Destination: RELAXATION

“Vacation is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer.”

On Saturday morning we are headed to Kauai for a week.  

This is timely, because I can hardly stand the thought of another day at work.  I don't know if it is just because a vacation is looming, or if I really do need to change my job soon, but I am pretty much done this week.

Certainly, we will be in a much better frame of mind for sorting out such things when we return.

Mr Self Care was eager to book up everything that we want to do, until I suggested that doing "absolutely nothing" might be a better plan for this trip.    He is very willing to accomodate this, and we will be spontaneous whenever the mood strikes.   Sometimes not planning everything is best.  

This trip I am only planning a few little things (in no particular order):

• a little pool time
• a little beach time
• a little sunshine
• a little drink with a little umbrella in it
• a little reading
• a little nap
• a little bit of pineapple

...And only a few big things:

• A lot of rest
• A lot of sunblock
• A lot of time alone with Mr S.C.

It is going to be heavenly!

A Little Spring In Your Step...

"What a wonderful beautiful thing, to wiggle your toes." ~ Dalton Trumbo

I had my third pedicure of the season over the weekend...a little Mother's Day treat for my toes!  I confess that this is starting to become a bit of an addiction for me.   There is just something fabulous about being treated (or treating yourself) to pretty toes.

There is a salon down the street from my home that has the massage chairs with those whirlpool pedi pools.    For $20 I got a full foot massage, complete toe to heel tune up and clean up and a shiny plum colored paint job.   Such a bargain!  The whole process took just less than an hour, but the spring it put in my step will linger for weeks! 

If you haven't had a pedicure before, I encourage you to try it- Pedicures are extremely good self-care! You can pick out a color that makes you happy and when they are done with your ten toe makeover,  you will just feel pretty and ready for some flip flops.

If you are not new to pedicures, but haven't indulged yourself yet this year:  What are you waiting for?   Sandal season is upon us, Ladies!  

Reasons for getting a Pedicure:

1. You just have to take care of your feet!  You rely upon feet to get you around, it is important to keep them healthy.  Pedicures are essential for good foot health.
2. Summer.
3. A million colors of polish with the most creative names are waiting to be sifted through- someone went to all that trouble to identify the shades- the least you can do is put them to good use!
4. Sandals, flip flops, or just walking around barefoot...pretty toes can make any outfit fancier.
5. You deserve it.
6. It is affordable.
7. It is a great excuse to get the girl's together for an outing.
8. It will make you happy
9. It helps the economy
10. Its just plain old good self care!

I implore you to make your appointment today!   Grab a friend and encourage her to do a little self care too!

Happy Mother's Day!

“There's a lot more to being a woman than being a mother, but there's a hell a lot more to being a mother than most people suspect”  - Roseanne Barr

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there!

To my Mom:  Thank you!

The Secret to Looking Good In a Swimsuit

“They were doing a full back shot of me in a swimsuit and I thought, Oh my God, I have to be so brave. See, every woman hates herself from behind.” - Cindy Crawford

We are headed to Kauai in a week.   (***Happy Dance!)

Mr Self Care and I planned this vacation back in January and believed at that time that we could be ready for swimsuits and day hikes in Waimea Canyon by May.   Just needed to start working out and eating healthy...

We started...and we stopped...and we started again...and stopped.   Now here we are with a week left and I am certain that we are not in any better physical condition than we were in January when we started our campaign.

Sadly, there is nothing we can do at this point to remedy the situation.   We are fat and out of shape and no amount of starvation dieting or last chance workouts is going to fix that.   Our only consolation is that we are going to Kauai. (which is a pretty fabulous consolation, really).

I am sure that we are not the first or the last people who have experienced this.   The pre-vacation weight loss campaign is fairly common and typically fails (granted, some of us do make it to just after the vacation to change back to our old negative eating and exercise habits...)   It is clear that we need to establish a more compelling reason for lifestyle change than a single tropical holiday.

Mr Self Care and I agree that we should make a few changes this week because we don't feel too good physically.   It is certain that we will feel better come next Saturday if we do something beneficial to our health this week- even if we don't see dramatic results in our appearance.    So we did agree to be good this week.

While in Kauai, I am planning some extreme relaxation and rejuvination-this is the real reason for the vacation.   We may not look pretty in our swimsuits, but I have a theory that if we can find another couple that looks fatter than we do- we may slip under the radar (*insert evil laugh here).  

When we return, we will explore a more successful approach to improving our physical health.   For now I have compiled a little guide for anyone finding themselves in the same boat (where you feel as big as a boat) like we do.

