Low Waste Living – Weekly Grocery Haul in Brooklyn, NY

Please keep in mind that this is not everything we eat. I made a list of filler foods which will be made with what we already have in our kitchen. Food can be expensive, I hope this is helpful to someone who might be discouraging because they may not fit into a specific demographic.

I want to recognize that a sustainable lifestyle is not about perfection, it is about attempting our best with anything we have access to. When there are so many social issues to be aware of, it’s simple to get frustrated. So if we can be realistic and know we’re doing the best we can wherever we’re, that’s the most essential thing. I encourage you to keep going, even if your grocery purchases do have a minor impact on waste.

There are so many other places in our lives that we can build. I want us to be willing to remain passionate about the activity instead of being worried about stuff outside of our control. I can’t, and that’s OK because I try just to be mindful of my impact on the plant.

Read more here: Reducing Waste: What You Can Do https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-…

Let me know if you have any tips for a low-impact hack!

Traveling Around Chinatown, NYC – My So-Called Vlog

Chinatown is one place you don’t want to miss visiting when you are in NYC. There are not only many things to do in Chinatown NYC, but the history and unique character of this Manhattan neighborhood also speak for themselves. You will find some fantastic food, exciting street vendors, and some great photo opportunities.

Chinatown

Places Mentioned:

• Canal Street Market
• Yaya Tea Basement (Speakeasy)
• Canal Street Mott Street
• Mulberry Street
• AJI ICHIBAN (Candy Store)
• Glossier Headquarter

What’s your favorite place? Please leave in the comment below!

The Balance of the Body, Energy, and Surroundings

The primary physical material of the cells is chemical – atoms and molecules. The universe and everything in it is made up of energy. The body, like the universe, exists in a state of constant change and movement. 

The body tissues are muscle – nervous, epithelial tissue that lines and covers everything. Everything in the body is made from raw materials found in food. For example: 

1. Tendons and ligaments are made of protein.
2. Glucose is used by cells to make energy.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids make up most of our cell membranes.
4. Cholesterol is used to make steroid hormones. 

The body is made up of five main systems: 

• Cardiovascular System – heart and blood transport
• Respiratory System – brings oxygen into our body and expels Carbon Dioxide
• Digestive System – allows your body to process food so it may be expelled or absorbed in your systems 
• Urinary System – cleans and filters the blood and monitors the amount of water in our System. 
• Nervous System – the communication hub of our bodies

Another system could be called the “spirit or soul.” The maintenance of harmony and balance within the organism is known in western physiology as homoeostasis. Homeostatic Mechanisms encourages and promote the balance that we need to provide the fundamental requirement for health. Although, we can’t easily describe the “spirit or soul,” it is a mystery. 

Emotions:

Emotional health is dependent on the free-flowing and experiencing all our feelings. It is vital to the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Our emotions can affect our physical bodies, and for example, if we hurt, we may cry. 

Understanding and respecting our need for emotional discharge or release is an essential part of remaining healthy and being able to be present within ourselves fully. 

The nature of the ego/mind is that it can’t stand and wants everything to be solved. It believes itself to be in control – and it can’t stand anything that challenges this belief. It will come up with any number of doubts and arguments to prove that the spirit does not exist. The spirit isn’t a single entity. It is part of a person. It is their energy force. 

The heavier or lower in vibration that our energy is, the more insensitive and the less we can feel and experience more subtle realities. The more precise and finely tuned our energy is, the more sensitive we become to being able to experience the truth that the world around us is made of energy. We are more than just a simple body. 

Basic Needs: 

Our basic needs for the body includes sufficient clean water. It also needs wholesome food containing all the nutrients, good quality air to breath, and the right amount of exercise and movement. For our minds, hearts, and bodies, we need meaningful work and joyful play, with a proper balance between the two. 

It is quite common for modern medicine and culture to view these kinds of reactions as symptoms of diseases, to be suppressed, rather than as a homeostatic process. When we are healthy, we have more dramatic responses to toxins. When er is full of toxins, the body has less obvious reactions – but this doesn’t mean the toxins are not causing damage. 

Suppressing such symptoms can create chronic illness. 

Our health is dependent on the health of the environment in which we live – both internal and external. A significant step in self-care is to develop our self-awareness. 

The Water of Life

Our bodies contain 60-70 percent of water. An essential naturopathic principle comment to most traditions is that we need to drink enough good clean water for optimal health. The lack of water in our bodies can lead to man signs and symptoms of illness. The general recommendation is that we need about eight full glasses of water a day. 

When our habit is to not to drink enough, the sensation of thirst tends to dimish. If we begin to increase the amount of water we drink, we begin to be thirsty again. The more water we drink, the more diluted and copious our urine output will be. Water is important because it is used in many of the chemical reactions in our body. 

Kidneys help monitor and gauge the amount of water in our bodies, and it increases or decreases the amount of water excreted in our urine. The kidneys make urine by filtering the blood. In one hour, all the blood in our body will pass through the kidneys. 

The kidney’s main job is the excrete substances from our bodies that would otherwise poison us. Without water, organs of eliminations (kidneys, liver, bowels, lungs, and skin) will not work with able to work to they properly may healthy support our organs systems. 

The amount of urine made by the kidneys, lone with a myriad of other bodily processes, is controlled by small chemical messengers called hormones. The endocrine glands help produce most of the hormones in our body. The endocrine is essential because it takes the water processed by the kidneys, along with other functions, to work with our nervous system. 

The Energy of Life

The body is made of chemicals – water, proteins, fats, sugars, vitamins, minerals, trace elements. These chemicals are made of energy. 

Two holistic approaches to describing energy are through Vedic (ancient Indian) or Shamanic (earth-based). 

The Vedic tradition has a useful and straightforward way of describing the energy the makes up the reality of the materials. 

• Heavy, low (tamasic energy) of ignorance 
• Light, clear (sattvic energy) of goodness 
• Passionate (rajasic) for getting things done

Shamanism is a healing technique for where every culture has been geared toward creating an energetic balance that is deeply connected to nature. Energy is restored and expelled from our systems if it is healthy or unhealthy.

Both Vedic and Shamanism practices with living with harmony with your systems and environment can help you balance your energy levels. 

Interrelatedness: 

We are individuals, but we are completely interdependent on our environment. All of these systems need our attention to our health to flourish. Holistic self-care is basically about understanding and respecting the need to keep the body, mind, spirit well by giving each what it needs and protecting each from harm. 

For our self-care to be fully effective, we need to become aware of and thoughtful about the gross imbalance in our societies. We need to create new policies that are more rational and balance to enable everyone to be healthy. All the systems are intimately connected and cannot indeed be separated. The fit of each is vital to the proper functioning of all the others, and the whole being. 

Easy Yummy Recipe: No-Bake Protein Packed Energy Balls

With school approaching for many, I wanted to share some healthy snack ideas. These No-Bake Energy Balls make a great afternoon snack, and they’re also perfect for lunch boxes. Add this recipe to your weekend meal prep, so you have them ready to go for a busy week. With school approaching for many, I wanted to share some healthy snack ideas. These No-Bake Energy Balls make a great afternoon snack, and they’re also perfect for lunch boxes. Add this recipe to your weekend meal prep, so you have them ready to go for a busy week. I hope you’ll enjoy these vegan energy balls, they are:

• Bite-sized
• Super easy
• No-bake
• A perfect snack!

The recipe is designed for you to have fun with making these tasty treats with almost anything in your pantry.

It is also an excellent option for reducing food waste.

Keep them stored in a container in the fridge or freezer and enjoy anytime! They will last about a week in the refrigerator and about two months in the freezer.

Easy Yummy Recipe: No-Bakes Energy Balls

Please check out my video. I am a little nervous with making it as it has been a little while. I just took the leap of faith and produced it. I hope you enjoy it. Please let your comments and like or even a share or two.

Thank you so much for all your support!

Three Sustainability Kit Hacks that are in My Bag Right Now!

My thought process and intention for sharing this with you are to convey that you can be sustainable no matter your income. It only takes little steps to achieve less waste. For myself, I get the urge to buy something that seems to “Save the World,” but in truth, if you didn’t need it before, chances are you don’t need it now. There is also things around your home that you can use, and items you can buy that is under $10 that will help achieve less waste.

As you go through these photos, please remember that another way to help is by contacting companies or following companies that have a reputation for being wasteful. It cost almost nothing to send a photo to their DM or write to these companies. In the end, it’s about getting larger companies to stop their wasteful practices. They are the main culprits of plastic and other waste in our oceans and land.

I have three kits. One is for eating out, another for drinks, and one is for grocery shopping. Most of the items shown were repurpose from other uses or purchase for a small fee. I try my best not to buy plastic, but if it comes down to it, my kit will last me more uses than a single-use item. I feel it’s worth it, especially if your budget does not allow you to buy fancier items. It’s more about the statement that you can be sustainable without given into the companies requirements for consumption and to add a quiet protest to their pollution impact on the planet.

First Hack: Eating Out Kit

I found this satchel and thought it would work quite lovely for this kit. It gave it a new use and time. In it, it contains a tea towel, a collapsible silicone straw, and a spork.

The tea towel was getting old. I didn’t want to throw it away, so it became my on the go napkin or seat covering. It works well, and it is easy to clean. I have saved myself from using too many paper towels or asking for paper towels because I have this is always with me.

The spork was something I found in our local donation bin. Our building allows people who place useable but no longer needed items into a small area. I saw this and jumped right on it. I found I was in luck. The plastic is environmentally friendly and non-toxic to me as it is made with 100% recyclable and recycled material. I know it isn’t entirely eco-friendly but for a starter it, it’s a piece of gold. I will continue to use it until it has been worn out.

The collapsible straw I found on Amazon. It is made with safe plastic and very inexpensive. I struggled with this as I heavily rely on straws.

I have physical issues that make it hard for my head to go back to drink completely. This item works well, and it is easy to clean. It is contained in a case, so I don’t have to worry about leaks or getting it dirty. I love this straw very much.

Second Hack, My Drinking Kit

I love Mason Jars. I particularly like the blue jars. When they were on sale, I bought four. I use them every day to drink or to eat from the jars. They are fantastic for on the go person like me.

• 

However, I have an issue with drinking. The lids are not friendly for drinking liquids. I certainly did not want to go out and buy different containers for all of my needs, for example, smoothies, ice coffee, soup, oats, and water. It was just easier to have it all in one. This is where I found my answer to my lid issues.

This lid is pretty amazing. I thought this type of product did not exist, but there is was, on Amazon, for less than eight dollars. I bought with the assumption that it may not work. However, it has proven me wrong. The seal is tight, and the mouthpiece stays closed. It is a real gem to have this as a convenience but also as being sustainable and practical that keeps me in my habit.

However, there is also the issue of condensation. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, your jar will sweat. It also can get scorching with soup and coffee. I realized very quickly but did not want to buy a sleeve. I thought about it. I remember that I keep my odd socks in a drawer. I do this because sometimes they show up. However, sometimes, they do not.
Some of my socks are too cute to recycle, so “ding!”
I repurpose my sock to be a sleeve and a mouth protector. It works well to control the dewiness and heat from the jar. It also works as a layer of protection in case the mouth opens in my bag.

If you don’t have a mason jar, you can always use a jar that you have at home. I would make sure that it is heat resistant, but this empty jar is an instant coffee container from Trader Joe’s, and it works well.

I have used it in the past, and it fits enough to get me through the day. It is also much lighter than my mason jar, so on days that I need to travel light, I will reach for this jar.

Third Hack: Grocery Shopping Tote

Living in NYC, having an extra tote in my bag almost seems intuitive. Plastic bags can get clunky and can be hard to move in the subways.

The most significant change happened a few years ago when I realized that I did not have to use plastic bags. I can use my tote. It has been a game-changer for me. I can fit more in my bag, and some stores offer discounts for bringing your bag. It’s pretty awesome.

The bag I currently use to do my shopping is a bag from H&M. It was on clearance and it only a $1. This seems to be the right tote for me. I have used it ever since. It is sturdy, but light and can carry a massive amount of food. I love it.

My produce bags came from Amazon. I got them for an excellent rate. It is the same brand that I have found in eco-friendly stores around the city but for a fraction of the price.
I couldn’t resist it. I use them every time I buy food.

I am taking steps to get to understand my impact on the planet. These three habits are available in my bag that are staples in my routine. For me, they are the easiest way to start. It takes a little creativity, but I bet that most people can find one low impact habit that does not cost money and can be reused, recycled, and reduce your waste.

I hope you found this blog post helpful. Please let me know some of the ways you worked into your life to reduce waste.

Minimalist Benefit: Save More, Spend Less

I try to live a minimalist lifestyle because it is useful for many reasons. One reason which I am going to discuss in this blog is the ways it has to help save money.

I made a small list of little habits that work well for me. Particularly, when you may not have it to spend, or you are struggling to find a way to make use of your dollar. Hopefully, some of these ideas can work for you.

I am going to concentrate on good habits to help with “fast spending” or mindless spending. I think it is something that we all struggle with, and I want to share my techniques on saving. I realize that some of these suggestions are not a realistic option for some people. It depends on your situation.

Take a photo / Leave it in your cart
I think this habit has made the most significant difference is cutting out impulse buys. Thinking about things before you buy them makes the most difference.

I used to buy maybe multiple things on impulse buys every time I went shopping, and they were never pricey things. However, they did add up. I noticed that beautiful displays in the store or an appealing ad would lure me into buying more. Now, whenever I get into a situation that I feel the impulse come on, I take a photo. If I am shopping online, I leave it in the cart. I do notice within a couple of days after doing this action. I didn’t want it, anyway.

Make the most of what you have
I like to keep everything as it is until it no longer works. I always try to use up what I have before I buy something new. I make sure I squeeze out everything I can from the item before I purchase something similar. I take great care of my stuff, and that’s why it always lasts me for a long time. I’m forever grateful for it. Trends and fast consumerism do not influence me.

Shop with intention
I also shop for specific items. I’m not randomly going out shopping for clothes or things that will not serve my family or me. Changing this habit from buying without a plan to searching for a specific item, does make shopping easier and curves my impulse buying.

Have an intentional wardrobe
I now have an intentional wardrobe. I used to spend a lot of money on clothing and accessories. It was my biggest indulgence. It wasn’t that I was buying expensive things; it just added up after a while. There was a time when I spent at least a hundred dollars on clothing each month and sometimes more.

Being intentional with my wardrobe helps me curve my spending habit. I only have about 35 hangers in my closet and two small boxes for seasonal clothing. When they are full, it means that I have to get rid of something before purchasing any new items. This helps me to think before buying something. I also ask myself the following questions like:

Do I need this new item?
Has the last item been worn out or no longer needed?
What will I do with the item once I decided it no longer serves me?

