."

Occasionally, I will receive a sign that a particular post touched a nerve (a direct comment on the blog or on the link I place on facebook). Often I will speak with someone who out of the blue tells me "oh- that post on (insert topic here)...I could really relate to that!" or, "I love your blog - it really reminds me that I need to take care of myself better". I have had a few posts re-posted by others, and an invitation to provide regular content on another very inspirational site. This kind of feedback is always encouraging.

However, I think it is important to keep blogging in perspective. I started this blog for many reasons: to inspire other women to take care of themselves; to practice my craft (I love to write); because I am passionate about my own self-care; to explore my own interest in social media; to provide something positive and selfless to the world.

The point of this post (and I do have one) is that the feedback you receive (or lack there of) should not silence your purpose or your voice.

Putting yourself out there- expressing your thoughts and ideas- takes courage. Not everyone will agree with you and there will certainly be people who just don't care enough about what you think to comment. This is okay. It does not reflect your worth as a human being...or the value of your thought.

So far, no one has attempted to silence me....sometimes that IS the best you can hope for! (Although I find the idea of expressing some dangerous and earth shattering idea somewhat alluring...hmm...)

In my opinion, there is nothing more worthless than a thought NOT expressed. (The caveat -of course- is that you should aim to keep damaging thoughts under some control here). What goes on in your head is of little consequence if it is not expressed or transformed into an action. Sharing ideas allows us to connect with others. It allows you to express your existence. And, quite frankly, your opinion matters more than you may think it does.

Taking Self Care on the Road

2011-05-09T04:57:00.000-07:00

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R Tolkien

My mind is pre-occupied lately with travel. I am currently on a short business trip; I will shortly be preparing for a 3 month assignment in Australia, and many of us are patiently awaiting our summer vacations.

Even though the aim of most travel is to obtain some rest and relaxation, travel can be an exhausting and stressful exercise. We often place ourselves in unfamiliar settings, have our sleep patterns disrupted by jet lag, allow ourselves to temporarily indulge in unhealthy food, and if we travel to popular destinations via public transportation we expose our immune systems to an assortment of germs and bacteria. Inadvertently, many of us create the perfect environment on our holidays for getting ill- and heaven knows there is nothing worse than saving for a dream vacation only to arrive and come down with the flu.

Listed below are 10 little healthful tid-bits that I have gathered from my own extensive travel experience.

Be mindful of germs and wash your hands often. Airplanes and public restrooms are petry dishes of germs and bacteria. I was reading an article in Natural Health magazine on my flight yesterday: the article cited a study that found influenza, staph and MRSA germs on airline seat back trays and the highest quantities of E-Coli bacteria in airline lavatories. (Ew!) Wash hands and be mindful of these surfaces!
One awesome tip I learned recently. Direct the air valve located above your airline seat to blow at your face- any airborne germs from other passengers will be kept outside of that airflow (do I sound like a complete germ-o-phobe now?)
The food and beverages they serve on airplanes is the worst things you can eat when traveling by air. The number one important thing you can do is hydrate yourself fully before, during and after you fly. Drinking caffeine or alcohol dehydrate you. Foods high in salt and sugar are also detrimental. I recommend water and bring your own healthy alternatives: fruit, energy bars etc...
Scope out healthy options at your destination. Getting a room with a kitchenette can help you to not only eat healthier, but it will also save you money on your food bill. By all means indulge a little, but eat for energy and health too!
Plan time in your schedule - the first day after you arrive -to just rest. Sleep in, lounge by the pool, leisurely peruse your sightseeing options, take a walk on the beach. Most importantly keep the day unscheduled. This will allow you to charge up a bit and then respond to whatever you feel you need that day- instead of being forced to comply with a hectic tour or schedule.
Be sure to be in the moment when you do engage in an activity. Mr Self Care and I once booked a date on the local dinner train. The couple next to us had flown in earlier that day from Chicago. They spent the entire experience pouring over site seeing brochures instead of enjoying the scenery and romance of the moment.
Wear sunblock...and repeat. Nothing worse than getting a bad sunburn when on vacation.
Find activities that provide a little exercise. We stayed at a resort a few years ago that had free water aerobics classes and stretching in the morning. It was a great way to start our active day!
As I have gotten older, I have found it really beneficial to give myself a full day at home after returning from vacation before going back to work. This gives an opportunity to ease back into the normal routine without having to rush about. Yes, it may mean one day less at a glamorous location, but for us it means that we return from our vacation without feeling like we need another vacation!
Take your vacations. Even a stay-cation- where you vacation at home- can be an important opportunity to recharge and refocus. Don't work your whole life away!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Is Leaving On A Jet Plane Today

2011-05-08T01:13:00.000-07:00

The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? - it is the same the angels breathe. ~Mark Twain, "Roughing It"

Self Care Girl is up,up and away from her laptop today. Flying from Seattle to Charleston, S.C. to finish a project there.

I am wishing a very Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there. It is the toughest and MOST important job there is! I encourage you to take really good care of yourself - you are a VIP and people count on you- So do everything you can to be the best you can be!

Take time for yourself regularly - visit friends, exercise, sleep!
Talk nice to yourself - you ARE special and perfect just the way you are!
Do something nice for yourself - little things like a bouquet of tulips or a new bubble bath can have huge impact.
Hug your kidlets - Human touch is good for you and them!
Eat healthy- it will not only make you healthy, but it sets a good example for your children.

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Likes...

2011-05-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

"Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favour compared with the products of nature, the living cell of the plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life."

- T. A. Edison

Self Care Girl Likes.....

Herbs.

If you know me at all you know that I am a huge foodie! I love to cook...and eat...and experiment with flavors.

I have long been a fan of herbs, however I have revisited this passion recently as I work to remodel my diet. I have lost 33lbs and realize that I cannot continue to eat in the same ways that made me overweight. Herbs are one way to add flavor and character to food in a way that is not only easy, but very healthy.

You can find fresh herbs in your grocery store produce section. This has been the best route for me as we are still patiently awaiting spring her in the Pacific Northwest Rain Forest. My plans for the summer would have included a serious herb garden, however I have an assignment in Australia beginning in June which is winter there...so I will continue to seek out fresh herbs in the market rather than growing my own.

I have a few books that I have found invaluable for learning about herbs and one little trick to share.

Jerry Traunfeld, orignally from the Herb Farm (one of the best restaurants in the U.S.) and now owner of Poppy (absolutely fabulous!) has two cookbooks that I will be taking with me Down Under:

and...The Herb Farm Cookbook

One little trick that I have learned when buying herbs in the market is that rather than buying a huge amount of herbs for one recipe, at Whole Foods (where I shop) and some other grocery stores you can find herb "medleys" - a mix of fresh herbs designated for poultry, or fish, or beef. These provide smaller portions and variety. I find that less goes to waste.

Last night I experimented heavily with sage, the night before I had a delicious meal with basil. I am learning more about the flavors and how they enhance food. It has made cooking healthier and sticking to my diet much more enjoyable!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl's Day Off

2011-05-06T01:52:00.000-07:00

“Don't work your life away” -paraphrased by my hairdresser, Teri, who was given this advice by a co-worker before he passed away from cancer. Teri now spends her days in Hawaii- in shorts and in lots of sunshine. She is an inspiration!

Let the Friday Happy Dance Begin!

I took the day off today. Early Sunday morning I fly out for a short business trip, and quite frankly, the thought of spending another day in the office completing paperwork was sending my soul into despair mode. So I am following my gut today and I do believe that taking a day off is exceptionally good self care!

I have nothing planned, but a list of 10 things I could do:

Get a manicure and pedicure
Fit in a 5.5 walk
Browse the local "antique" shops
Go to the outlet for some clothes shopping
Donate off all the clothes I have grown out of at the local Good Will
Sleep in
Do some yoga
Do laundry and then pack for business trip next week.
Buy some plants and do some gardening
Meet a girlfriend for lunch.

I love days like this...filled with all kinds of possibilities and choices...or absolutely NOTHING...the choice is mine.

When was the last day you had at your own whim? What would you do if you had the day off?

I implore you to plan one now...life is too short to not take a day off now an then.

Take Good Care!

Self Care Routines

2011-05-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

"For pragmatic reasons, I love the routine. I love the structure of it. I love knowing that my days are free. I know where I'm going at night. I know my life is kind of orderly. I just like that better." -Andrea Martin

The benefits of having routines are many. I find them very helpful in adding order and simplicity to my crazy, sometimes disordered and complicated life.

It is true that disorder and complexity create struggle, and from what I have derived from life experience- personal growth happens best when we are uncomfortable. But, while we may grow better when compelled by discomfort, many of us are paralyzed when we find ourselves in complete chaos. We need to strike a balance. Some areas of our lives need to be stable and safe. This is where routines come in handy.

I have three favorite routines:

Friday nights have always been Family Night in our home. Now that we are "empty-nesters", Fridays are officially Date Night. We usually watch a movie, but sometimes a game or two of Canasta or a night on the town happen instead. We used to eat pizza...now we usually have steak and salad.
On Sunday mornings, Mr Self Care and I drive over to Whole Foods to do our grocery shopping. It is a little out of our way, but we love this store. Shopping here reinforces our healthy lifestyle too. We grab a coffee and breakfast from the buffet there and sit and visit before jumping into our shopping.
Our newest routine is our nightly walk. We come home from work- change into our walking clothes and hit the park for exercise. It is more together time. We talk, we burn calories, we get some fresh air.

Routines are also beneficial for effortlessly working in important self-care habits:

At night when watching your favorite television show- grab your dental floss.
Once a week - as part of your shopping trip- grab a bouquet of fresh flowers. I have been picking up tulips lately (3 bunches for $10).
Once a week, create a small spa experience - put on a facial mask and jump into a bubble bath. Light candles, turn on some soft music and give yourself a little "me" time.
Have a set time at work to get up from your desk and take a little stroll- find a co-worker to reinforce the commitment. I have a friend who stops by my desk at 10am and 2pm each day. We do a quick 15 minute walk.
My sister has an exquisite chocolat stash. Her favorite candy is Alpini bars from Thorton's in England. (My husband travels to England a few times each year for his job, so replenishing her stash for her birthday and Christmas has become our routine!) She treats herself to one of these decadent bars each month.
Read for a half hour each night before bed.
Get up early enough to enjoy a quiet house and a cup of coffee each morning.

The real beauty of routines is that they require little thought and -in many cases- little preparation.

Avoid sweeping changes and routines that feel like a chore- the aim is to reduce stress, not increase it! Instead, be gradual in your approach to setting up routines; establish one small ritual at a time. Think about what soothes you. Think about something healthful and find ways to make the task effortless and pleasant.

Take Good Care!

Time Warp...

2011-05-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

“What is important in life is life, and not the result of life.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Digital Artwork is "Time Warp" by Chuck Brittenham

In 100 Years...None of Us Will Be Here

Now, doesn't that just put every little thing into its proper perspective?

Whatever is stressing you out today, or making you unhappy, or super duper mad is incredibly small when you view it through the 100 year time warp. I am not making light of what you are experiencing, but instead of drowning in despair, sometimes it works to take a huge step back and see things from another viewpoint.

The 100 year time warp gives me hope. I know the world will be a much different place in a century...I hope we keep improving it. I promise to do my part.

Take Good Care!

