'DASH' to it!

So I'm going to switch topics for a minute here. 

I have high blood pressure. 

And I don't say that jokingly because of my crazy days with kids.

I have diagnosed high blood pressure that I take medication for. 

I have for about 5 years now. 

It's part genetics, part diet, part weight. 

I kept getting tired of them just saying that it was my weight when I knew people heavier than me didn't have that problem, and I know of cases of people who are lighter than me do as well. 

So even though I don't think my weight is 100% to blame, it's definitely something I want to work on. 

I tried different meal plans but I never connected with them because they weren't focused on my high blood pressure issue. 

That is until I found the DASH diet. DASH stands for Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension.

I'm 3 days in, and even though I've had a couple slip ups, I'm good for most of the day and I'm finding it easy to do!

Heck I've lost 3 pounds since Monday ;). 

It has 2 phases. 1st phase you cut out fruit and grains. 2nd phase you add them back in but with whole grain options only. Not a huge fan of white bread as is, thank goodness. 

So I just wanted to let you guys know what I've been up to in terms of eating. 

I'm liking the ease of it and how consistent I've been even though it's only been two days. 

Hope to keep you updated in future posts!

-M.

Some Things Never Change...

So hopefully none of you betting folks thought I would keep up with a post a day because you'd have either lost or won big ;).

Not exactly sure what caused my hiatus but it feels like one day turned to two and then suddenly it's been almost two weeks since I've posted. 

I blame getting back to school but then having snow days for hindering my inspiration lol.

Anywho!! I'm back..for now..lol if you know me or this blog at all you know I'm always on the go.

So sometimes it's challenging to find time to sit down and just write.

But I wanted to get back to it tonight. 

I'm going to start by saying: be nice to people.

I know that that is super simple advice but just do it. It's not hard and people appreciate it. Heck, if my fourth graders know that, then you should too!! Unless you are in third grade and haven't learned it yet ;).

Also, don't be afraid to reach out to people when you feel lonely or sad, they will help rather than criticize you...if they are nice (if they are not, see above ;)). 

Like I had posted already this year: you are not alone. 

It's amazing what swallowing your pride and telling a truth or two will do for your mental health. People need to know that you are anxious, or lonely or depressed. Talk about it. Be ok with being truthful about it. You got this!

I'm here for you. Even if you just stumbled upon this blog or are an avid reader. I'm here for you. I've pretty much been in most situations so I have advice and plus I'm almost 30..so..yeah that has to count for something right?

And on that note I think I'll call this a blog post...

Talk later..byeeee.

-M.

Cold

Today was cold. 

My car wouldn’t start cold. 

So some advice:

Make sure your plugin actually works and isn’t glitchy.

Have an awesome friend who will pick you up and drive all over town for you looking for a battery charger.

Have an AMA membership. 

Like to drive to warm your vehicle.

Pray for warmer weather.

Good luck and stay warm.

-M.

Things I Love Thursday!! Jan 11

Things I Love:

When my car starts in minus 33 weather

Hot coffee

When my class has Music in the morning

Disney songs

Cilantro

Quiet classrooms

Naps

Country Heat

Leftovers

Friends who check in

My new workout pants

Water

Is Big Brother watching?

Ok, so super random post, but I've got semi blogger's block so here goes..

I swear in the last two days I've had instances where things have semi creeped me out. 

Yesterday at lunch a coworker was talking about silicon cleaner things at the table and then I went upstairs and was scrolling through Instagram like an hour later and an ad I'd never seen before is in my feed.

And what's it for??

SILICON CLEANER THINGS!!

It freaked me out so I showed another coworker who was there too!!

And tonight!

So I went 'home' last week and found a cassette tape of Big Shiney Tunes 7 and rekindled my love of 'LoverCall' on there. 

Now I'm out tonight at my local Boston Pizza and what song do I hear playing on the speakers??

LOVERCALL!!

Totally tripped me out and I couldn't believe it at first!

Anywho...like I said...slow blog day lol

Has anything like this ever happened to you??