Having these three questions as part of my spending habit ritual does invite the discussion of my actual need versus wants of things. It is a mindful practice that doesn’t take very long to master or for me to get an internal response.

Use sales to save
If you want to save money, then use sales wisely and to your financial advantage. For example, there is a wallet that is 50% off, and it is now $20. If you didn’t need a wallet, but you buy it anyway, then it’s not a good deal. You’re spending $20 that could be saved for something that you actually may need in the long run.

If my wallet gets worn out, and I am looking for a new wallet. Then, buying it on sale would make sense.

You are also not saving if you are buying things that are more expensive because they’re on sale. For example, I would never buy a wallet that’s $40, even if it used to be $80. I would, however, buy a wallet that’s $20. So, if I see a wallet on sale at or below my budget, then I’m saving money.

If you want something or need something and if it can wait, then wait until you can find it on sale. I do this with a lot of my purchases.

Cancel subscriptions that no longer serve you
Canceling subscriptions and memberships that you are not using or serves a purpose in your life. I have canceled most of my subscriptions. I only have Netflix and Boxycharm. These are choices that I made because I enjoy using these services and products a lot.

If you’re spending money on something every month, then take a moment to think:
Am I getting my money’s worth?
Am I using this often enough?

Automatic monthly payments can be kind of tricky because they’re easily overlooked. However, it does add up if you do not cancel them and you are throwing money away.

To avoid spending whatever is left
It helps to save that money. However, I have to be mindful not to spend the excess on other items. I put away whatever I have at the end of each month. As you get more used to minimalism as it becomes more and more your natural lifestyle. You will buy less and fewer things and this way you can even bump up your savings incrementally. I am still new to this thought process, but I like to view it as a game. Each month, the extra is my reward. The more dollars I have, the more money I earned.

Save first and spend later
So if you know roughly how much money you need to get through the month, Then you also know how much money you will have left to save and instead of waiting until the end of the month.

These saving habits do give me a backup and do help me to share experiences with loved ones. For example, my daughter was able to go to her ideal camp for the summer. My intention was to saved to allow her to go. The ultimate prize was to see her confidence go up as she did what she enjoyed doing.

I hope you got something from this blog. Please let me know what you do to save money.

Low-Waste Kitchen Hacks for Busy People

Living a fast-paced lifestyle is a convenience we have grown increasingly comfortable in, but like everything else, such comfort comes at a cost. The price we are paying for convenience is a considerable one.

Our convenient lifestyle that accommodates our need always to be on-the-go comes at the cost of the environment, which is why, I wanted to share with you some simple methods that I try to use, to keep with my eco-friendly values while maintaining that sense of convenience daily.

I live a lifestyle vibrant with entropy. No two days ever look the same. I need a structure in place to help me function properly, even to be able to perform the most basic of tasks like, eat, or maintain some level of sanity. I am sharing with you today just a few of the things that really help me and hopefully help you as well.

Make your own drink!
Who doesn’t love a warm/cold drink in the morning? Having tea or coffee every morning is something we all look forward, too, it gets our day going. Unfortunately, on the busiest of days we can be tempted to get one at a shop, but making your own, at-home drink could make all the difference for the environment since most of these shop cups are not recyclable or compostable. Every day millions of us around the world buy these cups and dispose of them. When a single person buys one cup of coffee every day, it builds up the numbers landing in the trash.

Try to make your own, help the environment and of course, hence, help yourself!

I’m a big believer that your morning routine starts the evening before. Every night I set out my coffee needs (cup and top) and have the water ready in the fridge. I have my coffee already ground and store it for use in the morning. When the morning arises, I can quickly put it together while I am getting ready. I then put it in my thermos, and I am prepared to go. It’s quick, and it’s easy, and you don’t have to think about it.

I stopped going out for coffee in the morning when I realized it just wasn’t any faster. You’re probably not saving any time by making a 20-minute trip and waiting in line to get a coffee. It’s that extra step that will help you maintain your convenient lifestyle without having to give up your eco-friendly values.

Freezing prep for your meals
I love freezer meals. I measure it out so that one mason jar is enough food for one person. I can layer the rice on top of the beans and then add a sauce or vegetables. You can let them thaw overnight, and then you can throw it in your bag on your way to out or for a convenient meal.

You can heat the glass, but you have to remove the lid off the mason jar and put it in the microwave.

You can also save most of your glass jars and use them for this purpose. When you freeze something in a glass jar, make sure there is enough space between the liquid and the top since liquids expand on solidifying. When you heat up your to go meal, make sure to let it thaw and defrost naturally or the glass will be shattered and can cause harm, not to mention it is a pain to clean!

Yes, I know this from experience!

You can freeze individual serving sizes of things like hummus in little containers and just let them thaw in your bag when you head out. By the time you are ready to eat it, it is prepared!

Please remember, if you have plastic containers, it’s OK to use them to freeze. Just make sure that they are safe to be microwaved. Some plastics leak toxins into your food and your body.

Mason Jackets!
The condensation on the outside of the glass was causing a mess in my bag. The jar also can be sweltering and hard to touch with your hands if it is heated. I’ve been grateful for how convenient jackets are for my needs!

I love them, and they’re brilliant. The jackets come in a variety of different materials like silicone or cloth. You wrap them around your mason jars, they protect them from getting broken, and they protect your hands when you hold it.

It takes away a little bit of the stress during the day because I don’t have to worry about these small, simple things. I can go about my day without having to worry if the mason jar’s broken and caused a disaster in my bag.

Pre-chopped frozen veggies
Chop those vegetables up, put them in a container and fill it with water then pop them in the fridge. Not only do your veggies remain fresh and crispy, you always have a healthy snack at hand. Just think of eating crisper carrots and celery with your thawed hummus throughout the day. It’s like you went to the store on days you don’t have time to stop, and it requires less packaging.

It works wonders. The best part is that you could do this with almost any product, It’s comfortable, convenient, and helping maintain a cleaner Earth.

The multipurpose ice-cube tray
You can use the ice trays as measuring devices to measure the individual sizes of things like lemon juice or vegetable broth. You can put them in the ice tray, and then after they’re frozen, you put them in a jar, You’ll end up with frozen individual-sized servings in bulk quantities.

You could do the same with silicone muffin or cupcake pans for more significant portions.

You can also use your ice-cube tray to make homemade candy and other treats! One easy recipe is, buy chocolate chips, melt them down, put a little in the bottom of the tray and then add nut butter or fruit, top with a bit more chocolate, and you have package-free butter cups and bonbons.

Be creative
Instead of buying unique products that are marketed with “eco-friendly” agenda, you can use those everyday things lying around your house. For instance, instead of putting the leftover in zip locks or unique wraps or containers, just put the food in a bowl and close it with a plate. Alternatively, cut old fuzzy socks for jar jackets or you could even a knit or crochet. It’s effortless to make one of those jar sleeves and a great way to use up scrap yarn and recycle old clothing.

BONUS HACKS:
Here are a few simple tips that could help you along the way:

• Prep your food for the week on Sunday nights, you could be watching Netflix or listening to some music.
• Also, try storing herbs, green onions, celery, etc. upright in a few inches of water to retain its crispness.
• Lastly, the plastic bins with screw-on lids are GREAT to reuse for things you buy in bulk and for art supplies like crayons or markers.

I hope these tips and hacks prove useful to you. They are effortless to execute and efficient. However, this might not work for all of you. You may need to be slightly altered your practices from time to time as life gets in the way. Just remember to be a little creative and find different styles and structures to have a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Let me know some tips that have helped you spare more time in the morning or in life, just leave a comment below.

Also, check out my Amazon Associate Store if you need some inspiration for your journey. Here it is: https://amzn.to/2YJdfbn

Living with A Dysmorphic Disorder – What’s Going On and How to Cope?

I want to discuss image dysmorphia.

I’m struggling with it.

My distorted image makes it hard for others to give me proper advice. No matter how many times someone tells me that I am not the way I see myself, I still see a different person in the mirror.

My “friend” in the mirror sees all of my flaws. She also hides my clear image. I literally can’t see my real self unless I give myself a side-eye. Then, my “friend” will quickly distort the picture before I can fully process what I just saw. It’s frustrating to know you can’t see yourself, but your own mind will not let you change your distortion.

Sometimes, I wonder if I can see any bit of the reality that others see. Sometimes, I wonder if they are wrong, and my truth is right. Sometimes, I just know I am right. Sometimes, I know I am wrong.

When I take photos of myself, I look at them in disgust. I see flaws in every part of my body and mind. This leads to thoughts of self-deprecation. When I question myself, my “friend” hisses to shut-up because I am the one that knows nothing. I am stupid. I sometimes ignore her, other times, I fight her, but most of the time, I cower away too afraid to lose another battle.

I can look in the mirror, and I can see many things that I hate about myself. My “friend” makes me believe that everyone can see what I see and hate me as much as I hate myself. I can unconsciously (thanks to my “friend”) seek out specific people who with 100% certainty will validate what she has been telling me. She can’t be wrong if other people believe it too. It is a cycle that is tricky to break.

No matter how much I protest or try to protect myself from her evil thoughts. She is there, waiting for me to be weak. She comes in like a savior but leaves me as a sinner. I hate her, but she is me, so I love her too. My self-image is split and shattered. I live with this for most of my life.

So, there are so many ways my story could have gone. My path is twisted and hilly. I still rely on her to tell me, “like it is” when I don’t know the answers. She always comforts me with her evil banter.

However, it has gotten better. I can stand my ground and have won a few battles. The war still rages, and my reality will forever be distorted, but I go on. With every battle won, I hope to be closer to my truth.

Here are some ways that help me win my battles.

Get Help / Seek Out Positive People

When you see yourself as an awful person, you attract people who think the same about you. Try to find a couple of good people in your life and be honest with them. Tell them that you are trying to conquer a demon and need a supportive friend. This can be difficult at the beginning because your judgment in others may be off. If you can afford it or have the resources, seek professional help. They will help you learn the tools and guide you into accurately finding the right type of people that you need to surround yourself to maintain a healthy environment.

Say at least 3 things you love about yourself.

Many people struggle with this and only focus on the negatives. Sometimes, you have to stand for 30 minutes before you can come up with something. However, this is what you need to do.

Look at yourself in a mirror.

I avoid mirrors as often as I can whenever I look in the mirror I just think negative thoughts. Now, I try to focus on other things apart from what my “friend” thinks. It helps me to stop thinking so negatively about myself.

Look at yourself as though you are someone else.

I’m the type of person who often sees the good in everyone. I can look at someone and instantly see good qualities about them. I realized that I had to see the good in me. I had to see the positives about myself even if that means looking at myself as though I am another person.

I can look at others and think how great they are as a person. It helps me to realize that people look and act differently. We are all beautiful and unique.

So, why can I be the same too?

Stop comparing yourself to others.

Comparing yourself to others, you first have to learn to love yourself. You have to see how you look genuinely. Sometimes, it is tough to do. Especially when I feel that person has everything, and I have nothing to show. I start to turn on the negative faucet and pour it all over myself.

When I catch myself doing this, I turn it off. I stop looking. I stop trying to understand why they are so “great.” I try to focus on myself and what makes me “great” or what “in” nature is beautiful at that moment. One of these two mental exercises does pull me out of my head.

So, these are some exercises to help me to learn to love myself. You will be able to say good things about yourself. That initial haze of feeling stupid and vain will start to fade out. This is just your “friend” trying to stop you from seeing your truth. You will begin to pick up the habit of counteracting some of your thoughts and distortions.

If you spend most of your time, your thoughts and your energy on your body shape and flawed mind, you won’t indeed be happy. It takes so much energy and time out of your life. You need to let go of the obsessive thoughts and learn to love yourself and to live life.

31-Day Challenge: Great Journaling Prompts for Self Love and Self Care

In today’s mostly digital, paperless reality, the thought of the journal might evoke ideas of hidden young crushes or something that you “used to do.”

However, why keep a journal?

As you get older, the benefits of maintaining the journal become stronger. The journal will be valuable — documenting what you did and where you were. Examples include cases, where you want to remember what you thought on a particular day or event. Not to mention, it will help with critical thinking and your anxiety. It has helped mine.

So, in July, I will write one prompt each day. I will ask Siri to pick a number from 1 to 31 and then write about the prompt related to the number that she has announced. It is reasonably straight forward. I hope you join me on my journey. I would love you hear what you have to say. So please, send me your blog link relating to this challenge.

Below are the challenge’s writing prompts for July.

1. How have you grown this year?
2. What’s holding you back?
3. Describe a scene from your day.
4. How can you give yourself a break today?
5. List & draw things that make you happy.
6. When in your life, did you feel your best?
7. What habits & actions did you do to feel amazing?
8. Where was your headspace right now?
9. What’s on my to-do list today?
10. What’s one positive change I can make in my daily life?
11. What good habit do you want to begin this month?
12. Going forward, how can you commit to loving yourself every day?
13. What would your life be like if you didn’t have stress?
14. How would you describe yourself, affectionately, to a stranger?
15. What things make you feel bad, but you find yourself doing them anyway?
16. Make a list of 10 things that make you smile.
17. What are your 10 worst habits, and how do they impact your life?
18. When was the last time you indulged yourself and how?
19. Write about something you do well.
20. What’s something that you need to get rid of?
21. Whom would you invite to an imaginary luncheon, and why?
22. What do you love right now and how it makes you feel.
23. Where do you want to travel?
24. Who is someone you admire, and what are their qualities?
25. Take a selfie just as you are. Write a description of your face using loving words.
26. What are your ten best talents?
27. What friendship that you’ve had was the most meaningful?
28. What is the unique thing about you? Do you like to hide it or let it show?
29. What is your superpower?
30. What is one thing that you regret and why?
31. Write a bucket list.

Have you loved yourself today?

This challenge is cheap and is great for your mental health and can easily be added to your daily routine. Try to add it into your morning or evening practice so you can start to make it a habit. I usually keep this list by my bed. I’ll use a prompt and write in my journal each morning when I wake up.

Writing for a few minutes every day doesn’t sound so scary, does it?

The trick is that all of this adds up and promote healthy well-being.

I hope you found this journal prompts for self-care useful.

Weighted Blanket vs. Night Time Anxiety

My anxiety causes a lot of sleeping issues. I have rituals and a need to do many things before I can actually fall asleep. I am a deep sleeper, except when my anxiety takes hold. If there is a nagging thought, it will not let me sleep. I physically can’t sleep. I wanted a weighted blanket because I envisioned it helping me get me to a more peaceful night’s sleep.

My difficulty in sleeping stems from having a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) & obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Anxiety and sleep are intimately entwined. I often sleep better on days when my anxiety is low. When I’m contemplating several things, I tend to have a hard time falling asleep, or it takes longer to get back to sleep.