The Splurge

2011-05-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

“I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food” - Erma Bombeck

Hot Date Cake with Banana Ice Cream, Butterscotch and Salted Pecans. It was not my birthday, nor anniversary, not a late Easter....or early Christmas...it was just pure gluttony. An overindulgence. A visit to my old, not-so-healthy, habits.

We dressed fancy for the occasion. My one consolation is that my "little-r" black dress still fit comfortably at the end of the night, even though my skin felt definitely tighter around the mid-section.

I had been wanting to visit Poppy for over a year and it was a fabulous meal! Duck, Salmon, herbs, spices...a powerful cocktail...and the Hot Date Cake that I ate even though I was already full...even though I had sworn off sugar and starches...and convinced myself that I could just try one bite.

I woke yesterday morning at a fabulous 201.8 lbs (less than 2lbs from my 199 goal). This morning the scale is a stubborn 203.8. It will not budge...I have checked it 5 times.

Was it worth it? Well, I have decided it is....on the one condition that I get right back on my plan today and avoid another occurrence of shear foodie abandon (at least until we have a special occasion to warrant it (June 3rd is Mr SC's birthday).

Here is the deal...I knew what I was doing, and I knew what the consequence would be. (And here I am- living out that destiny) I am committed to learning how to balance my healthier lifestyle with these periodic splurges. I find both states pleasurable- really I do! I just know that the healthier lifestyle needs to happen 98% of the time. My foodie side is saying "2%!!!! that is not a fair balance!!" but, honestly, I think I can live with that.

Today's menu: Salad.

Today's agenda: 5.5 mile walk around the park.

It's all good!

Self Care Girl is Cleaning Her Closets Today

2011-05-01T01:05:00.000-07:00

Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly. ~Epictetus

Self Care Girl is away from my computer today, cleaning out her closets.

33 lbs and two dress sizes down! This means that even though the closet is full of clothes, most of what is in there doesn't fit anymore. We see a major shopping trip in our near future!

We wish you a very productive and restful Sunday. Be sure to take some time today to treat yourself or enjoy quality time with people you love.

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Likes...

2011-04-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

“I shall need to sleep three weeks on end to get rested from the rest I've had” - Thomas Mann

Self Care Girl Likes......WEEKENDS!

First, I was thinking of how much I love sleeping in on the weekend....but then I remembered, I really like to get up early sometimes on a weekend morning-before everyone else is up- and just enjoy my cup of coffee and quiet morning solitude.

The real truth is that I love my weekends. Especially the lazy ones...when the sun is shining...and the possibilities of the day are endless. (Today is going to be one of those days!)

Weekends- those fabulous little breaks from work we get to devote just to resting and having fun- are just good Self Care!

I hope you will take the time to enjoy one soon!

Take Good Care!

Love and Marriage

2011-04-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that. ~Michael Leunig

Watching the Royal Wedding has put me in a romantic mood. I am a huge fan of happy marriage and completely enamored of the idea of fairy tale love and commitment and happily ever after.

Love and marriage –as I know it – is both simple and difficult; effortless and exasperating. The real truth about marriage is that it doesn’t work unless both people are committed to putting in the effort to make it work.

This requires respect and patience and a willingness to adjust and adapt. After almost 10 years of marriage, Mr Self Care and I hire out most of our home improvements now; I feign to keep my mouth shut when my Knight in Shining Armor drives 5 below the speed limit and a line of cars are impatiently creeping along behind us; I ask for space and forgiveness during that one day each month when, hormonally, I just cannot be nice.

Comfortable routines develop too- I cook, he washes dishes…I wash clothes, he irons them…we go grocery shopping together on Sunday mornings…on Friday nights we snuggle on the couch and watch movies…

I have been fortunate to discover that a good marriage is a respite. No matter how crazy, stressful and unbearable the real world is on the outside- knowing that I can come inside my home and experience peace, encouragement, love and comfort from my own prince charming makes it all bearable.

When you are in love and happily married, you want others to experience the same. The realities of the Royal union are much more complex- I know-but, I am really hoping that Wills and Kate do live happily ever after.

Self Care Girl Stress Survival Guide

2011-04-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you. ~John De Paola

April is Stress Awareness month (and I have been so busy, I almost missed it!)

Here is the Self Care Girl Quick Guide to Stress Identification & Reduction:

5 Signs You Might Be Stressed:

1) You are short on patience

2) You are forgetful

3) You have a headache and/or your body is tense

4) You are neglecting basic needs: sleep, eating, companionship,

5) You keep making mistakes

5 Ways to Combat Stress:

1) Take a break immediately and regularly- even just a few minutes of deep breathing and stretching (and breathing some more) will help. The best time to take a break is when you least feel you have time for one!)

2) Ensure your basic needs are being met- eat more healthy, go to bed earlier, surround yourself with supportive and helpful people (Ask for and accept help!)

3) Walk. This is the best way I know of to sort things out and regain perspective

4) Write. Sometimes keeping too much information in your head can increase your stress level. Make lists- remove those items that are low priority

5) Let go of what you cannot control. Yes, this is easier said than done, but it does get easier with practice. Ultimately you have to trust in God or the Universe on some things. Ask yourself “what is the worst that can happen” then ask “in 100 years will anyone care?”

Honestly, some stress can be very motivating and good for us, but if the stress in your life is causing you misery it is probably NOT the good kind! No matter what circumstances are invading your life, your health and well-being must come first.

Take Good Care!

Different Is A Good Thing!

2011-04-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

One who walks in another's tracks leaves no footprints. ~Proverb

One secret to success I learned in business school is to look at what is currently offered in the marketplace and then improve upon it.

We were told to emphasize our product strengths and to focus on what makes our product or service different.

I was thinking of this concept today from a “personal” perspective. The same principle holds true for individuals. What makes us interesting and attractive and successful is not in how we are alike, but in how we are different.

Keeping up with the images we see on television and the appearances of prosperous lifestyles that we may perceive around us can have a negative impact on our feelings of well-being.

Ultimately, it is not the attainment of material things that will make us happy in our lives. What brings us the most fulfillment is the quality of the relationships we have with others and –I believe even more important- the quality of the relationship and acceptance we give to ourselves!

These are some of the ways I am different:

I haven’t paid a cable bill in over 15 years. (I am okay with this!)
I hate politics (I am neither democrat, republican, liberal, progressive nor conservative…or maybe I am a little of each…not too sure, but also not too concerned)
I am committed to becoming debt free and retiring at the age of 50.
I love to do NOTHING sometimes. In fact I can do NOTHING for long periods of time and be okay with it.
I have 1, 5 and 10 year plans- I am very goal oriented. (And patient too!)
I am not afraid to try new things…I am not afraid of change (unless it involves a permanent loss of someone I love- I am afraid of that)
I will try any food once…twice if I like it. (There aren’t many foods that I don’t like)
I am not a fan of big public events. I would rather stay home than have to deal with navigating through traffic and big crowds.
I believe in continuous education...never stop learning and becoming.
I prefer to spend my money on experiences over things. For this reason, I drive an older car and need new furniture in my home…but I am well-traveled.

I encourage you to take an inventory and celebrate your differences too!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl's 5 Rules For Life

2011-04-26T01:27:00.000-07:00

“A few strong instincts and a few plain rules suffice us” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

1) Take care of your body. The 3 most important things your body needs are Exercise, Healthy Food and Sleep. Your body was made for moving - so move it. Your body doesn’t know what to do with most of the ingredients that are added to our over-processed food supply- it prefers wholesome, healthy food. Eat organic and unprocessed as much as possible. Get a full night’s sleep – aim for 8 hours.

2) Never stop learning new things. Keep your brain in continuous training. Learn how to do something new, or how to do something old better. Read! Do crossword puzzles. Challenge yourself to see the world from different perspectives.

3) Express Yourself. Communicate what you feel and what you need. Most people do not possess the psychic ability to know when they have hurt you or when they have made your day- be sure to tell them! Most people do possess the desire and the ability to help out if you need them. Ask for help when you need it! Employ the serenity prayer often. (Change what you can, Let go, let God & handle what you can’t change)

4) Love. Romance your spouse. Play with your children. Gather your girlfriends often. Surround yourself with positive, happy, inspiring people and be that positive, happy, inspiring person that others need in their lives.

5) Dream BIG! Imagine the possibilities. Determine the steps to get there. Set Goals and take the first step. Do it YOUR way! Do not let anyone tell you that something is impossible or silly. Show them they are wrong by making it happen.

That's NOT Food!

2011-04-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Chemicals, n: Noxious substances from which modern foods are made. ~Author Unknown

The more I am eating healthy, the more I am aware of (and oversensitive to) the amount of unhealthy food that people eat in our country.

Mr Self Care and I were walking around a local park on Saturday evening.   The weather was beautiful.   A couple of little league games were wrapping up and several families were taking advantage of the warmer temperature to picnic in the park.

The concessions stand was open and all around us kids were dining on sugar and hot dogs.   We saw no less than 3 parents sitting with McDonald's meals.   One family sat at a picnic table with two little kids dining on Dairy Queen.   Another family had 2 Little Cesaer's boxes and several bottles of cola.

I am conscious of the fact that these are busy times.   With both parents working and doing their best to raise healthy, active kids, I know that sometimes the convenience of fast food is appealing.   The problem is that it is not food....and families are not dining on these meals just "sometimes".

I was listening to a lecture recently about sugar toxicity. The professor stated that our Western Diet is a popular one. It is appealing because it is portable, has a long shelf life, and - due to the large quantities of fat and sugar- it tastes good too.      Consequently, the Western Diet is proving detrimental to other countries that adopt our toxic diet. There is a strong correlation between eating the American Way- high fat, high sugar, low nutrient, huge portions- and a the rise of obesity rates, diabetes and heart disease in countries that have traditionally eaten what was available to them culturally and locally.

The purpose of my post is not to instill guilt or to chastise. I am always happy to see families spending time together in the park!   I just want to raise some awareness about what we put into our bodies.   We need healthy food to be healthy.

Making small dietary changes- instead of huge sweeping ones- can be a step in the right direction.   I encourage you to start today with these important changes:

Love yourself. This is the first step to doing right by yourself!
Be mindful about what you are eating and feeding your family. Simple awareness can lead to better choices.
Make just one improvement at a time. This week (or month) get in the habit of adding a piece of fruit to your diet. Next week (or month) cut out sugar.

Since I have started eating healthier, I have lost weight, I have more energy, I sleep better at night, my blood pressure is down and I just feel better overall! I really want you to experience feeling this good too!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl is Away from Her Computer Today...

2011-04-24T01:27:00.000-07:00

...because she had to make a cheesecake for Easter....and hunt for some eggs.

We are having a quiet day today with a very "lite" but festive Easter meal. I found this Lemon Verbena Cheese Cake recipe with only 188 kcalories a slice - thought it sounded perfect

I have attached a link to the recipe (although I wish I could share a slice with you!)

Lemon Verbena Cheesecake

I hope your Easter is filled with lots of fun and family time!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Likes...

2011-04-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

“The more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do, and the more genuine may be one's appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love, and understanding companionship.” - Amelia Earhart

Today, Self Care Girl Likes:

Being home....

Drinking coffee from my favorite mug....

On the back deck....

with Mr Self Care....

To me, this is...HEAVEN!

Take Good Care!