-M.

Ponderings on a Tuesday Night

When you live alone, you tend to spend time thinking...a lot of time thinking...

I know for myself I'm a chronic overthinker...yay being a Virgo lol.

But over the last couple weeks, my overthinking has gone into overload. 

I overthink when I'm trying to sleep, I overthink when I'm driving to work, I overthink when I'm at work... and the list goes on and on. 

Why do I do it?

I wish I knew.

Probably a good 80% of the things I overthink about aren't even real...

I know that it's frustrating. 

I know it's not good for me.

I know it strains my relationships with people.

I know I'm almost crying because of the reason above. 

I just can't stop. I can't stop wondering if someone is mad at me because they didn't smile at me. I can't stop wondering if my relationship is going to end like my last one. I can't stop wondering if I'm good enough.

I think that's the major source of this overthinking. 

This constant state of not being good enough even though everything around me is telling me that I am. 

I have to start believing that I'm good enough and that I deserve all the greatness that's in my life. 

I have to believe it for myself. I can't just believe it because my friends or family tell me it's true, but I have to start believe it for me. 

I just have to start...

-M.

MMMMonday - January 8

So there are times when I make something super yummy for supper and I feel like I should share it with others. 

As you read in a previous blog post, I have a goal to decrease my weight. That means that I need to find healthier alternatives to my favs. 

Now I was kind of craving tacos...because...tacos? But I didn't want to fill up on fried tortillas. 

As I was scanning Pinterest this recipe caught my eye:

https://www.cookingclassy.com/turkey-taco-lettuce-wraps/

and I decided that I'd try them myself!!

Here are what mine look like:

Close right? ;)

Anywho, the recipe is in the link below the original photo...

YOU SHOULD TRY THESE!!

-M.

Back To It

I go back to work tomorrow. 

After being off for 18 days, that's kind of daunting. 

I'm super excited for routine, seeing how much my littles have grown and seeing my coworkers but it's still daunting. 

It's a bit tricky to transition back to work after being off for almost three weeks. 

I want to do the best I can for the littles and I want them to come back and get into the flow as soon as we can. 

As today was my last day off I decided to treat myself to some of my faves:

Starbuck's Caramel Brule Latte 

Visits with a great friend

The song 'LoverCall' by Danko Jones

Justin Timberlake's new single Filthy

Cactus Cut Potatoes from Boston Pizza

and over 100 episodes of Simpsons on my PVR. 

I feel refreshed and super stoked to go back to work. 

Now we'll see how long that lasts... ;)

-M. 

Goals

Well it's officially been about 6 days of the New Year so I figured it's time to start focusing on my goals for the year. 

Also, I go back to work on Monday which means routine where I can implement these goals. 

Goal 1: Clean up!

I want to declutter my home. I want to have a place for something or that something doesn't have a place with me. I want to display my things or make them useful or else why do I have them? I kinda started this the other day when I was cleaning out my car for people to ride in the back...I know..it's bad. It felt good though! To save something or chuck it was relieving. I want more of that feeling!!

Goal 2: Get Back to Me!

Last year around this time I hit a low in my weight that made me super stoked and proud of myself. Then I proceeded to gain it all back over the year. This year I want to get back to that weight and even lower! I want my health to be the best it can and for doctors to stop blaming all of my issues on my weight! I want to be the best me I can especially since I'm turning the big 3-0 in less than 8 months!?!

That's it! 

That's all!

Now I know I 'only' have two goals but that's all I want for right now. I want achievable things that help me along with my life. Other goals will come and I will talk about them in future posts, but today, this is what I want to focus on.

What are your goals?

-M.

Anxious.

Last night I'm pretty sure I had a minor anxiety attack. 

I woke up really hot, my heart was beating fast and my chest hurt. 

It was not fun. 

Especially since it kinda lasted from 2 am to 6 am. 

No sleep = unhappy Marie. 

I prayed for the morning. I prayed for reprieve. I prayed for rest. 