Sleep problems can also cause anxiety, too. For me, a bad night’s sleep heightens my anxiety. The next day my mind is like a quiet storm raging under the surface. To control my thoughts, I do way too many OCD habits to calm and control my nerves.

I’ve tried everything to get more restful sleep: a white noise machine, pills, earplugs, and therapy. All are helpful but not enough to help me ultimately. Therapy has helped me manage my anxiety, but it serves as more of a long-term strategy than a daily implementation.

Last winter, I realized there was one thing I hadn’t tried yet: a weighted blanket. I read about their ability to calm nighttime anxious people.

Would this finally be the cure to my sleep problems?

Weighted blankets create deep pressure touch, which is thought to help calm the nervous system of people in states of heightening sensory arousal. This is the theory behind why some children with autism may respond to the use of weighted blankets or vests during moments of sensory overload.

These blankets are quite expensive. The price increases with the weight of the blanket. Most 15-pound blankets I saw online were around $120.

Though the blanket was only 15 pounds, it felt insanely heavy the first time I took it out of the bag. I could barely lift it. The dead weight makes the blanket very difficult to hold unless it’s rolled into a ball. The weighted blanket initially did feel bulky and constrictive. I also had trouble adjusting it and worried I had invested in another failed sleep solution.

I was also initially worried that I would get overheated under the weight of the blanket, but I didn’t at all. Despite its weight, the blanket I purchased was surprisingly cool and breathable.

On the first night of using it, I laid down in bed and struggled to arrange the blanket on top of me because it was so heavy. The first few nights, I used the weighted blanket, I woke up to find it on the ground next to me.

Then, I had a very anxious day. A million deadlines were looming. Worried thoughts seamlessly entered my mind, and I had trouble finding my breath, much less closing my eyes. I knew a horrible night of sleep was ahead of me, and the rituals always seemed to calm my nerves. I consciously decided to lessen the grip on my routine and use the blanket.

I cozied up under my weighted blanket and was surprised when, eight hours later, I woke up still beneath it. I had tossed and turned a handful of times throughout the night, but never kicked the blanket completely off of me.

I woke up feeling well-rested and calm. My neck wasn’t as tight as usual. The thoughts were looming in my mind before bed had vanished and seemed insignificant in the light of day.

Over the next two weeks, I slept with the weighted blanket each night and woke up beneath it each morning. I began to feel a wonderful sense of calm when I’d cozy up underneath it before bed.

I enjoyed the feeling so much I even began using the blanket when reading before bed or surfing the internet. Merely having it rested against me from the waist down was soothing in a way I hadn’t ever experienced.

I’ve used the weighted blanket on and off for the past month and can confidently say it’s a routine I’ll maintain.

It’s not a magical cure for my problems. However, it’s surprisingly effective at helping me achieve better sleep and decreased my need to complete my rituals before bed.

Blacken Matcha Detox Tea

I decided to share an impromptu recipe for a delicious detox tea.

I had an upset stomach this week. It was like everything I ate had no taste. I also couldn’t stomach most things. Desperate to find something to help my sour tummy, I concocted a recipe for a matcha detox tea. It may or may not have helped, but I did feel better a couple of hours after drinking it.

It also tasted amazing.

I had all the ingredients in my pantry, so for something so good. I didn’t have to pay a ton of money.

I hope you enjoy this tea too!

Dry Ingredients:
1/4 tsp of activated charcoal
One packet or 1 teaspoon of matcha
1/3 tsp of turmeric

Wet Ingredients:
1 cup (8 oz) of hot water
A dash of ginger
1 tsp of agave nectar
Ice cubes

First, I mixed the dry ingredients into the hot water. It doesn’t matter the sequence, but I added the matcha, then the charcoal, finally the turmeric. I stir until the dry ingredients are dissolved.

Secondly, I had the agave and ginger to the mix. I blend until it is well combined.

I let it sit for about two minutes and stir the tea again.

Finally, I mix in the ice cube and stick the glass in the refrigerator until it is cold or I am ready to drink it.

That’s it!

It is a yummy treat for my ailing tummy.

Please let me know if you have an ice tea drink that you love to have during times when you a sick or just relaxing. Please leave a link in the comments below.

I Got Myself Out of Bed Today

I have been afflicted with depression for some time. I usually can pull myself out of it to be somewhat functional. It is hard to get yourself motivated when you feel like the world is dark and closed to you.

Sometimes, when I am walking down the street, I see a group of people enjoying the day. They are smiling. They are laughing. They are in their moment. I try not to compare myself because depression can hide in one of their smiles. However, I still compare the laughter.

I wanted to share some of the ways I get myself ready to start the day. Depression can be a severe matter. If you are spending multiple days in bed, feeling hopeless or wanting to end things, you need to speak to a professional. They will help you see through the fog. My advice is what helps me to get me started for the day. I hope it helps you too.

A routine is my secret weapon to getting out of bed. Usually, when I have a routine, I find myself more motivated to get up and get things done. Even when I want to stay in bed, knowing I need to do a chore will help me push myself out of the blankets.

I like starting my day by doing a self-care routine. This means making my bed, washing my face, brushing my teeth, and having a healthy breakfast. This routine gets me going. I do it every morning. While doing this routine, I also try to think of one thing that is positive for the day. This also could mean, “What do I look forward to doing?” It’s become so much of a habit, that I can pretty quickly figure out a pleasurable moment, like noticing my teeth look really clean, or I get to spend some time outdoors on a sunny day.

I feel like every time I exercise, I get a little more motivated to move throughout the day. Even when I do not have the energy to move, I do a couple of uncomplicated stretching exercises. Sometimes, this alone can get my endorphins pumping, and before I know it, I end up doing the whole workout sequence.

Finally, I go and do my work, I may still feel a little down. However, by having a stable routine, it motivates me to move on throughout the day. I think having healthy habits are like small lights that help break through the fog of my depression.

It doesn’t matter how I feel I know I have to accomplish my morning to-do list. You have to create these habits to trick your depression into not controlling you. Your morning list does not have to be big, it can be two or three small items to motivate you to get out of bed.

I may not be those laughing people, but my small accomplishments do provoke an inner smile. I feel lucky enough to see them having a good time. Habits change you. Positive patterns can help you reach your goals. Even if it is just getting out of bed, keep doing them.

I hope you found this a little helpful. Let me know how you go in and blast through your depression so you can function throughout your day.

Giving Up My Ways

I wanted to share with you five ways in which I try to implement a healthy lifestyle. I don’t mean just by eating healthily or to workout. These things are a given for any healthy lifestyle, but I wanted to cover the other things that I find help me stay well when I am feeling or not feeling my best.

So, here they are:

One: Giving Up Bad Habits
Implementing a healthy lifestyle is to give up your bad habits so that you can make way for good ones. We all know what our bad habits. We have habits or things that we do in our life that doesn’t make us feel good. Some of it you are aware of and others you may not have a clue of it. However, you know very well that some things in your life don’t make you feel well or hold you back. Whether that’s a person, a job, your diet, not working out, debt, not getting enough sleep are all things that you don’t want to be incorporated into your life.

You can write all the things that you want to let go of so you can create space for those new habits. An example could be if you go to bed too late, maybe set the alarm to go to bed earlier. The goal is to take something negative and create a positive habit out of it.

It is suggested that it takes 21 days to create a habit, so if you are starting a newer practice, make sure that you’re keeping track. You can use a marker and with each day you that achieve it. You mark it. If you don’t, you start again. Eventually, that new habit will be ingrained into your mind and body.

You always have to be realistic about your new habit changes. You will get overwhelmed if you do too many at the same time. I would recommend looking at your harmful habit list and seeing if any, can be organized together.

Once they are organized, you can see how they are related and create a habit system and complete one habit that will help lead to the next bad habit to conquer. For instance, going to bed late and getting up late in the morning. Perhaps work on going to bed early first. Once that healthy habit has been established, the next logistical practice to create would be to get up earlier.

If you set up too much too soon, you’re going to end up stumbling, failing, and then end up quitting. Small changes in your daily routine will end up creating more prodigious healthy habits in the long run. You’re not going to be seeing instant results. You are looking to change your lifestyle, and you still want to live your life, you need to have the new habit feel natural in the long run.

Two: Mental Check-ins
When you check-in on your mental state, you are checking in with your body, mind, and space. Mostly, you are mindful. Your mindfulness is a huge component of starting a healthy lifestyle. You cannot start a healthy lifestyle if you are not mentally into it. You have to examine where you are right now.

You have to look at yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically within your area. When you check-in mentally, try to accept where you are, and where it’s at right now. When dwelling on the past or looking too much into the future, you are taking in a negative mindset. You are blocking your potential to create and implement a healthier lifestyle.

Mindfulness, at the beginning of your healthy lifestyle, is going to be detrimental to the success of it. Our mind is the reflection of what we see externally, but a massive part of our mindset stems from the internal representation that we see our inner self. You can create mindfulness through a multitude of different exercises, journaling, listening to music, taking a nature walk, practice gratitude, and positive self-talk. The positive narratives help set positive intentions for your day that can help in your mindfulness journey.

Three: 10,000 Steps
Focus on walking. I aim for about 10,000 steps in a day. I have been implementing walking into my life. I’ve been using my phone, but you can also estimate that 2 hours of walking in a day is about 10,000 steps. This doesn’t mean straight walking or even a long distance walk. It can be cleaning your home, parking at the back of a parking lot, walking to work, or going to the bathroom, or even taking the stairs, every step counts. So, two hours in your day of walking isn’t a lot. You can do little things to reach your 10,000 step goal.

You’ll be amazed how much walking you can incorporate into your daily routine. When you have a body stationary, it creates a loss of connection to the world and can increase the likelihood of depression. There is so much to benefit from moving your body. It creates flow not only with your organs but with your brain and your positive well-being.

Four: Clean-up Before Bed
I find by putting things away and creating a clean environment. I tend to have a positive morning. No one likes to wake up to a messy room. You may feel slow and unmotivated. In the morning, you may worry about the dishes in the sink or decide not to eat a healthy breakfast because there is no room to cook. It’s not the best way to start the day.

I like to do my daily prays and reflections at night. I can reflect on my day create stillness in my mind while I am tidying the end of the day. It’s an excellent way to clean up my mental trash before I go to bed. This practice helps my mind feel refreshed in the morning.

Five: Surround Yourself with Positivity
We all do this. We are in a funk, so we gravitate to the negativity that surrounds us. I know I have a hard time listening to how great someone has when I am suffering. However, this is a perfect time to listen to the positive. Your brain with a click and a switch, and you will stop resisting the negative pushback.

What I do is put on a playlist that makes me happy, meditate as I am cleaning, journalling for five minutes, sitting in a crowded cafe and listening to other laughter or even watching an adorable cat video could help me see a little bit more positivity in your life. Once you have that moment of realizing you are not quite in the funk, please do something to extend yourself to a better place, like talking to a good friend or writing an email to a coworker or family member to let them know they matter. I am surprised how this action can change my whole outcome for the day.

Implementing wellness in your mind every single day helps you create a positive space in every aspect of your life. Wellness is emotional, spiritual, and physical. Make sure that you’re doing things every day to create wellness and better behaviors.

You are all you have, so make the most of today.

I hope you found this piece to be helpful. If you have any suggestions or ideas, I would love to hear from you.

My Spiritual Self Care Routine

A new month is nearing, and I thought I would share some ways that I was practicing self-care and healing last month.

I enjoy connecting with the natural world by acknowledging this valuable Earth and its resources. I do not attempt for perfection in my journey, even now.

I know that some people are ready to jump into self-care and self-development but might feel overwhelmed with where to start. I hope that I can share more acumen with all of you.

Go Barefoot:
Earthing is the practice of shoeless walking. It feels good to go barefooted and do this with confidence, without craving the acceptance of others. I feel grounded on this Earth and get the sensation that I do belong on this planet and this Universe.

Breathe Mindfully:
I often hold my breath and looked tense when things get a little rough. I have experienced more emotional security and calm after following different breathing techniques. Mindful breathing allows me to be more in the present moment. It helps me better cope with my anxious feelings.

Healthy Nourishment:
I drink celery juice and smoothies every day, and I also take supplements. When I support myself entirely through nourishment, I can extend the same to those around me. I try to promote joy not only for myself but for all living beings.

Try Yoga:
I practice yoga. I don’t focus too much on the perfection of my form, but more so on my breathing and the awareness that I feel in my body and mind. I try to stay mindful even through the discomfort.

Connection through Meditation:
I started meditating about ten years ago. I was not able to focus in the beginning. It took me a few years to be aware of my breath and posture. I try to keep up with my morning prayers. I also express affirmations daily when I meditate. I do this to unite with the divine being and my spiritual self.

I’m grateful that you stuck around to read what I have shared.

Please let me know if you have practice any self-care routines in May, and how did you feel about it? Do you intend to continue self-care or start in June?

I hope so!

Here is a Question: Why minimalism?

A question that seems to have become repetitive to me since I’ve turned to a minimalist lifestyle has been, why minimalism?

Such a question is only natural when others recognize the fact that you’re straying from the physical development of society and stepping away from conventional views in buying and owning objects.

Before I answer the question, why minimalism. Let’s first determine what specifically minimalism is really about. It’s a reassessment of your priorities so that you can strip away the excess material. Contrary to what many people may believe minimalism is, it is not solely about getting rid of your possessions. It’s also about reassessing your life and the things in it such as ideas, relationships, activities, and possessions. It’s looking at reducing those things that do not hold any priority. I believe minimalism is about becoming more intentional with both my belongings and all the different aspects of my life.

Here are a few of the reasons why I chose to embrace a minimalist lifestyle.

• I’ve decided I want to be more selective about the things that I bring into my life.
• My mind was scattered all over the place, and I can never seem to focus on one thing at a time.
• My apartment was getting filled up with clutter. I was getting sick and tired of having to look at it and deal with the disorder every day.

It just made sense for me at the time to look into minimalist living. I’m living in a studio apartment, so I already didn’t have many things. The things that I did have was just an accumulation of miscellany in clutter that I’ve just accumulated over the years.

I understand that for the majority of people, this is not a sensible thing to consider. You may not be able to pack up everything and get rid of it all at once. I suggest for you is to really analyzing what you do need and what you can probably live without and go from there. Little by little, just getting rid of things until you finally feel like you’re in a point that you are content.

Although minimalism may not be for everybody. I’m glad that I’ve chosen to implement it into my life because the benefits it brings me never seemed to cease. My mind is clearer. I spend less money. I use my time on only the
things that bring me value. It just makes sense to me to live this lifestyle.

I know that it’s easy to say “do it,” but even small actions can add up. I hope you found this helpful. I would love to know what you do or how you feel about your practice into minimalism.