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-22T01:39:00.000-07:00

Take nothing but pictures.
Leave nothing but footprints.
Kill nothing but time.
~Motto of the Baltimore Grotto, a caving society

It should be no surprise that my primary motivation for putting forth this "environ-mental" post is self care (that is what we do here, afterall). My premise is that if we truely take care of ourselves, we are in a better position to do something positive for our planet and we increase our stake in making sure the world is a better place to live.

So what do I mean when I talk about environ-mental self care?

I am talking about being mindful about the products you use and the food that you eat and the effects that these everyday consumables have on our planet and YOU!

Make a vow to make one change today that will be beneficial for the Earth and your good health.

A few ideas:

Give up plastic! Apart from burdening our landfills, plastics are bad news....Did you know those plastic lids on your Coffee shop to-go cups are toxic! You can learn more about identifying bad and safer plastics at this site: Know your Plastics!
Support local farms. Not only are small farmers a worthy investment, but you'll get better quality, more flavorful and fresher food, and many CSAs do not cost any more than your local supermarket.
Walk more, drive less.
Plant trees...plant shrubs..plant vegetables...plant flowers. Gardening is good, soulful exercise. Plants creates oxygen, and flowers will make you happy.
Unplug and get outside!. How many hours a day are you connected to a cell phone, laptop, television, I-Pod, etc etc etc. Fresh air and a good walk about are so beneficial to you. Take a hike, have a picnic, connect with people you love!

Take Good Care!

In the Lap of Luxury

2011-04-21T01:05:00.000-07:00

“It is impossible to overdo luxury” -French Proverb

For some reason most of the quotes that I referenced online for "pampering" and "indulgence" were quite negative.   There seems to be this mindset that treating yourself special can -over long periods of time -make you a heartless person.

We have all heard it said that we should guard ourselves against excess,"everything in moderation", and "too much of good thing..." can be a bad thing. Obviously, you won't be able to supply anything useful to the world or anyone else if you spend all your time at the day spa...and what will you appreciate if you get everything you wish for?

I think that I am going to side with the French on this one..."it is impossible to overdo luxury"

Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and are not a nice person to begin with...(and I would wager neither is true!)... I am absolutely confident you will not find your heart growing icicles if you suddenly start getting regular pedicures, buying yourself flowers and boxes of chocolat tied with a bow, eating at fine restaurants or traveling to tropical locations.

If you are like most women, indulging yourself is often relegated to last place. You may not think you deserve it. You many not think that it is necessary.    And, quite frankly, you may not think you have time for it, because...let's face it...your life is occupied and exhausted by other priorities... running your home, meeting the needs of your family and coping with the demands of your work.   Many of us do not practice any moderation when it comes to these priorities.   We don't allow ourselves even the tiniest amount of wiggle room to recharge our batteries and nurture our own souls.

The goal of Self Care Girl is to encourage you to incorporate luxuries and self-care time into your busy lives in big and small ways.

If the idea of indulging yourself feels "selfish" and incites guilt within in you, keep in mind that by adding these little (and big) luxuries to your life -by practicing self -love and self-nurturing - you will become a better, stronger, more compassionate person. Self care is one way to equip yourself with more patience, more resilience and more love which- in the long run- only serves to benefit the people around you.

Luxuries and indulgences do not have to be expensive.  Here are a few things you can do that cost nothing or very little:

1) Journal - at the end of each day, take 20 minutes to write down your feelings and thoughts. Getting stuff out of your head and onto paper or blog spot is therapeutic.

2) Bubble baths - Put a do not disturb sign on the bathroom door and take a soak.  Adding fragrant bubbles, a handful of flower petals, candles and/or music can turn a weekly soak in to a fabulous spa night

3) Practice Yoga - or just spend a few minutes after you wake up, or before retiring for the night doing some gentle stretches and breathing.

4) Buy yourself a bouquet of flowers

5) Keep a hidden chocolate stash

6) Clear a personal space in your home that is just for you.   A corner of your bedroom will do fine. Hijack a cozy chair and small table and then surround yourself with a few items that comfort you.  Try to incorporate something that engages each of your senses

7) Be mindful and present in whatever you are doing.   Appreciate the beauty around you.

8) Meditate

9) Develop a daily self care routine. I do mine before going to bed. This can be 10 minutes of cleansing and moisturizing your face each evening or simply 20 minutes of reading and a cup of tea.

10) Accentuate.   When I was a broke and struggling single mom, one surprising little indulgence I found was pillow cases.   I would treat myself to a new set of pretty pillowcases for my bed.   These often cost me less than $5 at Ross and they added just the right amount of fresh change to my personal space.   A small thing can sometimes make a huge impact.

Take Good Care!

Bee Yourself!

2011-04-20T01:43:00.000-07:00

“Be what you would seem to be - or, if you'd like it put more simply - never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.” - Lewis Carroll

I really love Lewis Carroll.  While I developed a serious headache trying to decipher that quote, I believe I am correct in my interpretation: No matter who you are, you cannot help but be yourself.   And quite frankly, you can be whatever you put your mind to!

Being yourself seems like it would be quite easy, but I think everyone has had an experience where we chose not to share who we really were, or we pretended to be someone we weren't, because in the moment we didn't think we could be ourselves.

There are definately times in my own life where I had to stop and ask myself the question "Who am I?"   Usually these little self exploration sessions followed an episode when I wasn't feeling confident, or felt overconfident, when I hurt someone unintentionally or when someone unintentionally hurt me.   One thing I can attest to about myself: I am not Perfect! But I do try my best to do the right thing and to be honest.

The reality is that being your authentic self takes more than just knowing yourself, it also takes courage and heart to stand up for yourself and sometimes simply to be yourself.

I have found journaling very helpful when self soul searching.   I ask a probing question and then spend 15 minutes or so just making a list. (This is where the joy list provided in a previous post comes from!).   Some of my more creative friends have put together collages this way too.

Here are some good self-exploration questions:

Who are you? Begin each answer-or your list- with "I am..."
What makes you happy? (Joy list question)
Where are you going? Begin each answer -or your list- with "In 1 year, I will..." (choose whatever increment of time you wish)
What do you want to be known for?
What makes you mad?
What makes you sad?
What would you change about yourself? What can't you change about yourself?
What about you is just right?
What do you want to do before you die?
Who are you NOT?

There are probably a million other questions. You can apply this exercise to a specific situation: "At work I am happiest when..." or "Whenever I am around (Jane Doe) I am..." or more broadly as demonstrated above.

The most important part is to take what you learn from the exercises to heart and "be what you would seem to be"

To Thine Own Self Be True!

Post HCG, Round 1: Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

2011-04-19T00:58:00.000-07:00

The one way to get thin is to re-establish a purpose in life. ~Cyril Connolly, The Unquiet Grave

Before

After

During the first round of the HCG diet I have lost 30lbs and almost 2 dress sizes. What I gained was a renewed emphasis on portion control, an understanding about what foods my body will not tolerate well (bread and sugar), and the importance of sleep, exercise and my caloric intake.

As I embark on the maintenance phase of my new healthy lifestyle. I have a few rules that I will be following. I think that this strategy will help me to continue to lose weight, become increasingly healthy and moderate my love of fabulous food.

This is my philosophy. I think parts of it may differ from what many experts would prescribe. But it makes sense to me...I think it will work for me...and I happen to know ME better than any expert does. My philosophy is also not written in stone. I will monitor how I feel, if I gain weight or if something is just not working well for me and I will make adjustments as needed.

My Current Healthy Philosophy:

1) I will eat fresh, in season, minimally processed organic foods only. To me it is about quality and flavor. Fruits and vegetables taste so much better when freshly picked. Grass fed lean beef, wild caught salmon, free-range chicken are more likely to NOT contain harmful bacteria and metals than those meats that are processed on commercial farms. These foods are better for me. I am not bothered paying extra for these foods. To me, paying extra for quality food is a good investment.

2) I will not be eating starches or sugars very often. I believe that these foods will inhibit my on-going weight loss. I will allow myself to indulge (moderately) on special occasions (birthdays, holidays, weddings, parties etc..)

3) I will drink lots of water

4) I will not eat “low-fat” anything. Instead I will eat full-fat dairy products in serious moderation. I am all about flavor and the processing that some of our low-fat foods go through is much worse for a person than eating something that is full fat.

5) I will continue to watch my calories – both how much I take in, and how much I burn through exercise.

6) I will eat a wide variety of foods- mostly vegetables, at least a serving of fruit per day, and adequate amounts of protein. I will plan my meals and snacks in advance to ensure that I am prepared and eating a balanced diet.

7) I will get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is important for recharging the body and studies show that it is important to health and weight management. I noticed a huge difference in weight loss while on HCG when I got a good nights sleep versus when I didn't.

8) I will practice good dental care. Flossing, brushing and getting regular check-ups and cleanings. A recent study shows a correlation between good dental hygiene and weight management.

9) I will continue to monitor my blood pressure. One of the best things that I achieved with my recent weight loss is that my blood pressure is down. My doctor agreed to discontinue my prescription. I am watching to ensure that it continues to stay down! Eating healthy, exercise and losing more weight will definitely help this. Also taking time each day to meditate.

10) I will exercise each day. This is not my favorite thing to do, but I will continue to look for ways to move that I find enjoyable.

So what do you think? Do you have a food philosophy of your own? I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Take Good Care!

Spring Cleaning the Brain

2011-04-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

“A healthy self-love means we have no compulsion to justify to ourselves or others why we take vacations, why we sleep late, why we buy new shoes, why we spoil ourselves from time to time. We feel comfortable doing things which add quality and beauty to life.” -Andrew Matthews

Many of us have been spring cleaning for weeks now, getting our gardens in order and the clothes in our closets swapped over for warmer weather.    Spring cleaning is a lot of work, but essential for clearing out the old and making room for the new and keeping us somewhat uncluttered and sane.

You may be surprised to learn that your brain requires regular "spring cleaning" sessions too.   Scientists have been studying the effects of sleep on the brains of fruit flies and have determined that the brain uses our sleep time to get a much needed break from producing synapses all day long. When you sleep, the brain is effectively clearing out all the non-essential data it collected during your previous waking hours.

First I am amazed that they chose fruit fly brains for these studies - I was unaware that fruit flies had brains that are similar to humans. (scary, sci-fi movie plot if you ask me), and second I am fascinated by the idea that this very important work that helps improve memory and increase capacity for learning happens with little effort on our part.

My self care goal for this week is to adhere to my 9:30pm bedtime each night.   I will keep you posted on how that goes.

Self Care Girl Is Site Seeing

2011-04-17T01:46:00.000-07:00

It is not down in any map; true places never are. ~Herman Melville

Sorry I missed your visit...but it is Sunday- and I have chosen this as my one "unplugged" day for the week.

Mr Self Care and I are taking advantage of my last weekend in S. Carolina (I am here for work). We still have so much to see and do here.

The weather in Charleston is absolutely beautiful. It feels like summertime. While at home in Seattle, it is pretty miserable and doesn't quite feel like spring yet. So, it would be a complete shame to spend the day in front of a computer.

Not sure what we are going to do with our day yet...but Mr S.C. wants to try some she-crab soup and we both want to find a good beach. Yesterday we went to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. It was absolutely gorgeous. The picture above is of us at the garden. (BTW: Mr SC is 6'6"- so I am really not as short as I appear there - I am just a full foot shorter than him!)