I swear everyday I learn something new or remember something about myself. I remember kind of feeling like this a few times this summer and then it dawned on me why. 

I don't do well idle. 

I need to be moving, creating, doing something!

Even in my car I don't like to just sit, I like to drive. 

In my classroom, I like to dance. 

In my life, I WANT TO MOVE! (;))

But...I digress...going back to the original topic. 

Anxiety. 

As a wise woman once told me "anxiety is so sneaky and convincing". 

It makes you think things you don't want to think and feel things you don't want to feel. 

But you know what I don't want you to feel?

Alone. 

Because you're not.

If you have anxiety believe me you are not alone.

You are not the only crazy one out there overthinking life or situations. 

You are not the only one that can't sleep or can't be awake because it's too much. 

You are not the only one who lays in her childhood bed and cries while the rest of her family laughs in the other room. 

You are not alone. 

And neither am I. 

We can do this together. 

We can voice these anxieties and face them head on. 

We can say our truth and not be scared of it. 

We can take back our lives and our mental health. 

Just remember: you are not alone.

-M. 

Things I Loved About Thursday

1. Whole grain bagels with peanut butter and jam. 

2. Being able to open the jam jar after getting my brother to try, running it under hot water and then banging the seam on the edge of the counter. 

3. Cleaning out my car. 

4. Crispy Chicken Pecan Salad from Boston Pizza.

5. New winter boots and yoga pants. 

6. Medium Double Doubles. 

7. My brother getting his birthday gift from me finally after being almost a month and a half late. 

8. My Mom's homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. 

9. PJ pants. 

10. Lip Sync Battle. 

11. Afternoon naps. 

12. My Mom's pasta salad.

13. Alyssa

Highs and Lows

Day 3 got me.

As I fell asleep last night I realized I hadn't posted a new blog post. 

Then I started reflecting (as I always do) about what happened during the day.

Yesterday was my brother's day with me. 

We played games together, I bought him lunch and we just got to spend a day together like we used to when we were kids. 

These days are rare. 

I live 2.5 hours away from him and we don't see each other that often and even when we do it's not just the two of us. 

He's the only sibling I have so I like these little throwbacks to our childhood. 

That was the high of yesterday. 

The low?

Finding out that the gaming system I bought my brother online for Christmas was nothing but a fraud and a roughly $85 scam.

That one hurt. 

I hate disappointing people and feeling used and stupid.

Wasn't a good feeling. 

So I wasn't super inspired to post yesterday...but I'm catching up today!!

This leads me to remember that we all have bad days, bad moments, bad weeks, but we don't have bad lives. 

We have to focus on the good, focus on the gaming, focus on the bonds and let those that we have bonded with help us deal with the frauds, the fakes, the users, the awfulness. 

I know I was thankful for my family (blood or not) last night.

Love y'all.

-M.

'Home'Made

Day 2 ftw!! 

Look at me go!!

Two days in a row...woot woot!!

So I drove to my childhood home today, where my parents still conveniently live, and I found the signs of home so easily recognizable.

The Athabasca River bridge.

The Spruce trees.

The feeling I get when I pull into town. 

The memories.

-M.

Happy 2018!!

Hey guys!!

HAPPY 2018!!

Hope you all had great New Year's celebrations and welcomed in 2018!

So I'm gonna try something this year...I'm going to try and blog everyday...

I know everyone out there is probably like, Marie, you barely posted at all last year, why would you try and blog everyday this year?

Well, I dunno but it feels right. 

I'm turning 30 this year and I feel like that is semi-significant. 

I want to be more open, more honest, more me and enjoy my hobbies more. 

One of my favorite hobbies is blogging because I can look back years from now and remember where I was and who I was. 

I can picture my life, and reminisce. 

I can learn from my mistakes. 

And hey..maybe you can learn from my mistakes as well ;). 

Cuz goodness knows I make enough of them!

Anywho not gonna type out everything I wanna say now because then I'll have no content later!

See..thinking ahead ;). 

Can't wait for this 365 day journey! 

Love y'all!

-M.