The Five Minute Gratitude Exercise

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~Melody Beattie

Gratitude is directly related to optimism, which makes people content with their lives. When we are grateful for what we have, we can feel the gratitude in our hearts and be aware of our feelings. This practice is an excellent tool for our mindfulness exercise accessories. When we feel intense emotions such as anger or frustration, we can get caught up in those emotions. Gratitude helps us handle those emotions by shifting our thoughts from anger to thankful.

Learning gratitude is such a valuable tool that can be used at any moment throughout your life. This super simple daily gratitude habit will help you be grateful every day (and it only takes 5 minutes).

I take a moment throughout my day to figure out what gratitude means and why it is essential. Then I visualize what I am grateful for the moment; I start to have a dialogue to why I find it necessary. I find that my five-minute gratitude journal can help me express what I am thinking and help to understand why I appreciate it. It is also a beautiful keepsake to have when I am having a rough day, and I can’t think of anything to be grateful for in my current moment. Lastly, in my gratitude exercise, I beath. I find that a breathing exercise at the end of a session will help to emphasize what I thought wrote or thought in my heart. I generally feel more at peace after my practice.

Gratitude makes us feel more appreciated. Thinking of acceptance is why a five-minute a week gratitude journal can make us so much more content. The sincere appreciation produced by during those five minutes is small, but the emotions of gratitude felt during those five-minutes are enough to trigger a grateful spirit.

I hope you enjoy this little piece if you have any suggestions on how to practice gratitude. I would love to read it. Please let a comment below.

“Stop being a Jerk!”

No one has ever really said to me, “ Hey, I believe the emotion is self-serving. You jerk. ” yet, it could not strike me at all to see that some of my friends and family believe my emotions are self-serving. Furthermore to be clear, getting emotional does cause me to do some pretty self-centered things at the name of self-care. Then to those people who believe my emotion is selfish, I get it.

Really, I do.

The situation is, my emotions are uncertain, so sometimes I’m somewhat unpredictable. There’s not more I can do about this. I can’t just plan my anxiety attacks ahead of time. Oh, sometimes managing my emotions means canceling plans last minute so I will stay home and concentrate on my breathing. Sometimes it means dropping out with my friends. I would rather instead virtually observe and like photos. I totally can’t speak to them when I am way too anxious.

While I ultimately see how someone might believe my emotion is merely an excuse to be a flaky jerk, it’s really not. I’ve realized that I can be sort of flaky sometimes. Yes, I don’t attend functions and would rather avoid your text on an invitation than confront the fact that I will disappoint you. I mean I am literally worried about everything at that point. I am too worried to understand that not saying anything is worse than a saying, “no.”

This is rude as hell, but on these times that my emotions are out of power, it’s not at all unusual for me to withdraw any and all plans to interact with other humans. There are moments when my mind is trying very hard to defend me by getting me to accept the worst possible consequences for my actions, which sometimes only leads me to get more emotional than I had been in the first place.

Let me be clear: No one has ever really said to me, “ Hey, I believe the emotion is self-serving. You jerk. ” However, every day, I feel like this, and it doesn’t go away. I have learned to accept it and clear out some of the mental clutter, but when an attack happens I want to scream to my anxiety, “Why are you taking this away from my loved ones and me? I want to feel and experience!”

“Stop being a Jerk!”

You are a Limited Resource

Hey you!

Did you realize that you’re a limited resource?

There is a no different person on the earth like you. You deserve to be known not just by those in you but by the most significant being in your life— you. Practicing self-love may be challenging for some of us, particularly at times when we face difficult challenges. It’s not about state self-absorbed or narcissistic, it’s about having a feeling with ourselves, our well-being and our passion. We learn self-love so we can go through our limiting beliefs and live the time that really shines.

My hypothesis works like this: Self-Love is the solution for growing into productive and running towards our goals. Self-Love is this motive we want to adapt to move harder with our relationships and self-betterment. Self-Love can really make us where we need to get in life. I believe Self-Love may be the solution for halting Anxiety and unhappiness (which be a lot more prevalent today) before they start.

That self-love does not mean getting soft on ourselves always, speaking to ourselves at sugary consolation, or being gentle hearted. As a matter of fact, I’d reason self-love is the opposite. Self-love, and knowing our creation, is about being dominant. It’s like the strength you can get out and strengthen. It’s the means of being weak, opening up, being compassionate towards ourselves, and being able to go through the uncertainty and bad feelings that do so well.

Self-love is not about being too balanced and intrigued with this idea of me or mine. Self-love involves a paradigm change that requires being able to feel connected to the power much higher than our specific self.

Make the image a try and see how self-love gains in your life. You are your own resource and love the comes from you will affect your world and those in it.

Holding Yourself Back

Tip: Look for a language that places you as a victim. “No one understands” or “always happens to me bad” is a red flag.

If you are thinking of yourself as a victim, take a deep breath and then make a step to improve your life. The best way to deal with self-doubt is to test your forehead on your forethoughts. Your brain will have a slight difference of observation as you confirm that your mind is capable and having checked your doubts will develop your mind.

You cannot expect to know everything about yourself when you don’t try. If you think of yourself as an expert in something, it’s easy to assume that you know everything. You have to be open to change. Decluttering your mind opens you up to that change and to new possibilities. You can learn from others’ and your mistakes and make better decisions for yourself. It’s a good idea to keep your mind free of all the things you don’t need and just focus on what you do need to be content with life.

These are some suggestions helping to get rid of any clutter in your mind that may be holding you back. If you are not sure where to start, try these tips:

1. Find a place that feels comfortable so you can be opened to change and find an intention.
2. Find someone who has been there before and knows how to deal with it.
3. Take some time to think about what you want out of life and then find a way to make it happen.
4. Find a hobby that makes you happy and doesn’t require much effort. This is a great way to keep yourself busy while also keeping your mind clear and focused.
5. Do something that makes you feel good about yourself and your work even if it’s just for a few minutes.
6. Take a walk around your neighborhood or park.
7. Find a quiet spot in your house where you can sit and meditate.
8. Write down all the things you need to do, and list them on a piece of paper in order of importance.
9. Get rid of anything that distracts you from your work-related tasks by being mindful of the actions you take before you start your work. You will be surprised just how much mess you have in your mind before you even begin an important task.

How do you protect your mind? Find your intention or purpose for your moment or day. Focus on what needs to be done to help get some of the load off your mind. The intention is an integral part of your life, and we all need to be aware of what it’s doing to us.

When you’re in a mental state of chaos, there is no way out but through the mind. If you want to get rid of clutter, then stop thinking about it and start focusing on the present moment or your intention. Don’t think about how much time you have left or if you can’t get it done. Just do it.

This will help you feel more at peace with yourself and your surroundings. I’m sure you’ve heard this before: ” the only thing that matters is what happens next. So make the most of it! Don’t worry about tomorrow, just live now!”.

If we will focus on how we use our self to organize your thoughts and create a life of mindfulness and relaxation, peace, peace, and freedom.

Anxiety is a Reasonable Response, but…

Anxiety is a reasonable response to stress. However, the brain can backfire and cause a person to wage war on their thought processes. It’s not something that can be cured by medication or surgery. It doesn’t mean that you should stop seeking treatment.

Most people are alarmed before important events, such as significant tests, business presentations, or the first day of a new routine. However, fear is a disease that causes people to fear, terror, and torture. If these treatments do not, these disorders significantly reduce productivity and reduce the quality of life.

General causes of anxiety disorders; Daily and daily life events, at least six months of chronic, recurring events; The hardest shows almost always, but it is very few. Symptoms of fatigue, irritability, muscular tightening, headaches, nausea, are all symptoms of anxiety disorder. They can be mild or severe, depending on how much time has passed since the onset of symptoms. Some people have more than one sign, while others may have multiple symptoms.

How do I know if you entered a mature anxiety zone? Anxiety disorders are excessive in this situation and are characterized by severe, persistent concerns that remarkably avoid situations causing anxiety.

These symptoms cause pain, impair daily functions, and occur over a long period. For example, a person who needs to go home from work for several consecutive days because of a panic attack may have an anxiety disorder. Different evidence-based treatments are most effective against different anxiety disorders. For example, people with panic disorder may benefit from contact therapy, but women with social phobia are most often treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

However, there are some things you can do to reduce your anxiety.

You can:
· take a deep breath in and out of the mouth. This will help calm down your body and mind.
· try to relax your muscles and joints.
· drink plenty of water, especially before bed.
· take a cold shower to relieve your anxiety.

Knowing the basics of your mind is the key to reducing its effectiveness. Anxiety is often associated with fears that are often hidden from reality. Judgments can be cloudy, and you may not get the desired results because of the skewed decision. I know I have done this hundred of times in my life.

How do you know if your daily anxiety has crossed the barrier? This is not easy. There are various types of anxiety, such as panic attacks, phobia, and social anxiety.

You have to take action.

If you or someone you know has anxiety symptoms, consult a clinician to help determine if the symptoms are due to an anxiety symptom, a medical condition, or both. Often the next step in treating anxiety disorders is to refer them to mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors.

The difference between the official diagnosis and “normal” anxiety is not always clear. (Amanda MacMillan / Health.com., May. 2017)

HOW MINIMALISM FEED THE MIND AND SOUL?

Minimalism refers to having fewer possessions in life whereas minimalism for the mind and soul relate to owning less but having satisfactory in living. It is not only about having fewer things but having more meaning in our life.

Simplicity or clarity is a direction starting from soul to the heart, body, mind, and our home or it is vice versa. Our deepest secrets, thoughts, feelings, and choices are hidden deep inside our soul.

To achieve simplicity, one needs to do things that nurture the soul. Here are some of the ways that help:

It generates choices
Through minimalism, we accept the things that matter to us and ignore those who veer us away from our purposes.

Creates the place for space
Every single bit of us needs some space from the world for “me” time that soothes the soul and mind.

Minimalism disengages additional pressure
A cured soul needs no one to influence. A restored soul is content with the less and has no interest in having more.

Minimalism helps to untangles everything
With less pressure, in our minds, in our homes, we can handle almost everything that comes our way. It makes our mind productive by focusing on the things that matter.

Shows our true self
The most important reason for including minimalism in our lives is that it shows our true self. It makes us look through our soul. We could see our goals, our value, our capabilities, our flaws with understandable clarity and accepting ourselves the way we are.

Stimulates creativity
Eliminating all that is preventing you to focus on the real intentions will help you take a closer step towards creativity and will expand your imagination.

Decluttered mind
With fewer things in the ownership, you will be able to pay attention more on contentment. Your mind will have less to concentrate.

Assessing minimalism
It helps you understand why do we have certain possessions and why we don’t. It helps in evaluating the things we need the most and the things that aren’t that useful for our mind and soul.

Start living a simple life. There is no right time to start anything that causes positive changes in a person’s life. What are ways you can help mend your soul?

Simple Reasons to Why I Practice Yoga

One thing that people don’t know about me is that I once was certified for Yoga teaching. I love yoga. It truly helps me align and reminds me of how to I am connecting to the world and my being. It aligns my heart in my mind to help to draw all of my soul’s passions.

Here are my three reasons for loving yoga as a daily practice.

The first reason is that it challenges me both physically and emotionally. I feel inwardly energetic. This allows building strength both physically and mentally which helps to build flexibility; it makes mobility in my present to help guide me to a better future.

The second reason, it helps me to develop self-awareness. It connects me to mental awareness of my emotional stability and spiritual communication. My mind grows to have the ability to have self-awareness. It allows me to be opened to self-discovery, self-exploration, self-love and to have compassion for self-forgiveness. These types of self-reflections all happen on my yoga mat. It really does help to keep me grounded and eases me to stable homeostasis.

The third reason is merely feeling the connection to me. It allows me to grant myself progression to recognize and explore relationships with other people. We are all a part of one earth, and with everything on it, we share our energy with one another. If I feel content, that feeling can be pass to another person who may feel discontent.

It’s your journey. When your reasons to practice yoga might be different than mine. I would love to know your intention to why your practice yoga or why want to start your yoga practice.

I hope you have a beautiful day.

namaste

Three Ways to Declutter Your Mind

In our insane and restless living that we call life, it is necessary to recognize some time to declutter your mind. A clear mind is just as important as a clean home. The better awareness we have of ourselves, the better our relationship with the universe will be for us.

I am not an expert in the matter, but my anxiety and depression can leave me in a cluster-F of words and understanding that have no significant meaning. Here are three things that I do to help with the mental declutter so I can focus on my tasks and simple get through my days.

One: Journal
Taking the time to journal every day has thoughtfully presented a significant difference in my life. I used it in the morning, night or whenever I just feel stuck.

In the morning, I have made it part of my routine to pause and record appreciation of the world or events around me. I write down affirmations and say them in my prayers. By just getting
everything that’s in my mind out on paper makes those appreciative moments seem real. It also helps when I am feeling low. When I have the motivation to look at the prior gratitudes, I can see that I am content with things and I can get to that moment of contentment again.

Two: Meditation
Being able to pause and take time just to be mindful allows me to slow down and pull away from the stress. I can just breathe. It can make a big difference in my perspective. I like to use guided meditations that I can easily find on YouTube. I also want to stare at a wall or at someone’s shoes on the subway and do a mental swipe left and right to help catch up with the fast pace of life.

Just taking a moment to slow down your breath can be so satisfying when we get so wrapped up from going to task to task and activity to activity.

Three: Walking
Getting out and taking a walk has been an invaluable means for me to reconnect, reset and pull away from the craziness of the world. I leave my cellphone home or in my bag and take in nature and the events happening around me. For me, this activity is so simple to do but can really get my our of my head in a matter of minutes.

These are three simple ideas on how I try to declutter my mind. I hope you use them in your practice and hopefully find them useful. If you have any suggestions or tactics you use to help clear your head, just let me know.

THE ART OF SELF- ACCEPTANCE

Self-acceptance means loving and being happy with yourself. It is an essential key to happiness which helps in maintaining good mental health. It helps us to realize our weak and strong points. A person who has a command over self-acceptance is the delighted soul and has a distinctive comprehension of one. It offers an idea of loving yourself despite all the flaws and knowing that no one can be perfect, but there is always room for improvement. It is an essential step towards development for the reason that only a person who is completely honest with himself can achieve greater things in life.

SIGNIFICANCE OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE:

It’s imperative to believe in yourself. One who has not learned the craft of being happy with oneself might be going through the points mentioned below:

Self-esteem: knowing your value and capabilities is referred to as self-respect. Not understanding and valuing your abilities cause low self-esteem

Live a lie: Not being happy with yourself will cause you to lead a life that you do not want because you pretend to be something or someone you are not and because of that you live in a deceptive life

Depression: it is a disorder that is widely spreading in the world. Since someone who is not happy with herself has to look for satisfaction from the people around her. But in this modern age, no one makes an effort to be compassionate towards other beings causes people with no self-acceptance to fall into depression

Becoming an easy target: Someone with no self-respect looks for happiness and love from the people surrounded by her. Therefore, she will try to do whatever she is told to do which may cause her to turn into a target for others.’