Hope you get to spend some quality time with someone you love today too!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Loves....Mr Self Care!

2011-04-16T01:10:00.000-07:00

To find someone who will love you for no reason, and to shower that person with reasons, that is the ultimate happiness. ~Robert Brault

Today is National Husband Appreciation Day! Because this day coincides with my weekly Self Care Girl Likes post...I could not miss the opportunity to highlight the man of my dreams, my personal barista, my knight in shining armor, my prince charming, soul mate, and best friend. (It sounds like I have a complete husband harem here, but truthfully my ONE husband is all these things to me)

Self Care Girl ~~Likes~~ Loves....Mr Self Care.

My gorgeous husband in Maui

Pretty darn sexy, don't ya think?

I met Mr Self Care in 1997 at work. He left his home in England to work as a contract engineer in the U.S. His plan was to work for a year and save enough money to go back home and buy a house. He walked into my office one day and we struck up a conversation. The rest is pretty much history. All of his home-buying plans were suddenly thrown out the window.

I was a divorced, single mom. My son was seven. I wasn't particularly interested in meeting anyone...well, maybe that isn't completely true. I had a list of requirements...a very specific and impossible list of traits that I would not compromise on. Quite frankly, I didn't think that my ideal existed. Mr Self Care proved me wrong.

He is a complete gentleman, he encourages me to pursue my dreams, he loves the same things I do- wine, good food, travel. He's romantic. He picks up after himself. He is hardworking, and most important he really committed himself to caring for my son.

We married in July of 2001 and Mr S.C. became "half" American in 2009. (He still retains his English citizenship).

Perhaps the most unique trait my Prince Charming possesses is that he makes a mean cup of coffee. He worked a short stint as a barista at Starbucks when his contract at my company ended. And let me tell you... No one makes my favorite latte like he does!

Mr. S.C. is an important part of my self care exploration. While the goal of self care is to take very good care of yourself, sometimes it is good to have someone around to regularly show you what that means.

Everyone should have someone in their life who loves them unconditionally - someone who cares for you when you aren't doing a very good job of caring for yourself. Mr Self Care is that someone for me. I consider myself among the lucky women in the world. I really do appreciate having him in my life!

Take Good Care! (and show that special man in your life some extra love today!)

A Little Method To This Madness...

2011-04-15T01:01:00.000-07:00

"The thing about those basic needs, is that it feels so good when they get met." paraphrased from my best friend's ex-boyfriend (he was good at saying the right things at least...)

Just wanted to throw this chart out there. I think it is the key model for our self care exploration- sort of lays everything out nice and neat. And I am a stickler for having some order to things.

This pyramid lays out Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs. Maslow theorized that people are motivated by these needs. The ones on the bottom - the physiological- are our most basic needs. Without a sound foundation here, people will sacrifice their higher needs (toward the top of the pyramid) until those lower, more basic needs are met.

I plan to explore these a bit over the next few weeks- starting from the bottom and working my way up to the top.

Already, I can see the areas that I am good at and other areas that could use some attention.

Self Care Assignment: Study the pyramid. Which of these do you excel at? Which do you think you could use more work on?

Take Good Care.

Family Night

2011-04-14T00:03:00.000-07:00

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family” -Anthony Brandt

Before starting this HCG diet, Friday night was pizza night at our home.   The tradition started years ago when my son was little, but Mr Self Care and I continued to celebrate Fridays with pizza and a movie,or a game, even after the nest was empty. The evening has just gone from fun family night, to a more intimate romantic date night.

Sadly, with our new eating plan, "pizza" night will become "salad" night at our home! You can make this night taco night, or spaghetti night, or choose any food that is easily prepared that your family finds comforting.

The benefits of having this scheduled each week are many, but the highlights for us are time spent together, the reliability and stability that the routine of it brings to our lives and the fact that I didn't have to stress over what to have for dinner on Friday nights.   Make the night as simple as possible so you can focus on the people you are sharing it with!

We are all at different stages of our lives.   Some of us have little ones and some of us live alone.   Whatever the state of your current life I encourage you to add a little bit of routine social self care.   Spend some time with the people you love.

If you are single, this can be a weekly evening out to dinner with the girls, or a weekly pot luck with your friends, or a visit to your parents home.   Sure you could (and should) also have time alone each week with a spa kit, but the focus of this blog post is on social self care!

If you have a hubby and no kids in the house, make it a night to use up all the leftovers in the house as finger food and play scrabble or monopoly.

If you have teens at home, you might encourage them to invite a friend or two- but don't let them disappear into their rooms- encourage their interaction with the whole family too.  A Wii tournament might be one way to keep them engaged.

Fostering our family relationships is good self care!

Have fun!

What did you want to be when you were little?

2011-04-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

"Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.” - William Somerset Maugham

I have a theory that -for many of us- the time when we truly knew what we wanted to be in life was when we were young.

As children, we imagined being teachers, rock stars, police officers, secretaries, moms and doctors- the world was completely ours for the making.

We were mostly untainted by the influences that told us what we can or can't become, or what we should or shouldn't do. And we hadn't developed those annoying voices within that started doubting our capabilities.   The probing question: "what would you do if you had an endless supply of money?" is not too far afield from the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?"   In both cases we ask the same question - if you had no responsibilities (because you can afford it, or don't realize you are going to need to afford it) what would you do with your life?

If you are - like many people - still wondering what you want to be when you grow up....and feeling a sense of urgency because you realize every day that you might actually already be grown up, and you still don't have a clue...

I recommend that you take some time to explore what things you imagined when you were a child.   What was your favorite game? How did you like to spend your time?   Did you have a natural talent in music, or art, writing or sports?

We spend so much of our lives at work. It is essential that we have careers that are aligned with our talents and passions...It is very good self care to love what you do each day!

Take Good Care!

***Artwork is IMAGINATION by ArchanN- check it out:   http://archann.deviantart.com/art/IMAGINATION-101986460

My Symphony of Life

2011-04-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

My Symphony of Life

To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury, and

refinement rather than fashion.

To be worthy, not respectable, and

wealthy, not rich; to study hard,

think quietly, talk gently, act frankly;

to listen to stars and birds,

to babes and sages, with open heart;

to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,

await occasions, hurry never.

In a word, to let the spiritual,

unbidden and unconscious, grow up

through the common.

This will be my Symphony.

-William Henry Channing

Eat your (Local) Veggies!

2011-04-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.
- La Rochefoucauld

Today, it occurred to me that there is one self care step we can all make that would have widespread impacts on ourselves, our families, our communities and the universe (well, Earth anyway).

Eat your fruit and veggies.

Most people had this message drilled into them from an early age.   We all know by now that fruit and veggies are extremely good for you. 5 servings a day is the mantra.

Ensuring that you are including veggies and fruit in your diet is the first step. Produce provides important vitamins, nutrients and fiber that will help you be healthy on the inside. Healthy on the inside = Beautiful on the outside!

Fresh is better than frozen and frozen is better than canned.

Farmer's markets are opening in virtually ever town this spring and this is a great opportunity for you to invest in the fresh local produce that is going to make you radiant...AND support local small farmers.    Small farms may not all be able to afford the organic certification- please keep this in mind as you shop-but you will find that most of these growers are committed to organic practices and good land stewardship.   If you aren't sure, ASK!

CSAs are another option for getting fresh local produce delivered straight from the farm. I have gone this route previously and have found this to be an optimal arrangement. The food is fresher than you will find in most grocery stores AND the prices in many cases are less or comparable!

Buying vegetables and fruit in season is another way to ensure you get the best quality.   I was raised on an apple orchard and I can attest to the fact that the apple you pick off the tree is always crisp...a season in cold storage destroys that.

I encourage you to get to know where your food is coming from. When you buy from your local chain grocery store, there are no guarantees about how far your produce has traveled, nor how fresh it is. When you buy local you support the local economy and you get better quality food.    I think the choice here is a pretty easy one.

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Is Sleeping In Today

2011-04-10T04:30:00.000-07:00

The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more. ~Wilson Mizener

Sorry I missed you...I decided to take advantage of a very quiet hotel room to spend the day in my pajamas...with my Kindle...and a cup of tea...

I will be back tomorrow refreshed and ready to face another Monday...I promise!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Likes......

2011-04-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

Joy is the best makeup.- Anne Lamotte

Over the past few years, I have gradually incorporated more gentle and organic products into my beauty regimen.

It started with my hair care products. I was introduced to John Masters Organics a few years ago and I have used them ever since.

John Masters products are a little more expensive than popular brands you would find at the grocery store. If you already buy hair products from your local salon, you won't see much difference in price- but these really are better for you and your hair.

When I started using John Masters shampoo, I realized very quickly that I don't have to use conditioner. I think that the only reason we may need conditioner anyway is to counteract the unnecessary drying chemicals they put in regular shampoo. (It is a conspiracy!)

I really love the scent of the zinc and sage shampoo. I buy it in the big economy size.

John Masters also has a wonderful orange vanilla lotion and shower gel that I use everyday.   Delicious stuff!

My local organic hair salon carries the John Masters line. I found out recently that you can buy John Masters Organics at Whole Foods as well.

My transition to healthier beauty products is a work in progress.   I have found some very good products that work well for me, but I still hold on to a few maybe not so healthy cosmetics.   Eventually I hope to be 100% natural and organic.   I truly believe that we are most beautiful when we are healthy inside and out. Unfortunately many everyday beauty products that are marketed to women contain harmful chemicals that may be counterproductive to our health.

Have you found a healthy beauty product that works well for you?

Take Good Care!

Important Disclaimer:   I am not paid for any reviews provided here. I blog as a hobby and am not particularly interested in monetizing my self care blog at this time...all items and ideas provided here are purely my "likes", influenced only by my impeccable high standards and my mission in encouraging busy women-like you- to think (and do) more to take good care yourself!

Practice Kindness.

2011-04-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” - Stephan Grellet

A little Self Care Challenge for today:   Perform a random act of kindness.

Guess what?   Self care is NOT all about YOU!   (Well, actually it is...but...)

The theory is: When you do something nice for another human being you sow a little seed of goodness in the world. That seed, planted with care in the right person, under the right conditions, will start to grow and bear fruit which will potentially feed another person who will plant another seed and so on and so on and so on....and as a result, the world will become a brighter, happier, friendlier place to live.   Living in a place where kindness surrounds you is very good for your SELF CARE!

The alternative, of course, is to do nothing -which is preferable to doing evil, but not likely to make a difference to the world in the long run.   It won't benefit you or anyone to do nothing.

So go out today and do some good!    Please share what goodness you planted in the comments.

Morning People

2011-04-07T03:10:00.000-07:00

If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters. ~Author unknown, attributed to Jim Davis

I have decided today that I am a Morning Person.

Am I the type of person who jumps up- all bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready to face the day- when the alarm goes off at 5am?

Absolutely NOT!

My alarm goes off and I hit snooze...I pull the covers around me a little tighter and snuggle up to Mr Self Care for a few more minutes of warmth and comfort.   He always gets up before I do.

When I smell coffee, that is when I get up...

I sleep walk into the kitchen and grab the cup that my personal barista has lovingly prepared for me...then I head to the office and sit down at my computer to write, read and see what is going on in the world.   And I savor my coffee.