How to Look Good In A Swimsuit When the Pre-Vacation Diet and Exercise Routine Failed:

1) Sit next to someone larger than you (it is an idea worth repeating)
2) Wear a wild hat or something to draw eyes upward and distract
3) Make sure you have a beautiful swimsuit, or at least a beautiful sarong or cover up
4) Get in the pool.   A pool of water hides a multiple of sins.  (of course you will have to get out again eventually...)
5) Focus on the fact that you are on vacation and the envy of everyone you left back at the office.   Studies (scientifically conducted somewhere I am sure) show that most people on vacation are more attractive because they are more happy and more relaxed. 
6) Smile, hold your head high, and don't be concerned about what other people think.  Confidence is beautiful.  Your true value lies in who you are on the inside.

Nobody's body is perfect (okay, a few are close to perfect- but they certainly have huge flaws elsewhere that you don't immediately see).   Be kind to yourself. 
If you have additional Swimsuit Survival tips, please let me know!

Diversity

“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” - Maya Angelou

I attended an interview today for a management position at work.   (I was on top of my game today and I think it all went very well!)

One question that I was asked was about dealing with diversity.   "Tell me about a situation where you were not successful or where you had difficulty dealing with diversity."   

Well,  I do not think I have ever had an issue with diversity, and I work in a VERY diverse group on an extremely global program within an international company.  Quite frankly I think that people who do have difficulty with diversity are in the extreme minority.   We are all diverse, but it seems that in our society we always use this term to describe a minority group.  And there seems to be a message here that we need to treat diversity with kid gloves- especially if you are not in the minority group.    This doesn't feel right to me.

My response to the question was that I couldn't think of any situation where diversity was an issue for me.   I suggested that perhaps my approach- to always respect people as individuals- pretty much made our diversity a moot point.  

What I have found is that no matter where people comes from, they all want to be respected and valued.   We are all diverse.  

What do you think?

Hugging a Farmer is Good Self Care...

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion

I was raised most of my life on a farm.   We always had large vegetable gardens and orchards and livestock and an abundance of good, wholesome foods.   When you grow up on a farm you learn to appreciate hard work and simple pleasures.  The smell of fresh picked tomatoes signals summertime to me and all produce just tastes better when you pick it straight from the tree or vine or stalk.

With May upon us, we will soon find ourselves in summer weather.  I encourage you to support your local farmers by joining a CSA this season, or by attending your local farmer's market each week.   The food is more fresh, much better for you, and so much better tasting when purchased from a farm or farmer's market.  You might be surprised to find that the produce is cheaper than your local supermarket too!  Farmer's markets are great places to show appreciation for simple, healthy food and convey gratitude to the small, sustainable farmers who lovingly share their bounty with you.    That is very good self care!

Cultivating your own little pea patch can be quite good for your soul as well.  Digging in the dirt is meditative and, surprisingly, good exercise.  There are few things more satisfying than planting a little garden and patiently watching it grow- especially when you are rewarded with a handful of juicy strawberries, or a bowl of crisp green beans or cucumbers for your efforts.  

Be sure to let me know what you grow!

Going to my "Happy Place"

“Sometimes the most urgent thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest” - Ashleigh Brilliant

I slept in late this morning after going to bed fairly early last night.    Let me tell you how incredibly good that feels!

The stress level in our home is a little high right now - we had a construction project go bad and we lost a good sum of money in the deal.  I don't want to spend valuable post space going into all the details.   My point really is that sometimes bad stuff happens that is beyond our control and the stress and anxiety it causes can definately take its toll on our health and well-being.  

I think I have been near exhaustion lately.   My body has been sending me clear messages that I need to relax and take good care- and I confess I haven't been listening well.   The rest of our life continues on despite our setbacks and problems-you cannot just stop dealing with work, and managing your home and caring for your family....no matter how much you want to curl up in a ball under a down comforter and take a nap until everything returns to normal.

We are going on vacation to Kauai in a few weeks.  Having this on the horizon is definately a bright spot in our world.   But if we didn't have this (and definately, until I get to Kauai) I believe that it is critical for me to find some way else to get myself to my Happy Place. 

It is so very difficult to implement self care when you are in the midst of a crisis.   This is definately a lesson for me.   This is what I am doing to care for myself:

1) Breathe - deeply and slowly.   Focusing on your breath can help calm you.   Another technique is to inhale through one nostril and exhale through the other.  Do that 10 times and then switch nostrils.
2) Close your eyes and imagine yourself somewhere calm and serene.  Like a beach, or in a boat, lying in a meadow with Edward (for my Twilight friends).  
3) Go somewhere calm.   An art museum, aquarium or antique mall can be just the ticket to divert your attention
4) Escape into a book.  Put on some cozy pjs and grab yourself a pillow and a blanket.   There is nothing wrong with spending a day languishing with a book.
5) Spend some time snuggling with that special someone.  Hug a lot (Hugs help!)
6) Take a nap
7) Meditate
8) Pray
9) Practice Yoga
10) Create a space in your home that is just for you.  Fill your space with several objects that bring you peace and comfort.  Make sure you include something for all of your senses:  a picture of someone you love, a vanilla scented candle, soft music, a comfortable chair, a favorite soft blanket, your chocolat! stash. 

Got any other suggestions?   Please let me know!