SELF-ACCEPTANCE SHOWS THE REAL SIDE OF YOU:

It is never too late to realize your mistakes and take responsibilities for them. Allowing yourself and cultivating through your personality and inner self will provide you the reason for your happiness. You will learn to understand what makes you happy and what doesn’t. Building a life with self-confidence will help you to interpret the challenges in your life and will help you to control them. Only a person who knows herself genuinely and is contented with the way she is can be at ease with people and feel good about herself. Accepting yourself helps the world receive and respect you for who you are. This way, we can achieve our faithful belongings where we show our genuine and raw selves to the world, and it can never be more significant than our level of self-acceptance.

STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE YOUR SELF-ACCEPTANCE:

• Know who you are – dig deep into your soul that includes your personality, your background and what makes you happy.
• Know that strengths and weaknesses are also a part of someone’s identity and do not be ashamed of them. Own them and try to enhance your powers whereas improving your weaknesses.
• Admit your faults and try to make a positive change into them.

The Haiku Week #1

Day 1:
Today is the day
When the two of us collide
I take a deep breath

Day 2:
There is a valley
It is filled with gray clouds
Now, there is no room

Day 3:
Now all is silent
Mid-flight whispers are captured
It is dense and gone

Day 4:
Pounding of my head
Stomach pings – feels empty
‘Caused not by hunger

Day 5:
Smells like a sweet wind
Feels like stinging abrasions
Eyes are closed for gusts

Day 6:
Obscure dancing cries
Callous shocks beat my skin
Awareness implodes

Day 7:
Lost what I can see
Flowers do not smell so sweet
Found in the shadows

Patterns, Depression, Anxiety and Coping with Life

This blog is just a free following piece about my day and feelings. I am sure it will be riddled with a ton of grammar mistakes, but that is my natural state of being. I am completely imperfect.

I have a lot of catching up to do in my life, including this blog. I have been struggling a little bit with depression and anxiety. I get triggered a little easier these days.

I don’t know how to explain these triggers as I get older. My life has become too simple but all so complicated. I don’t have a passion for many things anymore. I don’t know if it’s depression or anxiety and being accustomed to the numbness, but it’s there. It hurts not to feel.

I do have issues with understanding emotions ever since I was a kid, so I learned to pick up patterns. If a,b,c happens, then d,e,f will follow. I have had a perfect system and could predict other’s emotions. My goal with this technique was to keep others calm and collected, so they do not become unpredictable.

I am at a point that I have no idea what system to use. So much has happened because I have predicted the outcome very wrong. I also have foresight but not for the little things. As some people get older, they pay attention to things at don’t matter and get angry if material items are not just right.

Why?

I try to open a conversation to understand what is going on.

Why does this matter?

For me, it is to understand the emotions behind the grievance so I may not do it again or can have that critical conversation to better the relationship.

I do come off as cold.

I am not cold. If I don’t understand, and if the willingness to not be open isn’t there, I freeze. I am frozen. I can’t have a conversation with someone who judges without justification or at least a little more insight into why they are the way. I don’t see the point of exposing myself to things that can hurt.

So, what about today. I am writing this freely in hopes to understand why I am so disconnected with everyone at the moment.

I can recognize this trend a little bit.

The past few months have been rough. I have been stalked, shamed, and dismissed.

These are real things, and I am trying to cope with the hurt.

How am I getting out of this cycle?

I am open to my thoughts and concerns. I meditate and breathe. I distract myself with life. Those in between moments of breathing do make me realize things aren’t so bad.

I am talking, despite having the lack and desire. I only hope that these pockets will open me to people, real emotions, and life again.

I pray.
I live.
I hope.
I do.
I am.

Plastic Straws, What’s the Hype and Why?

Starbucks says by 2020 it will eliminate plastic straws, turning to biodegradable straws and a newly designed lid. These new lids are made from polypropylene that can be recycled. The issue I see is would this not produce more plastic into the environment? Like the idea of reducing plastic straws, it is a thought, it is an action, it is a conversation to the bigger picture of conserving our environment.

So why are plastic straws bad for the environment?

Society has an over-reliance on single-use plastics, and the fact is that a lot of the stuff is ending up in our marine environment.

In one 2017 international coastal cleanup, 643,000 plastic straws were picked up around beaches and waterways all over the world. Straws only make up a fraction of our plastic waste. However, it is the easiest thing we can change now. It opens the door to understanding the impact of plastic, and it impacts on the environment.

All plastics ultimately sort of break down and fracture into smaller and smaller bits of plastic as a result of being tossed around by the waves, and the sunlight basically makes the plastic brittle. It creates what we call microplastics.

Microplastics are found on everything from the forage fish that are at the base of the food web up through the kinds of fish that we end up putting on our dinner plate.

Americans use an average of 1.6 straws per person per day that translates into 7.5 billion straws year. By the year 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. It takes 500 years for a single straw to decompose. In that time the plastic could potentially leak pollutants into the soil and water. Every year an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic go into our oceans, and it’s harming wildlife.

We need to be more thoughtful about how we use plastic. For starters pay closer attention to your personal practices. Get into the habit of carrying your own cup, fork, bag, and straw. That’s what I have in my bag at all times.

Decisions to make environmental friendly items or not use environmentally harmful pieces can make a positive impact. So, though the one straw may not make a real impact, the decision you make to not to use straws will change the awareness to the environment and how much a carbon footprint you leave behind.

Resources:
Business Insider, “Why Plastic Sucks,” https://www.businessinsider.com/why-plastic-straws-suck-ocean-pollution-sea-turtle-starbucks-2018-7

Ocean Conservatory: https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/international-coastal-cleanup/volunteer/

Sustainable Fashion: Beginner’s Thoughts and Guide

My actions alone will not change the world. However, I like to think that it can influence someone to make a decision to help in the sustainability of the environment. If I start to make small changes, it’s like a revolution to my habits and ideas of the world.

As I mentioned in a previous post, fast fashion is currently the second biggest cause of pollution. Unmistakably, from the manufacturers of fabrics into the consumer’s closets, there is a responsibility to think about how we buy and dispose of clothes. I think it’s time for people to take action in their own lives we could all make little changes. There is no easy answer, so there is no way to be perfect. We just need to make small changes. If we all made little changes, it really would make a significant impact on the planet and our wallets.

Fast fashion is the production of an exorbitantly huge amount of garments. Fast fashion has to be a fashion no. It’s about looking at what we have and how to use it to create our own style in individuality. We have to think about what already exists. Some pieces have already been made that we can continue to enjoy healthily.

It’s about becoming smarter in your choices. It’s about thinking of the greater good and interweaving your mark, your style, your lesson while decreasing your dirty carbon footprint on the planet. It’s about buying kinder clothes that represent the people who created them, cut the fabric, sewed them together and then lands on you. The piece of item has a story, and the energy that comes from kinder pieces feels better than one created in a harsh environment to wear for a season or two.

• I think about how can I look after that item more sustainably since I became wiser to the destruction of the fashion industry:
• It’s refurbishing and mending a piece to give that item like a new lease of life.
• It’s washing it at a cooler temperature is because of the majority of the energy the washing machines uses is just on heating the water.
• It’s about recycling, regifting, or selling the clothes you no longer need or use.
• It’s about thrifting instead of buying fast fashion. Try your best to keep it from hitting the landfills.

It’s about finding your style and not what the fashion industry tells you what’s in season. It’s an anyone fashion type world, and it’s here to make you feel good.

Through the search for ease and convenience, we’ve kind of lost that sense of human instinct which guides us to our creativity. Take something that’s already in existence and change it to make something new. The small steps you take now could lead to a better world and more sustainable life and can bring us back to the ebb and flow of creativity to survive. It’s already started, but you can join when you are ready. The earth and life on it will be grateful for your participation.

What I ate for dinner this week

I am not a chef, but I like to make food. I love being able to sit with my family and have a moment to regroup, talk or even watch a movie. It’s the family time in my home. I feel like the outside world is on hold while I enjoy my moments with the people I love.

Sometimes I eat quite a unique blends of foods and spices. I’d instead do that then let food go to waste. It also sparks creativity in me when the world can be so cold. These are the best thing about dinners for me.

What about you?

Penne Pasta with Pesto Tomato Sauce

Roasted Chicken with Carrots and Quinoa

Sausage and Peppers with White Rice

Potato Soup (Minus Liquid — I know, I hate soup though) with Garlic Bread

Stuffed Zucchini with White Rice

Greek Salad Mixed with other salad stuff and French Fries

Penne Pasta with Broccoli and Chicken

Fast Fashion – The Horror Story

So, on my decluttering journey, I realized that I owned a heck of a lot of clothes, half the items I never really wore and kept because I didn’t want to admit that I wasted many. As I continued with my journey, I wondered what happens to the clothes we donate, discard or don’t buy.

The fashion industry is putting too much product out there, millions of ton of clothes end up in landfill every year—it’s one of the fastest-growing categories of consumption in our society. Termed, “fast fashion” allows consumers to purchase extra, but consumers are wearing these fashion pieces less often and disposing of them at an abnormal rate. How can the fashion industry proceed to produce while not approaching the environmental requirement for people to purchase fewer clothes?

If you don’t believe me, here are some facts:

• In 2015, the world produced roughly 155,000 square miles of fabric (about the size of California)
• 80 billion items are manufactured every year
• Globally, sorting plants like this only deal with around 25% of discarded clothes
• On average only 20% of clothes are worn on a regular basis
• Every year, we send about 85% of the textiles we purchase to landfill
• The artificial fibers often preferred by fast fashion brands, such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, are primarily plastic made from petroleum. This indicates that your discarded clothes could take up to a thousand years to biodegrade.
• Fast fashion accounts for 10% of the planet’s greenhouse production
• Each year 1.3 trillion gallons of water is used for fabric dyeing alone
• Fast fashion is in second place as the dirtiest and most pollutant industry after oil
• The US consumes about 1.2 million tons of clothing waste which is equal to 15 percent of the clothing sales in the country
• On average, the global water footprint US is enough to fill over 1,200 bathtubs per household
• The number of garments produced globally exceeded 100 billion for the first time in 2014
• Over 50% of workers within the fashion industry are not paid the minimum wage in countries like India and the Philippines. Most workers are slaves or work in sweatshops and have very little human rights
• Approximately 300 million people who produce cotton are still living in poverty

There is so much out there the support that fast fashion is horrible for the environment, yet we pretend that it isn’t a real problem. What can we do to help lessen the burden on the environment? It’s straightforward, here is what I suggest below:

• Recycle or repurpose your old clothing
• Choose quality over quantity—avoid cheap garments made from synthetic fabrics
• Participate in clothes swap events, or exchange old clothing with friends and family
• Spread the word about Fast Fashion impact on the environment
• Simply do not buy from brands that participate in harming the environment or human rights
• There is nothing wrong with thrifting for clothes, and you will save money too!

I hope you found this article insightful. If you have any suggestions or facts to add, please add them to the comments below.

References and Resources:

Fast fashion: How to make clothes last longer and save the planet (https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-47292087)
Fast Fas is harming the earth, MPs say (https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45745242)
What Is Fast Fashion? (https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion)
Fast Fashion Is Creating an Environmental Crisis (https://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/09/old-clothes-fashion-waste-crisis-494824.html)
By the Numbers: The Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of “Fast Fashion” (https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/01/numbers-economic-social-and-environmental-impacts-fast-fashion)

#ecofashion #sustainable #style #fbloggers #sustainablefashion #sustainability #ecofriendlyn #sustainablity #fashion #ethicalfashion #fastfashion

Burnout! Tips to Deal or Prevent Homeschool Burnout.

The beginning of the year has been horrible. Our weather here in Brooklyn was too cold or rainy. This means that I can’t take, my daughter outside and I find myself in a funk. I am burnt out.

She doesn’t want to work, or I mess up and over schedule. We have burnouts or meltdowns every other day, especially at the beginning of the journey with homeschooling. It can be so frustrating when you are the parent and teacher too!

I hаvе learned a few tips аnd wауѕ tо prevent burnt out frоm hоmеѕсhооlіng уоur сhіld.

Do mоrе hands-on lеаrnіng
Thоѕе еxреrіmеntѕ, nоw іѕ a great time to do thеm! Not only will it bе fun fоr your child and a grеаt change of расе for them аnd you but you’ll аlѕо bе rеvіеwіng рrеvіоuѕ mаtеrіаl аt thе same tіmе.

Gеt оutѕіdе or Coffee Shop
Pасk uр thе bооkѕ аnd move thе learning somewhere else. Our local library is oddly always packed. It’s too cold to be outside for a long time, so we go to a coffee shop. I particularly like the ones for soft music and cozy couches. It feels quite engaging to sit together and to talk or do some reading. It’s a good bonding experience.

Gеt mоvіng
Find activities that actually move your body. Sitting home all day doesn’t help anyone. The cold can make it impossible actually to go outside, so find ways to be physical indoor. For instance, my daughter goes to yoga and dance classes. We also practice yoga or fun exercises throughout the day. Especially, if the subject matter is complicated. Who wouldn’t want to wiggle it off? Dоn’t forget to mоvе with them. It’ѕ a grеаt way tо get some physical activity fоr yourself tоо!

Tаkе ѕоmе me time fоr уоurѕеlf
When I ѕtаrt to fееl burnt out, mу сhіld рісkѕ uр on thаt quickly. I hаvе lеаrnеd thаt thе bеѕt thіng thаt I саn do as a mоm аnd a homeschooler іѕ to take a little time and do ѕоmеthіng I enjoy. I tаkе an hour аnd rеаd, do my nails, write a blog post or wаtсh an іnѕріrаtіоnаl ѕеrmоn. It wіll hеlр уоu to feel better so thаt уоu can finish those lаѕt fеw items on your list. Your child also sees how to handle stress and time management through passive learning.

Fіеld Trірѕ
Now, it’s the реrfесt time to take a few fіеld trірѕ аѕ іt will gіvе уоu аnd kids a muсh-nееdеd break frоm уоur dаіlу routine аnd will deliver a lоt of fun learning that your сhіld wіll rеmеmbеr fоrеvеr. If we’re not taking care of ourselves, we cannot take care of our kids. We are not taking care of ourselves; we cannot homeschool effectively. We’re going to be homeschooling on negligence because we are burned out. If you are facing homeschool burnout, I hope these things helped you get inspired.

If you home school, let me know of some ways that you help you and your child from burning out.

#homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoolmom #homeschoollife #homeschoolers #homeschooler #homeschooled #homeschoolrocks #homeschoolingmom #homeschoolfamily #HomeschoolKids #homeschoolmoms #homeschoolfun #homeschoolmama #homeschoolUS #homeschoolinglife #homeschoolfieldtrip #homeschoolkid #burnout #homeschooltips

Low-Key Week of Clothes

“Fashion fades, style is eternal.” – Yves Saint-Laurent

It’s winter in Brooklyn and unless you work in the fashion industry, you probably are not wearing your best clothes in fear of the snow, salt, and cold. My job is a little unique because I get to work from home or be outside walking (a lot). My fashion is pretty low-key both I thought it would be fun to share my week with you.

It’s winter in Brooklyn, and unless you work in the fashion industry, you probably are not wearing your best clothes in fear of the snow, salt, and cold. I want an outfit that is comfy, cozy and casual. My job is a little unique because I get to work from home or be outside walking (a lot). My fashion is pretty low-key both I thought it would be fun to share my week with you in clothes.

I don’t own very much in the way of clothes. I have a small wardrobe. I don’t need very much and I usually, wait for the season or things to worn. I guess this is an excellent way to see a low-key fashion minimalist style.

Let me know your style in the comments below:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Laundry Day mean Pajama Day!

I hate being the “mean” parent.

This blog is just a free following piece about my day and feelings. I am sure it will be riddled with a ton of grammar mistakes, but that is my natural state of being. I am completely imperfect.

Homeschooling is rough. You have to separate yourself as a parent versus a teacher. Some days are good, and things get done, but then there are days that my child refuses to do work. What do I do then? Send her to her room?

What frustrates the most about this is that I am co-parenting and her father will jump on the opportunity not to work because getting up in the morning is triumph over the day. She doesn’t get much disciplines there, so I am still the weight in the world for which rest on her shoulders. She knows she only has to deal with me for a little while before she returns to the haven of a father. I hate my role very much. I am always dismissed in this dynamic because that’s the way it has been since being with her dad.

So, homeschooling…I wanted to homeschool her because I felt it would allow me to spend time with her. She can see what “healthy” way of life instead of the negative side. She had a horrible teacher this year. The teacher only had five students yet couldn’t get her act together to be personable with the students or make any connection. She didn’t even bother to know my name. When confronted, she blamed the kids and my daughter. She is the teacher. Do not make it the fault of children. Even when they annoy you, they need to learn from you how to handle the situation. So, here I am the teacher and parent.

I am still learning, and it is not easy. I want to teach the word of God and also give her the curriculum I know she is capable of doing. The issue is that we are so new to these roles that there are misfires. I either get mad because she refuses to work or she refuses to work and ask to go to Daddy’s home. I try hard not to add my feelings and thoughts to the situation, but it is very hard.

I hate being the “mean” parent.

So, I am done ranting.

#homeschool #homeschooling #education #homeschoolmom #momlife #homeeducation #parenting #homeschoollife #kids #learning #mom #literacy #dyslexia #unschooling #earlylearning #homeschoolmoms #phonics #school #letterrecognition #earlychildhoodeducation #teachersofinstagram #workingmoms #babysteps #love #children #reading #coparenting #parenting #divorce #blendedfamily #love #children #family #relationship #singlemom #bonuskids #divorcedmom #divorcesupport

30 Day Declutter Challenge – Week 3 – Kind of?

I decided to do the 30-day decluttered challenge. In this challenge, you have 30 days to declutter items from your home. In this challenge, the day of the challenge pairs with the number of items you have to get rid of, so one day 1, you pick one item to get rid of and on day 30, you get rid of thirty pieces. So, in total, you will be getting rid of 460 things.

It has been a journey for me to downsize my material possessions. I’ve been doing it for over two years and still have a lot to go. What I want in my home are items that bring me joy and less work.

I am still sticking with the theme of the “30-Day Challenge,” but really my goal is to get rid of 460 items. It sounds like a cheat, but I don’t think so because it’s my things and my journey.

I am trying to be thoughtful in this journey because the worse thing I can do it totally get rid of my stuff and then it ends up in the dump. I don’t want to me that person. I have found some places on the internet and on Brooklyn that recycle your items or actually use the items you donate. I have also been known to give a homeless person a pair of shoes or a sweatshirt or two if they need it. There is always a way not to waste. At least, that is what I hope for in this process.

So, below are the items that I am decarding this week. I hope some of these things will be helpful to others. Some of the items are things that I really need to get rid of because they are old or empty. Let me know if you are on a similar journey, and I would love to see what you are decluttering too.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Also to remind you that you should have fun with the challenge. If you truly love an item, don’t throw it out for the sake of the challenge or the status quo. This exercise intends to make your home a representation of you and your family.

#minimalist #minimalistic #minimalists #minimalistzen #minimalistlifestyle #minimalistliving #minimalistlife #30daychallenge #home #staystrong #family#declutter #declutterchallenge #2019 #30daychallenge #30daychallengeabs #30daychallenges #30daychallenge #30daydeclutterchallenge

You Decluttered – Now What?

When you think of minimalism, some may feel that it is living without. It’s taking everything you own and decluttering it. It is a physical process to free up space, but it is so much more. It’s a lifestyle, a thoughtful process and a cue to recognized how present you live your life.

Although clearing out your things can be rewarding if you do not take care of the mental hiccups that got you into consuming you will end up right back doing what you know best – buying more.

I like minimalism. I choose it because it is a personal journey. I still have my religion. I can even eat meat. I can buy that bamboo diffuser that I waited a month to purchase. It’s all a matter of choice. The choices we make when it comes to minimalism is base on energy and being comfortable in your environment.

It’s been my experience that the less you have to deal with physically the more you can enjoy your life. Once the declutter is done the real stuff begins.

You may find yourself stuck with your thoughts and how to maneuver your life to bring you to your goals. You may not feel stuck. It is a personal journey.

However, two things can happen at this point. You buy stuff in the effort to reach your goal, or you cultivate the existing items in your home and life that will help you achieve your goals. One of these may have you decluttering again in a couple of months and then entirely postponing your intentions. The other may give you space and time to accommodate the path to your goals. I not saying decluttering is the cure, but it does help to take that bandage off so you may understand the “why” of achieving the objective.

Simply put, having fewer things is having the opportunity to live more. It’s a scary prospect because what does more look like? It’s different for everyone and what you think your goal would be at the beginning of your journey may not necessarily be the goal you end up.

For me, my journey started because I needed money and I had too many things. I wanted some space to think and not be easily distracted so I could accomplish my goal, which at the time was just a word. I didn’t know what I wanted. I just wanted out of this life that was drowning me.

Today, I have goals. I want to write more and build my own business. Two things that were entirely not on my radar because I felt frightened to put myself out there and to fail. I realized that my physical items acted as a crutch. I didn’t have to deal with life. My things were also a token that I am alive. A dead person can’t own an impressive makeup collection or a killer reading library. In the end, I had not developed memories, journeys or motivation to live that life. I was surrounding myself with a barracks. No one could get in, and no one (including me) could get out.

When you hit the right quantity of items, you will know. It’s your journey to find that contentment so I can’t give you a number. In this process, you can change in positive ways. This notion includes breaking down the barracks that kept you from living. It’s isn’t about removing the things you love but the things that distract you. These distractions are what you need to get rid of to get to that happy goal or place where you are delighted with your space both mentally and physically.

Minimalism isn’t about living with less but living meaningfully. So, now that you decluttered, what is it that you want? What keeps popping up in your mind? What are you always dreaming of that you have the time to invest?

Decluttering is the starting foundation to make a better environment that will allow you to figure out your mental journey of planning your life, both the present and the future.

It’s really up to you how you use your new found space.

Vegan Strawberry Ginger Muffins

These vegan strawberry muffins are quite soft and moist for a wholesome breakfast pastry or daytime snack. I am not a vegan, but some recipes are SO good that I can’t help making them over and over again. This is one recipe that I have modified over the years and did enjoy.

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins

Servings: 12 muffins

Dry Ingredients:
½ cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger

Wet Ingredients:
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
lemon zest
1 – 1 1/2 cups strawberries (If frozen, add only 1/2 cup milk)

• Preheat the oven to 375F.
• Use coconut oil to grease the muffin tin and then set aside.

• In a small bowl combine milk and apple cider vinegar and then set aside to allow the mixture to curdle.

• In another bowl combine baking powder, salt, and baking soda.

• For the liquids, get another bowl and combine the sugar, ginger, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Once, add the curdled almond milk/vinegar mixture and stir to combine.

• Stir in the dry ingredients until thoroughly mixed together. A few lumps are OK. Just don’t over-mix.

• Fold in the strawberries (if frozen, drain liquid first).
• Spoon into muffin tins, filling each cup about ¾ full.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from heat and allow muffins to cool before removing from the tin.

I love cooking. It brings me back to my creative elements. There is always a story behind the even recipe and alterations the is personal to you. I hope you enjoy this recipe too.

#veganrecipe #veganrecipe #veganrecipeshare #veganrecipeideas #veganrecipeblog #veganrecipebook #strawberryginger #muffins #strawberrymuffins #vegan #veganfood #veganfoodshare #veganeats #veganbreakfast #breakfast #food

KEEPING YОUR DOG HЕАLTHУ DURІNG THЕ WINTER

This wіntеr, іt’ѕ tіmе to consider what you саn dо to kеер уоur dоg hеаlthу аnd wаrm during the lоng, соld wіntеr mоnthѕ hеrе In Brооklуn.

Sоmе dоgѕ have a very thісk соаt аnd саn аdарt during winter. Whаt реорlе nееd tо undеrѕtаnd іѕ thаt dіffеrеnt dоg brееdѕ come from different раrtѕ of thе wоrld. Sоmе brееd соmеѕ frоm a соld climate аnd thеrеfоrе hаvе a thісkеr аnd more extended layer and wіll dеfіnіtеlу аdарt durіng winter. Others come frоm warmer сlіmаtеѕ and have thіnnеr and ѕhоrtеr fur, thеrе іѕ аlѕо ѕоmе brееd that саn adapt tо bоth сlіmаtеѕ.

It is very іmроrtаnt thаt уоur dоg іѕ warm іn these соmіng mоnthѕ nоt оnlу fоr thеіr comfort but аlѕо fоr better hеаlth.

Hеrе are some essential tips аnd suggestions fоr a hеаlthу аnd hарру dоg this wіntеr:

Cоnѕіdеr Аdорtіng A Соld Wеаthеr Dog Brееd.

If you still dо nоt hаvе a dog аnd live іn Brооklуn, соnѕіdеr rаіѕіng a cold wеаthеr dоg brееd thаt саn hаndlе аnd enjoy cold weather. Siberian Huѕkіеѕ, Alaska Mаlаmutеѕ, and сhоw-сhоwѕ аrе еxсеllеnt dоgѕ fоr the cold climate.

House Your Dоg Indoors.

Althоugh you саn kеер your dоg оutdооrѕ іn nice weather, уоu may not wаnt to dо it whеn it іѕ соld. Kееріng, a dog, іnѕіdе thе hоuѕе іѕ thе best wау to keep іt wаrm іn thе wіntеr.

Dоg Ѕwеаtеrѕ Аnd Jасkеtѕ.

As реt оwnеrѕ, уоu hаvе tо be rеѕроnѕіblе fоr ѕаtіѕfуіng уоur pet’s vіtаl needs tо keep thеm hеаlthу еvеrу dау. Yоu do not juѕt buу ѕwеаtеrѕ аnd соаtѕ to make an fаѕhіоn statement аnd mаkе your реt cute bесаuѕе thеу look nісе еvеn wіthоut clothes. But it’s always a good іdеа tо wеаr your реt сlоthеѕ bесаuѕе it’s an excellent wау tо ѕhоw hоw much уоu lоvе thеm. Thuѕ, during соld seasons, оnе оf thе іtеmѕ уоur реt nееdѕ іѕ a ѕmаll dog сlоthіng to gіvе them thе еxtrа warmth аnd соmfоrt essentially.

If you have a little fury, lіkе Chіhuаhuа, you wіll not hаvе a рrоblеm fіndіng Chіhuаhuа сlоthеѕ bесаuѕе thеу аrе wіdеlу аvаіlаblе online for grеаt рrіzеѕ. Clothing is vеrу essential fоr your ѕmаll реt bесаuѕе іt will рrеvеnt them from саtсhіng соldѕ аnd оthеr tуреѕ оf іllnеѕѕ. Mоѕt реорlе fіnd the winter unbearable wіth thіn сlоthіng, hоw muсh mоrе оur lіttlе реt.

Invest Іn A Ѕuіtаblе Оutdооr Housing.

If your dоg nееdѕ to bе out оf rеасh, mаkе sure thеrе аrе enough ѕhеltеrѕ. Consider gеttіng an nісе hоuѕіng wіth іnѕulаtіоn, ѕlореd rооf, and possibly a hеаtеr (mаkе sure thе hеаtеr is 100% safe and designed fоr outdoor uѕе).

Iсе аnd snow thаt can cover уоur dоg’ѕ stomach, lеgѕ, and раwѕ can соntаіn salt, аntіfrееzе оr оthеr potentially hаzаrdоuѕ chemicals thаt уоur dоg саn swallow when lісkіng thе thighs аnd lеgѕ. Alwауѕ сlеаn оr wаѕh their раwѕ, lеgѕ, аnd ѕtоmасh of уоur dоg whеn you rеturn from a long walk. If you hаvе a dog whо has fur thаt асtѕ аѕ аn ісе mаgnеt, spray hіѕ fur with Pаm. This nоn-ѕtісk cooking ѕрrау wіll coat your dоg’ѕ hаіr ѕо thаt ice аnd ѕnоw wіll ѕlіdе rіght оff, аnd іt рrеvеntѕ ісе crystals from tangling uр a long coat.

Although іt іѕ tеmрtіng to ѕhаvе the dоg in оrdеr to rеduсе thе mеѕѕ thаt уоu nееd tо clean whеn уоu return frоm a wіntеr walk, dоn’t do іt. If you ѕhаvе your dоg down tо thе skin durіng wіntеr, the аbіlіtу tо rеtаіn hіѕ соrе temperature whеn оutѕіdе іѕ reduced, еvеn іf іt is соvеrеd wіth a соаt.

Kеер thе dog wаrm, bу рlасіng a ѕоft bеd an fеw іnсhеѕ аbоvе thе соld floor.

Mаkе Sure Your Pet Eat Еnоugh Fооd.

Some dоgѕ burn more calories during thе winter while trying to warm up. They may feel hungry, ѕо fееd thеm an lіttlе mоrе during wіntеr, if it ѕееmѕ nесеѕѕаrу.

Remember Tо Give Him Аttеntіоn.

Nо mоrе warming the dog thаn a саrеful, playful and careful owner. Mаkе ѕurе уоu dо nоt fоrgеt уоur реt whеn уоu рut her оutѕіdе аnd lеt hіm ѕtау іnѕіdе whеn іt’ѕ very соld.