My routine allows me to ease into my day. And when I was thinking about this today, I couldn't help but notice all of the little comforts that I have unconsciously (pun intended) established for myself each and every morning.   I am not "avoiding" the inevitable new day....I am really "savoring" it, and powering up for all the wonderful adventures that the gift of a new day has in store for me!

What a life altering change in perspective this is!     I really do love my mornings, they are quiet and comforting to me.

It would be dishonest to say I am not a Morning Person, when it appears I have this time of the day completely mastered!

How are mornings for you?   What one thing can you change or add to make starting your day pleasurable?

Recognize your needs and honor them!

Take Good Care! (and Have a Nice Day too!)

Looking On The Bright Side

2011-04-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

“What a wee little part of a person's life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself” - Mark Twain

Years ago, I was at a workshop and the speaker told a story about how she was running late, but stopped on her way out of her hotel room to quickly apply mascara to her eyes. Her hand slipped and she poked herself in the eye with the wand. Her immediate reaction was to bring her hand to her wounded eye, stomp her feet and call her reflection in the mirror, “Stupid!”

She stopped herself, realizing what she had just said. It would not have been acceptable for someone else to reprimand her in that way over something as trivial as slipping while applying mascara. So why was it okay for her to beat herself up for the same mistake?

Our minds never stop working- we are in constant communication with ourselves; always thinking, reviewing, analyzing, guessing, processing and drawing conclusions about everything that our senses gather. We may not be able to control everything that happens in our world, or what other people do and think, but we can control our perspective, how we act, and what WE think.

Perspective has a huge impact on the person you are, and -ultimately- all that you are able to accomplish in your life. Fortunately, what we choose to think is totally within our control and postive attitudes can be easily adopted and an optimistic outlook- through practice- can become second nature.

Some Tips for Becoming an Optimist:

1) Become aware of your thoughts- especially your negative ones. You may take a day and write down every negative thought you have. Take some time to review and analyze your negativity. What situation were you in when you had a negative thought? Was your assessment realistic? What other thoughts could you have had in that moment that would have shown more gentleness and kindness toward yourself? What would you say to someone else if they were you in those moments where you were negative?

2) Replace every negative thought with 2 positive ones.

3) Look for the silver lining – you can find something good in even the worst situations. Sometimes the good part is how YOU decide to respond.

4) Allow yourself to be human and make mistakes! It is okay that you are not perfect (Nobody is!)

5) Find joy in small things. Engage those senses!. Feeling the warmth of the sun on your face, the sound of children’s laughter, the taste of ice cream, a beautiful painting, a hug!

6) If you are feeling insecure about how something will transpire or end, take a moment and visualize yourself in a positive, successful outcome.

7) If you are feeling insecure about your ability to do or cope with something, take some time to think about your strengths and remind yourself that you only have to manage moment by moment.

8) Do something nice for yourself regularly. By treating yourself to a bouquet of flowers, a manicure, a new purse or even 15 minutes of meditation, you are sending yourself a beautiful message about your self-worth.

9) Speak and think kindly about others. We are all in this life-thing together. We all have our crosses to bear and our insecurities. Gossip and negativity toward other people, reinforces an ugly way of thinking- practice positive thoughts about yourself and others and these will come natural to you over time.

10) Encourage others to speak positively about themselves and help them to visualize positive outcomes. Surround yourself with positive, happy people. Optimism is contagious!

Welcome to My Self Care Blog! (This is a repost of my first blog from one year ago)

2011-04-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

"To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life" -Robert Louis Stevenson

This year I am making a commitment to take better care of myself. This blog is where I intend to document my self care journey.

Self care is about self awareness, honesty, acceptance and self improvement. It includes looking deeply at oneself, honoring one's strengths, recognizing one's weaknesses and doing whatever it takes to evolve those pieces into a better, more healthy person.

By making this commitment to self care, I hope to live life more fully and also to become a stronger and more positive influence in the lives of those I love.

You are very welcome to join me on this journey. I look forward to reading your comments, hearing your wisdom and getting to know you!

Take good care!

Today, Self Care Girl Turns One!

2011-04-04T00:29:00.000-07:00

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip. ~Author Unknown

One year ago today Self Care Girl was launched!

The Self Care Girl Project stemmed from my own exploration of practicing better self care. I had decided to take a year and devote it to getting myself healthier and wiser, and I wanted to find other like-minded women (and men!) to share this journey.

Honestly, I am not the same person that I was a year ago.   Serious growth has taken place in my career, and serious shrinkage has taken place in my body! (It is all good!) Most important though, my heart and happiness has expanded. I have met so many new friends through this venture. I am truly blessed.

To those of you who have been loyal followers this past year, I really do appreciate you! Your comments and support are what keep me enthusiastic about posting and continuing this exploration. Thank you!

I had thought about declaring a National Self Care Day, but I am pretty sure that is going to require more bureaucratic red tape than I am willing to endure... So, because we are in the virtual realm, I think it is perfectly acceptable to declare a "virtual holiday" instead.

So, let today be the first annual (virtual) Commitment to Better Self Care Day!

How to Celebrate:

Think about what taking better care means to you. Let today be the day you begin it!
Tell your friends about Self Care Girl!
Have a piece of decadent chocolate (or fruit!...I personally will be eating an apple today!)
Say three nice things to yourself right now!
Encourage others to take good care!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Is On A Business Trip

2011-04-03T00:48:00.000-07:00

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca

I will be away from my computer today as I just arrived in the Charleston, South Carolina and need to get myself situated.
I will be here for three weeks leading a project that has nothing to do with promoting Self Care...but I do love my job (the one that pays the bills) and THAT ,my friends, IS very good self care.

I will continue my posts this week...until then, be sure to spend some time OFF-LINE this week too!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Likes....

2011-04-02T00:12:00.000-07:00

I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it's only a choice of attitude. - Unknown

This Week Self Care Girl Likes....

Goat Milk Soap From Udder Sense

I purchased chocolate Easter Bunny soaps from Udder Sense this year. This way I can stick to my diet and still indulge my desire to have chocolate Easter Bunnies around for Easter.

These smell just fabulous and they look so real that I decided I better label the one I sent to my grandmother so she wouldn't eat it!

All of Udder Sense soaps are made from goat's milk and natural ingredients- so they are good for you! My favorite scents are the blackberry vanilla and the coconut lime verbena. Scented soaps are a great idea if you are looking for a small and affordable way to treat yourself!

Udder Sense has a website where you can purchase their soaps, and a blog where you can learn about the current goings-on down on the farm!

Check 'em out!

Take Good Care!

Happy April Fool's Day!

2011-04-01T05:56:00.000-07:00

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. ~Japanese Proverb

What I Need Will Come To Me...

2011-03-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Be like the bird that,

passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight

feels them give way beneath her

and yet sings

knowing that she hath wings

-Victor Hugo

I have been operating lately on the premise that what I need will come to me.

It really is a refreshing perspective, because historically, I have always been a very driven person, my grip fervently on the controls of my destiny.

Perhaps in the past that mindset was necessary and wildly effective on many accounts. But now that my little bird has flown the coop, now that I have settled into a comfortable and happy marriage, now that grad school is complete, now that I have established myself in my career...a forceful approach to life just seems harsh and unnecessary.

Maybe this means I have officially paid my dues. Today I am more a believer in fate. What is mine, WILL come to me.

This doesn't mean that I am going to stop doing my best, that I am going to stop dreaming or working or striving to be a better person or more effective project manager. Because I think that this mindset and a positive attitude attract the people who I want around me and the opportunities that I am seeking. It simply means that I am giving up worry and stress and relinquishing some control.

I am beginning to look at life as an interesting adventure and not an urgent race. Knowing that you will get what you need....(and probably more)....and just letting go...opens you up to being present in the moment and that is where true living happens.

Take Good Care!

Appreciating Strengths.

2011-03-30T00:50:00.000-07:00

“Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses” Marilyn vos Savant quotes (American Journalist and columnist of Ask Marilyn. Billed as the person with the highest IQ (228) ever recorded. b.1946)

I love book stores and libraries!

It empowers me to be surrounded by so much documented information, so much creativity and diverse opinions. I could spend all day browsing.

There is a little game that I play when I find myself happily between the racks: Next time you are in your favorite book place, stop for a moment, take a deep breath and pose a question. Any Question will do – a spiritual one…or cooking, or business...or simply “what do I need to know right now?”

Then grab a random book off of the shelf, open it to any old page, and read your answer.

(Sometimes this works…sometimes it makes me laugh…sometimes it is just mysterious and I have no idea what it means, but I still try to make sense of it)

I did this little exercise on recently. I posed the question “what can I do to improve in my career?”

The answer came from a little book called “Strength Finder 2.0”, and I will paraphrase here: too many times we focus on overcoming our weaknesses when we would be much more successful if we work to perfect the strengths we already possess.

Well, I bought the book and I went to the website and completed the assessment that was included with my purchase. The results were very insightful and I think fairly accurate too. (Ironically, one of my strengths is my love of information and books!)

I am still analyzing the feedback but my biggest “ah-ha!” is that some of my tendencies –which I previously viewed as weaknesses- were conveyed through this exercise as strengths. For instance: I frequently have my head in the clouds- always dreaming and planning for the future. The assessment called this “futuristic” thinking – It proposes that I would be very good at helping others visualize possibilities. I do like the idea of that.

Stress-Busting

2011-03-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

“Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down.” -Natalie Goldberg

I have had to call upon my self care powers several times this week and it is only Tuesday.

Yesterday - despite my best efforts to deal effectively with "the day of the moon" - was, indeed, so very Monday-like.

Keep in mind that if I truely possessed extraordinary self care abilities, I would probably not be so interested in this self care exploration.    Quite simply, sometimes self care does not come easy.   Sometimes things happen and you get yourself wound tight as a top before you realize that maybe this moment would be a good time to employ some self care.

I think the boy scouts may have been on to something valuable when they adopted the motto "be prepared". Lets face it (hate to be the bearer of bad news...) you are going to have times in the future where stress overwhelms you. (messenger here- don't shoot)    You may be surprised to learn that you can plan for those nerve rattling events in advance.

25 Stress Busters:

Take a walk
Take a hot bubble bath
Light candles, sit and breathe
Chop vegetables
Call a friend and talk it out
Have sex (releasing those endorphins is great for stress)
Write it down
Play some soft music
Watch your favorite movie
Do yoga
Get a massage, pedicure, manicure...spa day!
Eat Ice Cream
Clean house (this works for my friend Melinda K)
Get someone to rub the back of your neck gently for 15 - 20 minutes (I read a great article on this in Whole Living a while back- interesting, this lowers blood pressure for women, but isn't so effective in that regard for men)
Exercise
Engage in a hobby
Check out the Self Care blog (shameless plug, I know)
Buy yourself flowers
Take a mental health day
Buy some chocolat (don't forget the bow)
Take a nap
Have a cup of herbal tea
Ask for what you need
Hug a furry friend
Pray

Please let me know if you have any other great stress busters to share. (I feel better after just writing them down.)

The Best Way To Accept A Compliment

2011-03-28T02:28:00.000-07:00

"A simple 'Thank you' will suffice." - Melinda Casey (my BFF, when a compliment she made was not accepted in the best way)

The best way to accept a compliment:

1) Smile.

2) Make eye contact with the compliment "payer"

3) Say "Thank you."

4) If someone helped you become so compliment-able, give them some credit too!

