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...

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.

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

“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

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

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.

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)