#winter #dogs #dogstagram #doglover #dogoftheday #doglife #doglovers #doggy #doglove #dogsitting #dogslife #doggie #dogwalk #dogood #dogtraining #doggies #dogsandpals #dogwalker #dogslover #dogpark #dogsarefamily #dogsofnyc #winter #safety #healthydog

Recent Pet Posts:

See All

A New Puppy: The Basics for Positive Behavior3Write a comment

Healthy Pup = Healthy Humans – So, Let’s Get Into It!

Four Tips to NOT be Overwhelmed with Minimalism

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the process of decluttering here are some tips that have helped me throughout my inexperience years of decluttering and minimalizing.

First, let me say that everyone is unique. I remember when I started this journey to live more and own less. I wanted to be perfect at it. I wanted to have the stark white walls and tons of money. My goals when I first started this journey was not actually what I really wanted. I just interpreted what I saw as the cure to my problems according to other people’s values.

Now, I am at a place that my reasons for choosing this way of life are to make my life simple. I enjoy challenges, and I appreciate the time I have because of the small choices I make every day, over time.

Do I still get overwhelmed? Um….yes, habits are hard to change and once you think you completed breaking a habit there comes another one popping up from under the first habit’s rug.

The point is that everything you do should be for you and your lifestyle. There is no perfect answer or advice. You just need to figure out what works for you and be flexible to change.

So, the first tip that I found to be helpful is to have more of a mindset over circumstances. When you cultivate the intention of minimizing, you can do more of what you really value and to see your truths. You really just have to be able to continually recognize and discover the things that are distractions and mindfully remove them from your life.

Establishing a consistent mindset of living minimally, your ability to distinguish what is essential to and not of value is important for the longevity of the lifestyle.

Number two, choose a system and then stick with it until you can recognize what is working in that system and what is not serving you. There are different styles for decluttering and living minimum. It doesn’t really matter which one you pick but whichever one you choose to stick with it. You can switch later after you’ve experienced the act of decluttering and have enough self-awareness to understand the direction you need to go to further your journey.

Number three, it does feel really fabulous to declutter. Your space looks more prominent and well organized. You sold some items and made some money. You even donated a chunk of your possessions to people and organizations. You are boosting your positive mind and a healthy outlook in life.

It’s all surprisingly satisfying, but it’s actually the small and continuous modifications that add up over time. The consistent results are from choosing a method, and it’s the method of creating the experience to all you to decide what you want out of your life and journey. The smaller actions make the most significant difference it just takes time to see the transformations happening in your life. This is why sticking with a plan is essential because you want to see results. You want to change your lifestyle, there really isn’t an easy fix.

Number four is about being able to keep the movement going and keep the drive running. It really is about building that experience by creating a story to make healthy decisions for you and your lifestyle. You want to know what you want and what you don’t want. It will get more comfortable if you continually make your space exhibit your life’s desire. Finally, when things get tough, and things will get tough, your space will help you remember your process and your “why” to your journey.

The things that you need to do to maintain your life on a daily basis can serve with all of those things that you change in your life. This includes that overwhelming pressure to the smile for the sun that you feel. Decluttering is a personal journey. You have to start somewhere and make it about you. What is something you need to change right now? — start there.

I hope you found this piece useful if you have any advice, please email or leave a comment below.

#Minimalism #minimalisminthemorning #minimalismstyle #minimalismlover #minimalismchallenge #minimalismblog #minimalismaddicted #minimalism #minimalismdesign #declutter #decluttering #DeclutterYourLife #Decluttered #declutteringlife #declutterer #declutteringtips #tips #hacks #healthylife

4 Yoga Poses That Help Clear Your Mind, Anxiety or Worry

Were you able to check the inventory stock? Do we have enough staff on duty today? How can I plan my leaving today to go and pick up my kids from school? Have we booked enough appointments today? How will I attend the next meeting? These are some of the questions we have on our minds every day. A cluttered mind may alter our performance, and we may feel worried. However, we need a way to clear up our minds to be our better self and be more productive.

Strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance are all known to be the physical benefits of yoga. However, we also know that there are other health benefits of yoga apart from the physical level. Yoga is, in fact, one of the universal exercises that benefit you emotionally and psychologically.

Yoga is essential because it helps to cultivate awareness of the thoughts and sensations, mindfulness, and emotions; this makes us assume that it is synonymous with meditation. It also helps to boost your breathing and concentration.

To help clear your mind, anxiety and worry, below are four different yoga poses you need to practice:

• Salutation Seal Pose – This is a simple breathing exercise you can use to start practicing your meditation.

To do this, sit in a cross-legged position on the floor and place your hands together in a prayer position. Forget about everything and focus on your breathing (deep inhaling and exhaling) while straightening your spine.

• Child’s Pose – Also known as the Balasana Pose, Child’s Pose is a yoga practice that helps stretch your body (ankles, shoulders, spine, back, thighs, and neck), making you stay relaxed completely.

To do this, allow your body to fall forward far from the hips and making your tummy to rests among your thighs and your forehead resting on the mat; you do this while sitting on the floor and relaxing your hips on your heels. Stretch your hands and rest your palms on the mat. While in this position, focus on your breathing. After all, these, breathe deeply and return to the starting point while exhaling slowly.

• Tree Pose – Also known as Vrikshasana, this pose challenges your sense of balance, and this is a perfect yoga to boost your concentration.

While standing on your feet at a hip distance apart, bend your knee above the knee cap and place its sole on top of the upper inner thigh. Make sure you straighten your left leg while finding your balance. Raise your arms above your head and bring your palms together (like you are praying) while taking a deep breath. You should look straight to balance. Maintain this position for 30 seconds and repeat on the other side.

• Mountain Pose – Also known as Tadasana, the Mountain Pose helps to relieve back pain, improves posture, and strengthens the knees, ankles, thighs, abdomen, and buttocks. It also helps to steady your breathing and boost your awareness.

To get started, stand with your feet in contact and your back erect. Raise your hands with your palms touching and inhaling deeply. While looking at your fingertips, stretch your body very well and as far as you can. You can also close your eyes while straightening your head. Concentrate on your breathing and maintain this posture for 30 seconds before going back to the normal position and exhale deeply.

Let me know if you agree and if you have a favorite pose that helps you through anxiety to declutter your mind.

#yoga #yogaretreats #yogamorningflow #yogalover #yogastudy #yogaon #yogaaday #yogaforstrenght #yogawith #yogacommunity #yogalifestylefashion #yogainesperance #yogainspiration #yogaanxiety #anxiety #mentalhealth

Sunday in Dumbo in Pictures

Today is a very nice day. It’s a contrast to what last weeks frigid temperatures did to my body. I am still thawing out from the ice bone chill. I decided to take some photos. I hope you enjoy them.

Dumbo is near the Hudson River in Brooklyn, NY.

#brooklynphotographer #brooklynphotography #brooklynphoto #brooklynphotostudio #brooklynphotobooth #brooklynphotographers #brooklynphotos #dumbo #brooklynphotographer #nycphotographer #ilovenewyork #travel #thingstodoinnyc #nyclife #paws #nycblogger #nycity #inspiration #nyc #dog

30 Day Declutter Challenge – Week 2 – Kind of?

For January, I decided to do the 30-day decluttered challenge. In this challenge, you have 30 days to declutter items from your home. In this challenge, the day of the challenge pairs with the number of items you have to get rid of, so one day 1, you pick one item to get rid of and on day 30, you get rid of thirty pieces. So, in total, you will be getting rid of 460 things.

It has been a journey for me to downsize my material possessions. I’ve been doing it for over two years and still have a lot to go. What I want in my home are items that bring me joy and less work.

The idea was for me to be mindful each week to declutter things that I didn’t need… THIS DID NOT HAPPEN!

I found myself not having a lot of things to discard. It was a real struggle. I practice the one in/one out rule almost intuitively. I had to push myself back and be in the moment of what I was throwing away or donating.

I didn’t give up, but I modified the challenge to fit my requirements and needs. This means for me being mindful of what I discard but also making an effort to set time out of my busy schedule for this challenge.

I did not give up.

Instead, I became the turtle in the race. I am taking my time to finish rather than quickly make decisions that could affect me, in the long run, both emotionally and financially.

So as I had said in the first post, remember to repurpose, donate, sell or recycle your items. The worse thing to do is throw them out because they will end up in a landfill and then it becomes everyone’s problem.

Here are the next seven days of decluttering my apartment:

Day 9:

Day 10:

Day 11:

Day 12:

Day 13:

Day 14:

For the most part, the items that I discard are going to be recycled or sold. However, it’s important to note that when you are doing to this type of challenge, that it is also a mindful practice. Please remember that there are many options to get healthily rid of your stuff. You may have a friend who needs a sweater or a homeless person who needs shoes. You may want to sell your favorite dress that you paid way too much money, and you can’t seem to part with it. Maybe the dress will be sold to someone who wants to look good for their big day. It is a much better use of the item rather than sitting in your closet.

Also to remind you that you should have fun with the challenge. If you truly love an item, don’t throw it out for the sake of the challenge or the status quo. This exercise intends to make your home a representation of you and your family.

#minimalist #minimalistic #minimalista #minimalistics #minimaliststyle #minimalistdesign #minimalistart #minimaliste #minimalistwallet #minimalistphotography #minimalists #minimalistzen #minimalisticdesign #minimalistlifestyle #minimalistliving #minimalistlife #30daychallenge #home #staystrong #family #step1 #2019 #30daychallenge #30daychallengeabs #30daychallenges #30daychallenge #30daydeclutterchallenge

Self-Love & Meditation: Improving Mental Health in Daily Routines

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Aristotle had articulated this excellent quote with only 15 words, for a long time of my life, I didn’t believe him.

I struggled for having good habits in my daily life because I wanted to have my own rules of being not of others. I tried to create my world to live, my kingdom to be queen to myself.

Skipping the self-fulfilling activities such as exercising, meditating, yoga and making gratitude lists—we may disadvantage ourselves from the vitality that these unusual pleasant activities give to my mind and body.

Why Create a Routine?
Creating a positive daily routine is both a self-investment and a way to do your best for the rest of the world. It also provides additional benefits, such as giving you structure, building forward-moving habits, and creating momentum that will carry you on the days when you feel like you don’t have the strength to love yourself.

Don’t be afraid to try new habits and see how they work for you. If they leave you feeling energized and inspired, keep doing them…if they don’t, keep trying new ones until you find ones that do.

Optimize Your Mind

Get positive: Start the day with a mantra. Positive thinking helps manage stress and even improves your health.

“Today is going to be the best day ever!”

I start every single day saying that simple sentence (out loud) as soon as I get out of bed. And yes, I even tell myself this on mornings that have followed nights that were too short or mornings that I wake up feeling like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.

Be proactive: Don’t check your email first!
When you wake up in the morning, do you immediately check your email or social media accounts? If so, you’re starting your day off in reactive mode instead of proactive.

Start your days focused on YOU, and you will be in a much better state-of-mind to help others and get more accomplished all day.

Be Mentally Prepare: Visualize your success
Jack Canfield, the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, recommended that practice visualization 10 minutes a day to “harness the power of your subconscious mind.”

Just close your eyes and imagine yourself excelling and being the best you. Put yourself in situations where you shine, visualizing the best possible outcome.

Read a book
Reading can boost your intelligence, increase your brainpower. You may find it hard to find the time to read an entire book. You can just read only one chapter each day of a book of your choice.

Writing: A way to creativity
Spending time writing every day helps you become a better communicator, improves your ability to recall relevant information, and it also enhances your creativity. Write in a diary format, and you also have the added benefit of greater self-understanding.

Ways to Boost Your Body
Drink 9-13 cups of water a day
Exercise (MOVE!)
Even you can take a 10-20 minute walk. Do yoga, stretches, or dance
around your living room.
Get enough sleep: No less than 7 hours

Optimize your Spirit
Practice meditation: If the idea of “meditating” can be a turn-off, then think about it as spending some daily quiet time alone. Engaging in this daily practice has a lot of positive benefits. As a greater focus, better decision making and problem-solving skills improved memory, and an easier time managing hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder. Meditation also reduces stress, anxiety, and depression according to Harvard University studies, which are even more reasons to give it a try if you haven’t before.

Practice gratitude: Write what you’re thankful for in your life
If you woke up tomorrow and only had the things you were grateful for
Today, what would you have? Expressing gratitude at the end of the day for all of the blessings in your life, you do two things. First, you recognize that even though things may not be as you’d like, you are fortunate to have what you do. Second, the more blessings you are thankful for, the more you draw in or attract. It’s like they multiply.

Give to others
There is something extremely sense of satisfaction when you help those around you. It is not necessary to do huge acts of service/virtue. It can be even something as simple as opening the door for someone or giving a stranger (or loved one) a genuine compliment can make a significant impact on their day…and yours.

Once habits slowly start to take root into your daily life, you have the freedom to do so much more. You are not thinking of the small things but the greater picture. It’s important to find a routine that maximizes your inner strength and beauty. Sometimes there is a lot of trails and errors, but you have every moment of every day to try to pick yourself up and start again.

I hope you found this article helpful. Let me know if you have a habit that helps you and promotes self-love. Please comment below.

#healthyhabits #healthyhabitsstartnow #healthyhabitsforlife #healthy #selflove #healthyhabitsstartyoung habit #meditation #healthyhabitsareback #Healthyhabits4busymoms #healthyhabits2019 #sleep #routine #loveyourself

Chocolate Chip Cookie Monster

I am a huge cookie monster! Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. You will definitely find crumbs all over my seat after eating these. It’s just one of those fun desserts that are simple enough to make and easy to eat.

Whenever I feel down, these cookies seem to help me refocus and bring me back to my happy place.

Please try the recipe below and release your inner monster!

Dry Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups lightly packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Wet Ingredients
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium sized bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

In another larger sized bowl mix the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy.
Then add the vanilla and eggs to the creamy mix.
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until well blended.
Finally, blend in the chocolate chips.

Cover the dough, and let it sit at room temperature just until it is soft enough to scoop.

When soft enough, scoop up 2-tablespoon sized balls using a cookie scoop or tablespoon and drop onto prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

The cookies should be a little thick, soft in the middle, crisp around the edges.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Please let me know how it goes and it your inner cookie monster was set free.

#chocolatechip #chocolatechipcookies #chocolatechips #chocolatechipcookie #chocolatechipcookiedough #chocolatechipscookies #ChocolateChipCookieDay #cookierecipe #dessertrescipe #easyrecipe #mindfuleating #mindfulcooking #mindful #anxiety

Crazy Week to Be Perfect

This blog is just a free following piece about my day and feelings. I am sure it will be riddled with a ton of grammar mistakes, but that is my natural state of being. I am completely imperfect.