Do Not Under Any Circumstance:

1) Counter a positive assessment of you with a negative thought or comment. (compliments should never be poo-pooed!)

2) Take all the credit for doing something awesome if you had any help at all. (Give propers where necessary- "Thank you, I had a lot of help...." is a good way to accept and acknowledge)

3) Allow yourself to not believe the compliment is true!

You are awesome...and beautiful...and wonderfully unique!

Self Care Girl is Away From Her Desk Today....

2011-03-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Can anything be so elegant as to have few wants, and to serve them one's self?

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sorry that I missed your visit!

Self Care Girl is off today having a fabulous spa day with her best girlfriend!

Do Something Nice for YOU today!
You really do deserve it!

Self Care Girl Likes....

2011-03-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

Decided to shorten this feature just a smidgen...lets try 3 things this week, instead of 6!

This week my favorite things are: Cherry Blossoms, Sudoku puzzles and Pampered Chef Prep Bowls

Spiritual Self Care: Cherry Blossoms!

Is there a better harbinger of springtime? Cherry Blossoms just make my soul leap!

By Nina

Per Wikipedia: The cherry blossom is an omen of good fortune and is also an emblem of love, affection and represents spring.

By Yumi

There is a Japanese custom of having feasts and celebrations under the Cherry Blossom trees. I was looking for something to add to the landscaping around our lower patio and I am thinking a row of cherry blossom trees may be perfect for this. (Of course we would then have to have a celebration down there too!)


By Jeffrywithtwofs

A walk under these trees can absolutely renew your spirit- I hope you will take the time to do that!

Mental Self Care: Sudoku Puzzles (Patiently awaiting the arrival of a 25x25 grid sudoku book)

I think what I love about Sudoku is that these puzzles are so methodical. They appeals to my logical, problem solving side. When I need to wind down and focus, Sudoku is just the ticket.

I have worked my way up to genius ones- the easy ones I can do in as little as 5 minutes. I struggle with the 16x16 ones...so I expect that the 25x25 edition will be challenging.

Contrary to what many people think, no math is required to complete these puzzles - just logic and the process of elimination. Try it: It is good exercise for the brain!

Physical Self Care: Pampered Chef 1 cup Prep Bowls (set of 6)

You are- no doubt- wondering why I categorized these bowls under Physical Self Care.

Well, the answer is: because I have found these to be so helpful with portion control and helping me stick to my diet. The bowls are also fantastic for mis en place (that is French for: preparing all of your ingredients before you cook) which is why I bought them in the first place.

The glass bowls measure exactly one cup and come with plastic lids. I recently saw that PC also makes a 2cup (set of 2). These are on my list for the next time I buy from PC!

PS: My friend Jaymi sells Pampered Chef- I am sure she can help you order if you are interested. Check out her page here

Please feel free to comment. I would like to know: What are your favorite things for taking good care of yourself?

Take Good Care!

Disclaimer

Please note, I am not paid for any reviews provided here. I blog as a hobby and am not particularly interested in monetizing my self care blog at this time...all items and ideas provided here are purely my "likes", influenced only by my impeccable high standards and my mission in encouraging busy women-like you- to think (and do) more to take good care yourself!

Well, Dip Me In Chocolate And Call Me Dessert...

2011-03-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

"Twill make Old Women Young and Fresh; Create New Motions of the Flesh. And cause them long for you know what, If they but taste of chocolate." (from "A History of the Nature and Quality of Chocolate" - James Wadworth (1768-1844) )

Just a little treat from me to you...I was very pleased to come across this little recipe because it combines two of my favorite self care tools: chocolat and a hot bath! (It is a great little way to get my chocolat fix on this diet I am on too!)

Enjoy!

Chocolat Lover's Milk Bath Mix

2 cups powdered milk

1/4 cup cocoa

2 tablespoons cornstarch

optional: 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix together all ingredients and place in a pretty glass jar (be sure to tie it with a pretty pink bow!).

Add a half cup to your next bath.

Take a moment and set the atmosphere - one does not just JUMP into a tub of chocolat without a few preparations!

Here are a few tips for getting the senses primed and making the most of your bathing experience:

Turn off the lights and light some candles (might want to light the candles first, actually)
Play some soft music
Dine on strawberries and a glass of wine
Inhale the chocolately bath goodness (in with the good chocolat-scented air....out with bad air....in with the good chocolat-scented air...)
Relax.
Feel fabulous.

Follow up with your favorite scented lotion (Doesn't coconut body lotion sound good about now?)

Snowflakes

2011-03-24T01:27:00.000-07:00

Man...is always an individual, a unique entity, different from everybody else. He differs by his particular blending of character, temperament, talents, disposition, just as he differs at his fingertips. He can affirm his human potentialities only by realizing his individuality. The duty to be alive is the same as the duty to become oneself, to develop into the individual one potentially is.

-Erich Fromm

This is just a quick post to remind you how unique and incredible you are. Take a moment and think about all of the things that make you different and exceptional. Embrace these things. There is no one else exactly like you!

***The pictures above are pretty cool -these are real life microscopic pictures of snowflakes...each unique and amazing.

(And...My sincere apologies to any of you out there who are ready for Spring but keep getting snow- I am sure that these magnified snowflakes are the absolute last thing you want to see right now! Spring WILL get here, I promise!)

Exterminating the Clutter Bug

2011-03-23T01:53:00.000-07:00

“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” - Albert Einstein

We cleaned out our closet over the weekend and made some room for our warm weather clothes. We do this twice a year and it always amazes me how much stuff we remove from our lives.

"Removing" means we either throw the item in the garbage, or we put it in a box for charity or for someone else who we know will appreciate it.

The older I get the less tolerant I am of clutter and the more I long for simplicity.   Getting rid of the excess makes cleaning so much easier and it makes finding things when you need them absolutely effortless.

There is something about walking into that de-cluttered space, or opening a well-organized drawer that I find incredibly soothing and reassuring. I feel like I am in control even if the world around me outside of my home is spinning out of control.

I think that our mental health is improved by creating order and freeing up space around us.   We become less stressed, more productive and less wasteful.

A few things I have done to exterminate the clutter bug:

Spend 15 minutes a day decluttering a room, a drawer, a shelf, a closet. Visit Flylady.org and check out her "baby steps", if you want a structured approach to this.
Think of the tools you use semi regularly (tweezers, nail clippers, nail file...) Having one of these- instead of a dozen can make you more mindful of where you leave it. I keep each of these in a small bin in my bathroom. I always return these there and can always find them when I need them.
When you buy something new, throw out something old.
Clean out your purse every friday night. Really think about what is essential and what is not.
Have one drawer or small bin in your kitchen designated for keys, cellphone, work badge, and anything else you require to head out the door on your work day.
I have been successful in identifying two pairs of shoes that I wear for work all of the time. One black and one brown. I have my running shoes (which sadly are underutilized), my flip flops, my garden clogs, a pair of slippers, a pair of formal shoes (black) and two pairs of sandals (one black, one brown). I have determined that these are the bare minimum of shoes I need to be well-dressed. I mention this, not as an advocate for shoe conservatism, but as an example of how you can choose an area of your wardrobe (or life) and minimalize.
We have a "touch it once" policy regarding our mail. We bring it in the house and immediately sort it into three catagories- garbage, bills, and of interest. Garbage is thrown out, bills are put away, and the items of interest are placed in a stack for immediate review and disposal (which technically is touching it twice, but you get the point.)
I plan a menu at the beginning of each week and clean out the fridge. We use the menu to plan our grocery list. Yes, I still buy things not on my list, but we buy mostly just what we need and we do waste a lot less.
I find that if I keep my desk top clean, I am much more productive
There are certain spots/surfaces in everyone's home where clutter accumulates. Make a daily habit of clearing those spaces.

If you have a de-cluttering secret to add to this list, please share in comments below. I would love to hear from you.

Take Good Care!

Deciding You Are Worth It

2011-03-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on 'til you come to the end: then stop.” -Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I think the first step in practicing better self care is simply deciding that you are worth it.

"But.." You say, "...I have children, and a husband, and family and friends and a career and housework and all my volunteer activities and church activities and community activities and a blog and facebook and.....well, (fill in the blank here)"

"I know I should take better care of myself, but I just don't seem to ever be able to fit it into my life" -I hear this all the time!

My response: "Well, if you weren't here, who would do all of this stuff???"

And I bet you can't think of anyone more capable or perfect for the job of managing your 'crazy, busy, life' than YOU!   (And, quite frankly, I can assure you that no one else wants that job!   They all have busy lives of their own!)

Well, then, I think we have established your worth!

You are important and valuable. Practicing better self care is just going to make you much stronger, more patient and just plain better all around for dealing with all of your responsibilities.   You benefit.   The people who you care about benefit. There is no reason not to!

So, where do you begin?

One goal of this self care journey should just be to keep things simple.

Self care is supposed to feel good and be good for you.   We don't want it to be a stressful and guilt-provoking.   The rule of thumb is to just do your best to take care of yourself whenever you can, and however you can.    (There really are no other rules.)

Plan in it to your daily routine. Self Care does not have include the Queen for the Day package at your local day spa (but don't turn it down if it is offered, for crying out loud!)   It can be a daily ritual of enjoying a cup of coffee before everyone gets up...or enjoying a cup of tea before you go to bed. A weekly bubble bath; splurging and buying yourself a springy bouquet, or a decadent chocolate truffle. It doesn't matter how little (or big) you go about taking better care of yourself. What matters is that you simply get in the habit of doing something nice for yourself each day!

Take Good Care!

Just Being Me..

2011-03-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

“Flowers do not force their way with great strife. Flowers open to perfection slowly in the sun.... Don't be in a hurry about spiritual matters. Go step by step, and be very sure.” - White Eagle

A few things I am going to "Be" this week:

Be patient.
Be confident that what I need will be provided.
Be open to new possibilities.
Be gracious and thankful
Be myself

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl is Out of the Office Today...

2011-03-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry that we missed you!

Most likely today you will find Self Care Girl....

Outside cleaning up her garden
Spending quality time with Mr. Self Care
Reading a really good book
Taking a nap
Singing out loud to the radio
Watching a really good chick flick
Talking to her family on the phone

Well, that is what is on her to-do list anyway!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Likes....

2011-03-19T16:15:00.000-07:00

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,

Brown paper packages tied up with strings, These are a few of my favorite things.

-Favorite Things, The Sound of Music

Something new on My Self Care Blog...

On Saturdays I will be adding a post called "Self Care Girl Likes..." This post will highlight some of my favorite self care stuff.

Highlighted each week will be one favorite thing from each area of the "Official Self Care Girl School of Taking Very Good Care of Yourself" categories! These include (with links to their primers) Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, Social & Volitional Self Care.

I am not paid for any reviews provided here. I blog as a hobby and am not particularly interested in monetizing my self care blog at this time...all items and ideas provided here are purely my "likes", influenced only by my impeccable high standards and my mission in encouraging busy women-like you- to think (and do) more to take good care yourself!

So without further ado...

This week Self Care Girl Likes....

Physical Self Care:

The Nutritionist Reviews (Awesome blog!)

I discovered this blog a few weeks ago and I find myself returning often.

Amanda reviews products and hosts giveaways here, but I was particularly impressed by the recipes she has provided on her site (I am a major foodie- and I am on a strict diet-so that is naturally where I zeroed in!)

