What A Difference A Year Makes

Unless you live under a rock, you know that tonight is New Years Eve.  Tonight we imbibe in alcohol and all the excesses we love.  Good food, good friends, good spirits, everything good.

Unless you're a hermit, like me.  :)

I did in fact purchase myself some fabulous champagne, some delicious popcorn, my favorite chocolate bar, and a few spa-night items.

My plan for this evening is a little more subdued than the rest of the free world.  I intend to slow down, unplug, and reflect.  Coupled with some delicious snacks -- this sounds like an ideal evening for me.

Scrolling back through my social media accounts, I am not altogether unimpressed with my year.   Did I accomplish all I set out to?  Probably not.  I set unrealistic goals.  I also have made a few big changes with my life.  Big to me, anyway.

I'm pretty pleased with where this year has taken me.  I'm excited for next year, too.  I don't necessarily believe in 'New Years Resolutions'... but I do think it's important to have goals.

So -- tonight I'll also work on creating a goal board.  Or journal.  I  haven't quite decided which will work best for me.

As you enjoy the celebrations tonight and tomorrow I pray that you reflect and feel blessed by all the happenings this year.  I also pray that you're filled with hope for the future.

See you next year!  See you in 2015!

S&S,

Shannon

Grey Skies

Ever have just "One of those days"?


Today is that day for me. I've been disgusted by 75% of what I've seen posted on Facebook. Between the jumping to conclusions, the bad-mouthing, the spreading of misinformation... I am about over it.


I've been contemplating shutting my Facebook off for a few weeks now... but let's be real here... I can't. Mostly because I'm addicted. But also because that other 25% is just sooo good. I love the happy stories. I love when people share something that makes me reconsider how I view the world around me. I love when I click into the comment section and see someone standing up for a person who is getting beat down by the trolls. It makes me feel like maybe there ARE still decent people left in this world, ya know?


Today that 25% is just being overshadowed and it makes me sad.


I'm the type of person who always looks for the good. People who know me well are constantly telling me they 'hate' when they come to me to complain about a problem (or a person) and I comeback with a "welll......" sort of statement.


It's been happening a lot here at work. Two of my close coworkers very distinctly do not like each other... but both are friends with me. They both come and complain to me about the other and I'm constantly defending and trying to smooth things over. I feel like a broken record saying things like "Well, I know she's been having a hard time" or "the reason why she gets so mad about that is..."

I don't understand why other people don't sit and think about others' views. I feel like we're all so quick to assume that things are done to us with malice. I've come to find that's not always the case. It's hard. I know it is. But there has to be a little bit of a disconnect in emotion-filled problems... because there's two sides to every story. Right?

I may also be sad because I've been considering a situation for a good long while... I think that I've finally come to a conclusion today... and It's not going to be easy to implement. In fact, some friends may hate me for it.... but ultimately... the only person I have to please is myself.... and I've been faking it for a loooong time.


The grey sky is never grey for long... the sunshine will always fight to be seen... I'm just hangin' out dancing in the rain waiting for that first burst of sunlight on my face.

S&S,
Shannon

New Adventures

I love my life.  I really do.

There are just times where I wish things were a little more exciting.   Where I wish I had more things to fill my time.   Now is one of those moments.

I was recently given the idea to start up my own Etsy shop.  I loved the idea as I've been toying with an Etsy shop for awhile now.   This was all brought about by the sheer amount of homemade goodness I crafted for Christmas.   That stuff was really FUN to make.   Like -- super fun.

I think this could be a good thing!

My shop is ready to go... but I need a name and I'm drawing a blank.

Help me come up with a shop name.  Pretty please.  

The person who comes up with a name I like the best will earn themselves a free bath bomb -- I'm desperate!  ;)

S&S
-Shannon

Eating Clean(ER)

Good Morning my fellow party people :)

If you're a Central Ohio dweller, can we just talk about today's sunrise?  Holy cow.  It was BREATHTAKING!  I wanted to snap a picture but sadly I was driving the opposite direction and my feeble attempts at taking a picture through my filthy rear windshield weren't working out too well.

Last week I decided to try my hand at the New Body Makeover by Blogilates.  This also happened to coincide with the Love Your Body Challenge by Tone It Up.  These two challenges happen to match up with two of my goals for this year.  (1) to eat healthier and (2) to move my body more.  I struggle with the diet aspect mainly.  I decided to take last week and this week to focus on getting my nutrition up to par.  I failed miserably last week.  I have noticed that if I fail to plan, I plan to fail.  If I don't meal prep or have a sound game plan for my day/week then I fly off course.  In all honesty, even with my straying far from my intended meal plan, I didn't do too bad.   I really the breakfasts I've had on this plan.  I decided to stick with something simple -- oatmeal.  I cooked steel cut oats, plain in water.  I like the oatmeal to be thicker (you'll see why here in a minute).  I take half a banana and mash it in the bottom of a plasticware container.  I add a serving of the oatmeal on top and mix it together with a dash (or three) of cinnamon.  (I really like cinnamon) Last week I added dried cherries -- this week I added blueberries I picked this past summer and froze.  Then I put that thick porridge in the fridge  to hang out until I'm ready for it.   In the morning I grab out the container, microwave it for 1-2 minutes (depending on how hot I want my cereal that day) and then I drizzle some milk on top.  (that's why I like it to start thick...the milk thins it out and gives me a calcium boost)   I seriously don't even miss the sugar because the cinnamon and the banana make it DELICIOUS!

My coffee is another matter entirely.  I am cutting back on the amount of sugar but black coffee and I just aren't pals.  I'm trying to not use the chemical sugar free sweeteners/syrups because I have read that real sugar is actually better than the chemicals from a 'clean eating' standpoint.   This makes sense.  However, I know in my heart of hearts that I am a sugar and carb junkie.  My morning coffee is only perpetuating my sugar use. 