I wanted to write more this week. I made it part of my resolution to get out of my comfort zone and write. I love writing, but I hate the judgment that comes from a misplaced common or an incomplete sentence.

I don’t like to be judged.

I live a quiet life for this reason. I know it so much easier to say, “Oh, don’t listen to people!” For the most part, I don’t listen to people. I just get tripped up because I am also a perfectionist. I am the type of perfectionist that will stop what they are doing if they can’t do it right. My anxiety can be a jerk sometimes…see I even judge myself.

So, as I have mentioned, I have gotten better with working through my judgment riddled mind. I have gotten to the point that I can push through most nay-sayers, but sometimes one will pop up that stops me dead in my tracks.

This happened to be the week that I got obstructed. I didn’t have an opportunity to write, much less recollect. I am still growing my business, and my daughter was with me this week. She was very sick. Her dad was also ill so he couldn’t get her to bring her to school.

We decided to move forward with homeschool. She had the worse teacher and rather than waste our money of a teacher who doesn’t care for her students. She didn’t this option is the best for her and us.

This notion of teaching her terrifies me. What if I teach her the wrong things? What if I hold her back? What if I am not smart enough to teach a fourth grader?

It scary and my mind wants to freeze up. It’s been doing it all week. I won’t let it. We have too much going on for me to check out. So, for the sake of my sanity at this moment in time, I am sitting in front of my computer and just purging a bunch of thoughts and words, in no particular order or reason.

I guess I need to be accountable. These are the times that I have to see myself in the third person. I get frightened to reveal how my mind has gotten used to seeing me.

However, I am excited about homeschooling. It does give me more time if my daughter and I am not alone in this adventure. We have her dad, a homeschool program and a activities group. I have planned out of workflow so that she won’t miss a beat.

I am also concerned about work. I can run my own business. Where do I go from there? I would love to own a doggy daycare. I am eyeing that prize, but financially, it isn’t possible just yet. I rely on my other dog services. I am worried that I won’t make enough money. My e-commerce shop isn’t picking up much traffic. I am not sure if I should close it or work on it a little more. Ideally, it would be nice to have Tamemepet.com as my primary source of income, but I guess that is another topic that I have to figure out.

So, this week has been a little crazy.

Next week will be a whole new chapter.

I have to walk through the door eventually.

#family #familyandfriemds #familyframes #freeflow #anxiety #sick #anxietyhelp #anxietyrelief #anxietydisorder #anxietyattack #anxietysucks #random #rambles #perfectionism #homeschool #homeschool

I don’t want to deal

This blog is just a free following piece about my day and feelings. I am sure it will be riddled with a ton of grammar mistakes, but that is my natural state of being. I am completely imperfect.

It’s a cold day in Brooklyn. I do not want to go outdoors but I must as my job is to be there. Most of the time I do not mind it, but today, it just seems unmeasurable in torture.

My daughter is sick, and I feel I should be here for her. I don’t see her enough and here I go, leaving her when she needs me. I worry that my actions will mess her up somehow, but I try not to think of it. I have to work. I have to provide support to her and my family.

I always worry that I am never good enough. I am also self-absorbed and stuck in my head. I keep wondering of what could be instead of what is now. I try to think of ways to be more present, but sometimes I fail. I am just not ready to deal.

It is cold out today, and I don’t want to deal. I would rather be indoors and help my child heal.

#family #familyandfriemds #familyframes #freeflow #anxiety #sick #anxietyhelp #anxietyrelief #anxietydisorder #anxietyattack #anxietysucks #random #rambles

Raspberry Coconut Macaroons

These raspberry coconut macaroons are something I make to remind me of a warmer sunny day. It is a cold day in Brooklyn, and I rather be indoors. Sometimes, my anxiety can be raised if I sit too long, so to keep myself occupied, I love to try recipes from the ingredients that I already have in my home.

I am pretty sure you can add any berry or no berries to the cookie. You can also but vegan ingredients if you aren’t into dairy products. Either way, when you take a bite, hopefully, it will give you that warm and cozy vibe of a summertime night.

Wet Ingredients:
4 large egg whites
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients
4 and 3/4 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F
2. Prepare by lining two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Do not put your dough in until the oven is at 325°F
4. For about 2 minutes, in a large bowl using a mixer with paddle accessory, whipped the sugar, egg whites, and vanilla together egg whites, sugar, and vanilla together on medium to high speed until frothy and the sugar dissolved.
5. Then add in the shredded coconut gradually, making sure the coconut is evenly moistened.
6. The batter will be moist and gluey.
7. Cover the mixture tightly with plastic wrap or wax paper and refrigerator for 30 minutes. This will allow the coconut to become moist.
8. Meanwhile, pat your raspberries dry with a paper towel or cloth. You don’t want them too wet.
9. Once the 30 minutes are over, unwrap the dough and fold in the raspberries into the coconut batter.
10. Scoop 2 Tablespoons of the batter and place in on the prepared baking sheet it should be about 2 inches apart. Make sure the mounds are very dense but round.
11. Bake for about 20 minutes until the cookie is lightly golden brown.
12. Allow the cookies to cool thoroughly on the baking sheets before eating.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do and stay warm (or cool in you are in the summer season) today.

You are pretty awesome for reading this, so thank you!

Let me know if you have any recommendations for recipes or questions below.

#recipe #recipetohappiness #recipebinders #recipeforlife #Recipeforyou #recipeideas #Recipeoftheday #RecipeDiaries #RecipesForDays #recipesoftheday #recipedeveloping #recipeofweek #recipesbyme #Raspberry #Coconut #Macaroons #Berries #MacaroonRecipe #mindfulcooking #DBT #anxiety #mentalhealth

Do you have too much pride?

I have too much pride.

I know this is my downfall. I keep everything bottled up and feel as though I can handle it myself. I wish I can say I am humbled, but most of the time, my pride gets in the way.

Pride can creep into our lives. It is a silent destroyer because it feels useful to accomplished a task. However, I need more of it. I have to prove to myself that I am helpful in the world and independent of others. My self-esteem never seems to get any better, but worse. I just can’t come to grips of letting pride go although I have gotten better.

I am not saying pride ins evil. It small quantities can be useful for us. It shows us the things we are doing right. It opens us to be humble of our accomplishment. It is a healthy emotion. What I am talking about it pride being used to protect yourself from dealing with what is not going right in your life.

I could give you a list of the obvious ways that pride can take hold, like being critical of others and caring too much for your appearance, but there are subtle ways pride can show its ugly head. Here are some ways to know if your pride may be unhealthy

1– Unable to accept helpful critiques
People who can’t take constructive criticism, tend to be blinded by their pride. They do not understand the benefit in what someone is advising them. Taking down the wall of pride may show that the advice may help shape them to be a better person.

2– Not being able to ask for help
It is terrific wanting to be independent. Unfortunately, it’s part of our culture to get an accomplishment without help. However, there are times we have to accept that some things are exceeding our ability. If you know you are in dire need of help but can’t make yourself ask for it, you might be dealing with too much pride.

3– Disregarding the advice
This behavior plays with number one. Its source is assuming you have all the solutions. You don’t require or perceive the worth of other viewpoints. If you believe you can be prosperous and succeed in your intentions without the help of others, you may have too much pride.

4 – Talking about Yourself
It’s OK to tell people about your life, as long as you are listening to them and not over-talking or waiting for your turn to express how much better you are compared to them indirectly or directly. If you hear yourself talk about your achievements, your illnesses, your background, degree, or financial status, these are all signs of too much pride.

Pride can sneak into your life in different complex ways. Our culture can sometimes treat humility as a weakness. Humility is a beautiful gift that allows us to be open to people and the world. If you find yourself in one of these thought processes, try to think about it differently and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. You might see that you have more to offer the world and will hopefully help boost your self-esteem and confidence.

#toomuchpride #confidence #ego #myhappyplace #therapy #blessed #droptheego #justgivein #isaidwhatisaid #whodat #2019 #standtall #smile #selflove #selfgrowth #patience #ittakestime

Loneliness, The Fear of Being Hurt

One of scariest feelings is loneliness. Thinking that people do not get you can paralyze your life and dissolve your laughter.
Loneliness prevents you from talking out your problems with others and gives you a false sense of security that you are safe.

This false sense of security most likely happened because you were hurt deeply by someone or something. Being alone is the great escape as it prevents more hurt from entering your soul. However, it doesn’t help. It’s a trap. It makes you replay the betrayal over and over again until what was a real memory becomes morphed with a negative belief. You relive every moment in every situation that reminds you of that hurt. You live in the past trying to get through the present with eyes shut. The future will always be dark until we can open our eyes.

How do we get past this?

It seems to be everywhere, and some have it worse than others, while others are never alone. It’s easier said than done, and I don’t know if it can be fixed…so my depression and anxiety would like me to believe.

When I am down, I feel most alone. I am ashamed of myself and what I am thinking. It can be an awful mess, and I have to be mindful of “waiting it out” until I can see a spark of light. These moments of light have become frequent, but it can be quickly turned off if I am not careful.

During these fragmented moments, I have filled it with patches of hope. It is a point that wants to see the world and remind me that there are people out there. Some that may want to help me or acknowledge me. I get scared with even thinking of this. It’s the fear of hurt that keeps people and thoughts away.

One thought: there are people out there. They do not want to hurt me, and therefore I am honestly never alone. There is so much out in the world, and there is so much potential to not to be alone.

Fear is not immoral it exposes your vulnerabilities so you can respond. Feeling lonely is profound, and for some, including me, it takes more than an enchanting sentence to open one’s eyes. However, I do believe that they can be open, just maybe a little slow and with a bit of more evidence that can only come when allowed to those fragments of light in your mind. You slowly start to see that perhaps you are not alone.

Maybe the people whom you wished to be there aren’t the people you need. Perhaps it is the other person, the person who stands by and waits for your light because they tried a million times to show you. The lessons are there, but we need to be open to being fearless. We would not exist if there weren’t people who cared. Who took care of us when we couldn’t. Those are the people who are there. Those are the people waiting, even if you can’t see them yet.

More importantly, when you do see that you are not alone, it allows you to create memories and experience trust. You can never really get rid of bad experiences, but creating new ones will help ease the bitterness and fear.

It’s a journey that I am always on, but I do believe you can become the best version of you when fear being hurt is closed.

#Loneliness #CBT #lonelinesskills #lonelinessve #lonelinessevenwhenaroundpeople #lonelinessisablessing #loneliness #depression #anxiety #suicide #lonely #lifesucks #therapy #sad #fear #insecurity #hurt #mentalhealth #youtube #livenow #dark

How to Make Co-Parenting Work

Co-parenting between the separated parents means that both have to share the responsibilities of children’s upbringing. Parents, who decide to do this, must cooperate to make it work. Following the co-parenting plan can be a
good start. However, saying it is easier than doing it. Problems will always rise especially in the case where parents haven’t resolved their internal conflicts.

The most common problem arising is that children keep seeing the ongoing battle between parents after the separation process. It’s unfortunate for the children because it will harm them psychologically. If you experience this problem, use a holistic co-parenting – which consider the arrangement of the co-parenting and the emotional aspect of all parties involved – to solve it. Here are the steps to do it:

Lose your fear
The reason why you keep fighting with your ex is that you still hold pain, as the result of the separation, within you. The pain derives from fear or trauma.

Can you see it now?

So fear or trauma is your conflict’s source. Now that you’ve found it, you have to lose it.

Here are the simple steps to do it:

• Let all your fear out by writing them down.
• Deal all your fear one by one.

For example, you’re afraid that you can’t handle the car’s matter which your ex usually did it for you. To lose your fear, go to the mechanic and learn how to deal with it. Once you manage to do it, you’ll gain confidence and fear no more.

Remember past fear and how you’d overcome i

This path down memory lane will make you think, “Hey! I’d overcome my fear. So I’ll be able to deal with this separation too.” This thought will strengthen you.

Cry out loud

Crying will help you in the process of losing fear. After that, you’ll feel relieved and see clearly. Thus, you’ll build positive communication with your ex who will likely give positive feedback for it. Once you do this, you have started a healthy co-parenting.

Ask your friends and family’s support

The process of letting out fear and afterward will take times. You’ll go through the ups and downs of the process. During the time, it’s better to ask for support/help from your friends and family.

As an outsider, they’ll be able to see your problem rationally. Therefore, at times you feel down, they can make you better and help you back to the track where you need to be to do healthy co-parenting.

However, if you think that your friends or family can’t help you due to whatever reasons, get the experts’ help.

Discuss the co-parenting in detail and make the win-win solutions agreement. Conflicts can also happen because of other aspects of co-parenting which are the kind of parenting style which you and your ex use in raising children and the financial matter. Therefore it’s important to discuss both in details.

During the discussion, let out all your thoughts of how you want the arrangement to be. Let your ex do the same. If both of you have differences, find the win-win solutions. So no one will be dissatisfied. Therefore no conflicts arise in the future.

Then make the agreement proved by the court. It’s an important step to do in a holistic co-parenting. This way you, your ex and most importantly your child will get all the deserved rights legally. In the case of unwanted events happen, the law will protect you.

Get me time

The next process you need to go through is that you must get your own me time. Spare time to do enjoying activities such as doing your hobbies, hanging out with your friends, meeting new people, traveling, etc. Do it while your child is with your ex.

Doing fun activities will refresh and relax you. You’ll get positive energy which will make you happy. Suggest your ex to do the same while your child is with you. That way, your ex will be happy too. The act of supporting your ex in term related to co-parenting is necessary also.

Because if your ex is in a healthy emotional state as you do, both of you can make your child happy as well. And this is the core of a holistic co-parenting.

Evaluate the co-parenting you’ve done

If conflicts still happen after all the efforts you’ve done. It’s time to evaluate the co-parenting arrangement. Asking the experts’ help is one thing you and your ex can do. They can give an objective evaluation, help both of you to figure out what’s wrong, and give alternative suggestions. After this evaluation, both of you may have to make a new decision about the co-parenting and repeat the above steps.

If conflicts still happen after all the efforts you’ve done. It’s time to evaluate the co-parenting arrangement. Asking the experts’ help is one thing you and your ex can do. They can give an objective evaluation, help both of you to figure out what’s wrong, and give alternative suggestions. After this evaluation, both of you may have to make a new decision about the co-parenting and repeat the above steps.

It seems tedious to do so but parenting – co-parenting or not – is a life’s time work. Just keep in mind that it’s for your beloved child. That way you’ll feel the hard work of co-parenting is worth to do.

#coparenting #parenting #divorce #blendedfamily #love #family #dad #children #kids #mom #son #marriage #stepparents #stepmom #daughter #bonusmom #stepson #familycourt #stepdaughter #stepkids #stepparenting #child #stepparent #bonuskids #bonusdaughter #bonusfamily #relationship #stepchildren