These recipes are not just healthful, but the pictures look really delicious too. I confess that I have not tried one yet (due to the aforementioned diet restrictions) but the second I am able to, I am definitely going to try the Skinny Mexican Layer Dip!

Check it out! (Click on the icon above!)

Emotional Self Care:

Steel Magnolias (major chick flick)

The ultimate "chick flick".

Undoubtedly, many of you have seen this movie previously. I watched this recently and there is one scene that gets to me every freakin' time! I won't spoil it for anyone who has not seen this yet by providing the details,but at one point in this movie, I always find myself blubbering like a huge baby, and then, suddenly, I am shocked into complete laughter.

It is an emotional roller coaster ride, really, but I think for women it is good therapy to be able to express our emotion with complete abandon now and again- its sort of like flushing out the system!

I believe a good chick flick provides us a good forum for that. I encourage you to grab a copy soon!

Mental Self Care:

Food Rules- An Eater's Manual

by Michael Pollan

I love Michael Pollan! He is the author of several very good books on food and our food supply. This book is no exception. Short chapters, well-researched and just plain good knowledge about what to eat!

The book is best summed up with this excerpt from Pollan's website:

Eating doesn’t have to be so complicated. In this age of ever-more elaborate diets and conflicting health advice, Food Rules brings a welcome simplicity to our daily decisions about food. Written with the clarity, concision and wit that has become bestselling author Michael Pollan’s trademark, this indispensable handbook lays out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely, one per page accompanied by a concise explanation. It’s an easy-to-use guide that draws from a variety of traditions, suggesting how different cultures through the ages have arrived at the same enduring wisdom about food. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this is the perfect guide for anyone who ever wondered, “What should I eat?”

Spiritual Self Care:

Women of Character (facebook page)

I am very big on character- I choose to surround myself with women who are honest, genuine & big-hearted. Women are so much alike- in spite of whatever differences in experiences and perceptions we have gathered over the years- we are moms, daughters, sisters, friends. Our roles as nurturers and selfless warriors are so important in the world!

Women of Character is a spiritually-based facebook page that promotes those ideals of character through lots of inspiring quotes and photos. There have been several moments I have gotten on facebook and found a post by this page that was just what I needed to read at that moment.

Women of Character's mission (from their info page):
Love is all. To inspire and motivate each other spiritually to become exceptional women while following the foundation of love. We can then take what we learn and share it with those who lack joy and hope. Be light!

I think you might "like" Women of Character's facebook page too! Check it out!

Social Self Care:

Book Swap - (great idea!)

A girlfriend of mine hosts this event quarterly. It is a great excuse to get together with the girlfriends, it provides lots of topics for conversation, and it's creates a fabulous opportunity to remove old books from you library and gain a stack of new ones.

The swap is simple to organize.

Invite your guests to bring along any books that they no longer want.
Arrange spaces in your home to divide the books into different genres (cookbooks, kid's books, romance, mystery..etc..).
As people arrive have them sort their books into the appropriate groups.
Allow your guests to browse and select new books.
At the end of the evening gather up all of the books that were not selected and

a) bring them out for you next event,
b) donate them to charity, or
c) exchange them at a used book store for more riveting titles that may be selected in the next swap.

Our hostess usually cooks a main dish (a soup, lasagna, ham) and we bring appetizers, sides, beverages and desserts to accompany. (You can't have a proper girlfriend gathering without food now, right?)

We also have a "circle" time where each of us talks about our preferred genres, our favorite authors and books, and where we can also provides a quick recommendation of one or two of the books we brought.

These events are a lot of fun and that girlfriend time is so important!

Volitional Self Care:

Dave Ramsey (debt free living guru)

Mr Self Care and I discovered Dave Ramsey on the radio about 4 years ago- well, actually I found him first and debated about whether or not to share my discovery with my "way-too-enthusiastic-about-finances" husband.

Naturally, Mr SC was completely over the moon about this.

We were able to get on the same financial page right away. We developed a budget and a plan following Dave's principles. We began to just knock off one debt after another, and suddenly, in November 2009 we paid off the last student loan and became debt free-except for our mortgage.   We are well on our way to creating a financially secure future and we owe much of our success to Dave Ramsey.

Dave teaches a very easy to follow plan to get yourself out of debt, so that you can start focusing on more important matters than money...like people...and your health. Being debt free can help you be more stress free and it really have a positive impact on your marriage.

Dave's advice is for everyone-from single moms who are barely getting by, to young couples burdened by debt, people who have unpredictable monthly income, or even older couples who have fallen on hardship or just didn't plan enough for their retirement.   He starts with teaching you simple baby steps and before you know will be wiping debt out of your life forever.

One more thing I love about Dave...the man has a HUGE heart and INCREDIBLE people skills!   I think you will fall in love with this man too.

You can visit Dave's website to learn more about becoming debt-free.   Information about his debt-free plan and where to tune in for his radio or television show can also be found there.

Soon you will be "living like nobody else" too!

So there you have it- the pilot post for Self Care Girl Likes...!

Please take a moment and let me know what you think in the comments.

If you have a favorite self care "something" to share, please let me know! As you can imagine, I absolutely love this stuff!   You can email me your suggestions for Self Care Girl Likes...at theselfcareshop(at)gmail(dot)com.    Please put "Self Care Girl Likes" in the heading so I don't miss it!

Take Good Care!

Bloggers Day of Silence For Japan.

2011-03-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

“I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world” - Sadako Sasaki

WWW.FORJAPANWITHLOVE.COM

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend all of February in Japan leading an engineering project.

My team and I visited Hiroshima, several shrines, castles and temples; we marveled at how clean and tidy everything was kept-even in the most populated cities; we ate sushi, rice with every meal, discovered plum wine; marveled at beautiful kimonos on geisha, and we wandered through gardens with views that just took your breath away.

Yet, it was the hospitality and kindness of the Japanese people that truly made my visit there so memorable and amazing. You will not find a more polite people anywhere in the world.

It breaks my heart when I think about the devastation and loss there and the continued threats that they are enduring.

For this reason, I am joining an outstanding group of bloggers tomorrow in supporting the "Bloggers Day of Silence", and I am encouraging my blog followers to donate to the charity, ShelterBox at For Japan With Love

The Charity:

ShelterBox was one of THE first organizations asked by Japan to help and were on hand on the Saturday after the quake. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

Please check it out and whatever you can contribute will be so appreciated.

Arigato!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

May God grant you always...

A sunbeam to warm you,

A moonbeam to charm you,

A sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you.

Laughter to cheer you.

Faithful friends near you.

And whenever you pray,

Heaven to hear you.

- Irish Blessing

Take Good Care!

The Little Things...

2011-03-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

"True life is lived when tiny changes occur" - Leo Tolstoy

Just a quick list of some little things you can do to treat yourself to some self care today:

Eat something unprocessed- an apple, some raspberries, celery sticks.
Take a quick walk outside
Call your mom (or your sister, or your best friend)
Sit quietly with a cup of tea for 15 minutes
Make that appointment for your next dental/ medical, check up
Laugh
Stretch
Have a decadent piece of chocolat...savour it!
Drink plenty of water
Sing along loudly to your favorite songs

Take Good Care!

How to Exercise When You Would Rather Just Eat Cake

2011-03-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise. ~A.A. Milne

Is it just me or does everyone seem to be running these days?    I tried running too, and after a mere 4 weeks, I realized "Gee - I really do not like running".    (Actually it was very apparent after week 1, but I thought that my distaste for it might pass)

That realization, coupled with the one I had this evening "Gee - I really do like cake....and steak..and pasta" (all food really), puts me and the extra weight that I am carrying in a very difficult position.

So, while I am probably the right person to come to if want me to taste test your mother's devil's food cake recipe, I am probably not the best person to tell you to get out and exercise. My own attempts at sticking to a routine have been rife with inconsistency and do-overs.   I am not perfect....I am working at this self care thing too!

I have done some thinking and a little bit of research on the subject to help us both out.   This is my unofficial exercise guide for those of us who would just rather have our cake and then take a nap, but who know that we must take good care of our bodies.

Here goes:

You will not be successful if you give up everything you love and make yourself do everything you don't love. If you love red velvet cake, eat red velvet cake. Just don't eat a whole red velvet cake every day (no matter how tempting that may be). If you don't like to run, do not start training for a half marathon just because everyone else is. (the latter is more of a note to myself)
Do something active every day. I don't like to run, but I do like to walk. I have found that a little stroll at lunch time is a nice break. It helps me to clear my mind and sort out my thoughts and make plans. It doesn't feel like exercise. Find an activity that invigorates you.
Work out with a friend. Find a friend who likes to walk in the morning or hike on the weekend, join a dance class, an indoor soccer league or another active activity that involves others. Accountability and social interaction can make exercising more fun and not so easy to avoid. Playing with your kids is also a good way to make exercise enjoyable.
Purchase a stability ball and use it as a chair. This is my favorite, because it involves just sitting. A stability ball is a really big rubber ball. When you sit on a stability ball, instead of a chair, you engage muscles in your core (mid-section). Strengthening muscles in this area help your posture and can help you alleviate back problems. It is also difficult to sit still when you sit on a ball...go ahead see if you can use a stability ball without bouncing around. Good fun!
Define a Compelling Reason for exercising regularly. For some of my runner friends, a marathon or 5 K on the horizon compels them to hit the pavement each day. For my non-running, cake eating friends, a different compelling reason may be in order. Your compelling reason may be as simple and a short term as the rejuvination that a lunch time walk provides each day. Or it may be a long term goal to lower your blood pressure, to increase your flexibility so you can keep up with the grandkids, or to ensure that you and your hubby have a long and healthy life together.

Ultimately, our bodies were made for movement. The important thing is not what you do for exercise, but that you undertake some form of regular activity. Losing weight is difficult (Believe me, I know this!) Take things a little bit at a time and be gentle with yourself along the way. Find something you love to do and regular exercise will be a piece of cake!

A Good Night's Sleep...

2011-03-14T01:22:00.000-07:00

There is no hope for a civilization which starts each day to the sound of an alarm clock. ~Author Unknown

Sleep is an important- but oft neglected-basic need.

Most adults (including yours truly) simply do not get enough sleep to fuel their busy lifestyles. This is bad because sleep deprivation can lead to all kinds of preventable illness - like obesity and heart disease.

Lack of sleep can also keep you from performing at your best. It can affect the way you treat other people and it can affect your ability to think positively. The tell-tale signs of tiredness -bags under eyes and being cranky -are just not very attractive either.

Did you know that sleep deprivation has been used effectively as a method of torture? It is a horrible thing! Why do we do this to ourselves?

I consider myself to be a bit of a night owl. It often seems like I don't completely hit my "zone" until late afternoon...sometimes this carries me into the wee hours of the morning...and then, of course, I find getting out of bed in the mornings quite harsh and unpleasant. I have friends who have young kids, friends who work long hours, a few friends who still party like they are in their twenties..we all have excuses for not getting to bed at a decent hour, but no really good reasons, I think.

On its face, going to bed early seems soooooo easy, doesn't it? There is nothing particularly strenuous about it- it doesn’t take a lot of exertion- and there are times (like when my alarm went off this morning at 5:30am) when nothing seems easier or better than being (and staying) in bed. A good night's sleep just feels good!