Lunch has been a delicious rice and lentil salad.  I added some veggies (carrots, onion, scallions) and I slice and egg on top.  It doesn't sound like much but the dressing I whipped up with it is quite delicious and vinegar-y.  I like.   

Dinner has been primarily the area where I falter.  The plan was for tilapia, sweet potato and broccoli or wilted spinach.  However, I find myself eating other things.  Nothing necessarily horrid, but not what's on my plan.  This week I opted to grab a few soups to supplement my meals.  They are by no means 'clean' but I think once I get the hang of the whole eating what I plan that I can then venture back into making my own soups.  (I love making soups!)

Snacks have primarily been veggies with some hummus or fruits with nuts.  (apples/oranges with almonds or nut butter)

I find myself looking for more and more recipes that I can incorporate into my new lifestyle.  This one came up on my Facebook feed today.  It's a recipe for overnight oats/summer porridge that sounds simply divine.  It's still a little cold here in the Midwest, but I see this being a staple during the warmer months.  I have seriously rather enjoyed having my meals all prepped up and ready to grab in the morning.  It makes sticking to the 'plan' a lot easier from the start of the day.  :)  

I intend to add some salads into the plan for lunches that incorporate more greens, but I am also really loving the whole lentil salad.  I am envisioning a southwestern black bean salad with quinoa and corn (and a healthy dose of cilantro!)   

I am finding that a lot of the 'clean' recipes I've come across seem to rely heavily on meat.  Chicken to be precise.  While I don't mind eating fish (as a pescatarian) I draw the line on land dwelling fleshy animals.  I am a little wary of relying so heavily on any one protein source as there bound to be vitamins and minerals that it lacks.  So, I have been focusing on fish, eggs, and beans.   This weekend I broke down and also bought a few pots of yogurt.  I realized when I got home that I had failed to even look at the nutrition info and ingredient list as it's far from 'clean' but I am not one to waste food. 

What are some of your favorite healthy/clean meals?

This week I am once again focusing on my food choices but I am also working on incorporating some movement into my daily routine.  I believe the dogs will be getting some actual walks instead of a quick trip out to do their business.  (Chihuahuas don't tend to require walks like larger dogs.  They get a lot of exercise just playing indoors)  I will also be hooking up the Wii again and trying my hand again at some Wii fit games.  I know they're not a substitute for physical fitness but as it's the winter and I'm also working on my budget, I needed to cut some corners.   I have workout DVDs as well that I will be blowing the dust off and revisiting.  My current favorite is the Beach Babe DVD by Tone It Up.  I am also thinking of purchasing the POP Pilates DVD by Blogilates as well.  However, again, I'm trying to cut back on my spending.

Do you have an app/website you frequent for fitness inspiration/diet advice/workouts?  Blogilates and Tone It Up are both apps and websites that I frequent and love.  What are some of your favorites?  Let me know so I can check them out -- a girl can never be too informed.

S&S-
Shannon

It's a Pet Menagerie!

So for those of you who don't follow my every obsessive post on Facebook....

I found a new cat.  Her name is Elsa.  (Yes, from the new Disney movie - Frozen)  I named her this because I found her on December 20th.  It was cold and icy outside.  Her paws had (and still have) frostbite and yet she didn't care.  ("The cold never bothered me anyway")  :)

She was skin and bones and covered -- and I do mean COVERED in fleas  Yet somehow she was still trusting enough to let me pick her up and carry up to my apartment.  <3

Home girl was lookin' ROUGH!

Here she is a mere 10 days later.

She had horrible diarrhea (I assume from not eating for so long) but it was nothing a sensitive stomach blend of food and plain yogurt couldn't fix.  She (along with the rest of the pets) got Capstar to immediately kill those blasted fleas she was covered in.  That stuff is NO JOKE.  She hasn't had a flea since and luckily my apartment seems to be flea free. :)

Because she's an unaltered 'queen' Myrrh cat caught the express train to Neuterville.  He was neutered last monday - the 30th and given all his vaccines.   I am holding off on spaying Elsa until she's got a little more meat on her bones and can handle the anesthesia.


 Here they are meeting for the first time :)

Because she's still unaltered and Myrrh is evidently not considered sterile for another couple months... They're still being kept apart unless I'm there to supervise.... like the mean old teacher at the school dance. :)  "Arm's length apart!"


I had a hard time with her name.  I was pondering something more Christmas-y.  But I am very strange with pet names.

I had a cat - Mouschi.  That's the name of Peter's cat in the Diary of Anne Frank.  I named her that because she has the 'M' marking on her forehead.

Myrrh also has the M.

I had Chinchillas -- Cherruve (Dragonfly in a South American dialect -- if I remember correctly) and Diamond

Sugar Gliders -- 2 girls, Mocha and Latte which I named.  and 2 boys Bubba and .... I can't remember the other's name.... probably because the boys weren't technically mine and I didn't name them. Ha!

I've had lots of Rats.  Audrey, Wilbur, Basil and Watson, Templeton.

And then there's the dogs::

Bella's name was Tinkerbell when I rescued her. (The rescue chose the name)  It was a little too Paris Hilton-esque so I went with Bell(a). :)

Nygel's previous family called him Nitro.  I wanted something that sounded similar...and America's Next Top Model happened to be on that day -- so his name is Nygel Barker.  It's a pretty good dog name if you ask me :)

I put WAY too much though into pet names.... but it always brings me a lot of joy when someone says "Oh! that's a unique name"   -- obviously I *never* hear that about Bella.   *sigh*

S&S-

Shannon