So, last night I explored the option of getting to bed early. I was so enthusiastic to be making my first big commitment to self care. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, pulled on my British Airways first class pajamas (that Mr Self Care procured for me on a recent business flight) and I hit the hay at 9:00pm!

My records show that at 10, 11 and 11:59pm I was still wide awake, staring at the ceiling (except for when I woefully looked at the clock as it blared back those sleepless hours)

At 1 am I actually got up and had a cup of tea I fought the urge to pull out my laptop and play Zuma Blitz...and maybe iron a basket of laundry.

I think it was closer to 2am when I finally was able to sleep.

Experts say that most adults should get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. I was shooting for 7. I think I got less than 3.

Well, naturally my first thought this morning when my alarm went off was " I don't want to go to work today!" followed by "Mondays really suck." followed by an almost defeated "I can't be self care girl, because I really suck at this self care thing!" but after I simmered down and looked at the situation over my black coffee with a tablespoon of milk (the diet!), I realized that this experience just reinforced that even the easiest types of self care, may not be quite so easy. The real self care lesson here is to be "easy on yourself, when you find something isn't so easy"

I will try again tonight (I was actually planning on going to bed before tomorrow anyway). And this time I have done a little bit more research on the subject...

A few useful tips for getting a good night's sleep:

Operate on the same sleep schedule as much as possible. Go to bed and wake up at close to the same time...even on the weekend...even though you are tempted to sleep until noon.
Coffee and alcohol can inhibit sleep- stop drinking these 8 hours before bedtime.
Get plenty of exercise daily.
If you are having trouble sleeping, a warm bath and mug of warm milk may help.
Keep your room cool and dark
Make your bed an inviting place to be...invest in fluffy pillows, a warm comforter, and soft, cozy sheets... a good teddy bear would be cool too.
Remove televisions and other electronic equipment from your bedroom. Make this room your private retreat.
Get yourself in the habit of following a bedtime routine.
Visit the website: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/sleep-stages.gif to learn more about sleeping well.
Go easy on yourself if at first you don't succeed...there is always tomorrow night!

Self Care Assignment: Make a pact with yourself to get a good night's sleep tonight! I am aiming for 9:30! Try it again tomorrow...then see if you can get a good night's sleep for a whole week....you might just make this a good habit eventually...but for now...just start with tonight.

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl is Connecting "Actually" Today

2011-03-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

“When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another - and ourselves” - Jack Kornfield

Sorry I missed your visit...but it is Sunday and I have made a commitment to disconnect from the world wide web each week on this day. So if you are not "actually" in front of me, I am afraid I am not going to be connecting with you. LOL!

This gives me dedicated time to focus on my husband, my home and my own self care. These things are important to me, so I am walking the talk.

While you are here...please take a look around- read some of my previous posts. I love reading your comments, and I would love to have you follow the blog too!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl

My Relationship with Food...

2011-03-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

Food is an important part of a balanced diet. ~Fran Lebowitz

I am a foodie.

I love food.

I love to cook, bake, combine new flavors.

I love to entertain, wine and dine...devour...

I have enough cookbooks to open my own cookbook store.

I even have a slightly neglected food blog here that I haven't posted on for a while now (and probably won't again until I figure out what my issues are with food.)

The only show I watch regularly is the Biggest Loser....and while I watch, I eat food that would have Bob and Gillian cringing in horror.

Food is HUGE in my life.

Earlier this week I started the HCG Diet...For more about this you can check out my journal here or the HCG website here.

Consequently, I am now thinking about food more than ever. Realization about the role that food plays in my life is magnified....and it is causing me great conflict!

Some of my thoughts over the past few days....

When I think of getting together with my girlfriends....what fabulous dish can I share?

When I think of going on a date with my husband...where should we go for dinner?

When I think of my next work assignment in S. Carolina....what wonderful cuisine can I try there?

When I ponder a cozy weekend at home...I think comfort food.

How will I maintain this weight loss?

Will I ever be able to have a cupcake again? Wine & Cheese? A date at Tulalip Bay or Palisades?

MODERATION! I tell myself...but then I wonder if I can tolerate that.

PORTION CONTROL! I am practicing this now.

Somehow I must find a balance. But I don't have the complete answer yet.

I have a goal to get myself off of my high blood pressure pills. I don't have a firm goal for weight loss. It is happening though. Slowly.

***Photo above is from Sonia Studio
http://soniastudio.com/ss/spics/badfood.jpg

Secret Self Care Guidebook: How to Be Queen For A Day

2011-03-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

“There is no use trying, said Alice; one can't believe impossible things. I dare say you haven't had much practice, said the Queen. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

The first step in being Queen, is to believe -with all your heart-that you are capable and deserving of that title.   (and YOU ARE because being Queen IS a birthright!)

Look in the mirror, raise your head high, adopt a proud demeanor and give yourself a regal and approving nod!

There you go.....You are Queen! And now you are ready to go about planning your royal day....

While a birthday or holiday might justify such an indulgence, I think that choosing to be Queen for a day on just any old ordinary day is perfectly Queen-like and acceptable.    You rule, afterall, so why not just declare it on a whim? (You cannot decide to be Queen and then go about it only halfway!)

Imagine, for a moment, how would you spend your day? Would there be pampering? SILENCE!? Bubbles? Chocolat?   Would you surround yourself with pets or people? Would you just like to be left alone? Sleep in? Or get up and go on an adventure?

Plan your regal day today.   Pick a date and make the arrangements necessary to ensure you can have full, uninterrupted, reign.

Rule for being Queen for A Day:

1) There are no rules...well, none that aren't put forth by her majesty anyway.

Who knows, you may decide that this Queen -thing quite suits you and issue a ruling to become queen at least once a month!

My Self Care Blog

100 Resolutions for Taking Better Care of Yourself!

Self Care Girl Book Review: Mastering Your Metabolism, by Jillian Michaels

Day 10: I Made Some Comfort Food

“Onion soup sustains. The process of making it is somewhat like the process of learning to love. It requires commitment, extraordinary effort, time, and will make you cry.” - Ronni Lundy

Yesterday was a rainy, windy, miserable day here. Perfect for making soup.

I love to cook; to try new recipes...to chop celery and carrots and onion and pancetta and garlic! I love the smell of good food cooking on the stove top. And, I also love to eat....cooking engages all of the senses...to me it is just fabulous self care!

If I had more time I would probably start up my food blog again....unfortunately, (or fortunately, if you consider that saying NO to being overwhelmed is just good self care) I have left my cooking blog long neglected. I still cook...I just don't write about it.

You can check out my old blog here: My Home Cook N Blog

Did you practice some good self care today (is there such a thing as "bad" self care, really? Hmmm) Let us know!

Day 9: Self Care Girl Stepped Away From Her Lap Top For The Day...

Day 8: I Watched An Entire 80's Top #50 Countdown.

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Spent the afternoon reliving my teen years. One of the television music channels was playing an 80's countdown and I couldn't help but get completely roped in. I love the music of that era!

There are so many memories associated with the songs we grew up with. I can remember where I was and the various people I was with (who I honestly have not thought of in years) as each music video played.

Singing and dancing along to some of this great music is so good for the soul! My husband and I grew up in different countries (He is English, I am American), but we share a love of the same era of music. It was interesting to compare notes and hear his perspective and favorites too.

In the words of Don McLean, American Pie "music soothes the mortal soul." It is just very good self care.

Day 7: We had a Pajama Party

“Oh no! I should do something....but I am already in my pajamas.” - Farnsworth from Futurama

A pajama party was the theme today in the high-rise flat of Self Care Girl and her Prince Charming, Mr Self Care. The dashing couple decided to stay in today, curled up on the sofa with a commitment to do nothing in particular, but laze about and eat gelato.

Self Care Girl was stunning in a fabulous pair of soft cotton pajama bottoms of candy striped pinks...topped with an mismatching, but comfy, adidas t-shirt in a heavenly sleeping baby blue. She topped her look with her favorite worn "house sweater" and a slightly disheveled "bed head" hairstyle.

The menu of the day was a delivered Pizza and chicken soup (and whatever other munchable faire they could scrounge from their cupboards), topped off with a delightful scoop(s) of raspberry gelato.

The couple had been feeling a bit puny over the last few days and is hoping that this pajama party will restore them to their good health.

Have you had a pajama party recently? Let us know!

Day 6: How to Get Your Self Care In on A Very Hectic Day

Day 5: Booked A Vacation Home

Day 4: I Ate Chocolate...Lots of Chocolate.

Day 3 - A Hot Bath with a Mani-Pedi

Day 2 - Take a Hike!

Day 1 - Let the Self Care Festivities Begin!

“As a rule, the mind, residing in a body that has become weakened by pampering, is also weak, and where there is no strength of mind there can be no strength of soul.” - Mahatma Gandhi (....who apparently has never experienced the soul enhancing properties of a good hot stone massage!)

31 Days of Self Care

“What is genius, anyway, if it isn't the ability to give an adequate response to a great challenge?”

- Bette Green

When was the last time you spent a full month doing nice things for yourself?

This month Self Care Girl wants to help you change that. For the month of October we are launching the 31 days of Self Care Challenge!

Sounds pretty easy? I hope you will share your experiences and ideas too!

Take Good Care!

Swap it, don't Stop It

Self Care Girl Goes To The Day Spa

3 Important Ingredients for Success

Lessons From My Weight Loss

25 Things That Really Suck...

The Official Self Care Girl Guide To Being Queen

Self Care Girl Likes....

Givin' In To Your Inner Whim: 10 Ideas For Self Compassion

Self Care Girl is Saving Honey Bees Today

“The pedigree of honey Does not concern the bee; A clover, any time, to him Is aristocracy.”

- Emily Dickinson

I am away from my computer today...if you need me, you can find me in my garden...doing my part to save the Honey bees!

At the end of the month I am heading to Melbourne, Australia for a work assignment. As I won't be here for summer, I have changed my plans about having an amazing culinary herb garden.

Here is some great information on the bee situation (includes some good news about the bee situation): beehaviour.com

And another great site: savehoneybees.org

Here are 5 good things you can do to save the bees:

Educate yourself on this issue

Plant Bee Friendly plants in your garden

Reduce your use of pesticides

Support your local beekeeper and companies that support bees: Good Companies

Avoid those companies that threaten bee populations: Evil Companies

I hope you will consider supporting this important cause with me!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl Likes...

“As long as there's a few farmers out there, we'll keep fighting for them.” - Willie Nelson

The First Step In Improving Any Situation

Does Anyone Ever Read These Posts?

Taking Self Care on the Road

Self Care Girl Is Leaving On A Jet Plane Today

Self Care Girl Likes...

- T. A. Edison

Self Care Girl Likes.....

Herbs.

If you know me at all you know that I am a huge foodie! I love to cook...and eat...and experiment with flavors.

I have a few books that I have found invaluable for learning about herbs and one little trick to share.

Jerry Traunfeld, orignally from the Herb Farm (one of the best restaurants in the U.S.) and now owner of Poppy (absolutely fabulous!) has two cookbooks that I will be taking with me Down Under:

and...The Herb Farm Cookbook

Last night I experimented heavily with sage, the night before I had a delicious meal with basil. I am learning more about the flavors and how they enhance food. It has made cooking healthier and sticking to my diet much more enjoyable!

Take Good Care!

Self Care Girl's Day Off

Self Care Routines

Time Warp...