Mindfulness Project - October Update

Even though October isn't quite over, it's very close to ending and the next few days will be busy so I thought I'd take time while I could to provide an update on my October goals. This month was focused on health and wellness. Specifically for me it included:

1. Beginning to run again
2. Meeting with a nutritionist
3. Getting a physical
4. Getting my annual dental cleaning

And just overall a focus on my emotional and physical health.

I feel like this was one of the best month's ever. I was super busy with work (traveled each week) but it was good to have such a specific focus.

I did start running again, slowly. Literally I am very slow and having to walk a lot, which is so sad because it wasn't that long ago that I ran a half marathon. But you have to start somewhere and with the temperatures cooling off, this is my favorite time of year to run.

I also decided to meet with a nutritionist. I've been toying with this idea for a number of years (I even had an initial consultation with her a few years ago). But lately I just haven't been feeling great. I've had upset stomachs, headaches and I'm not sleeping well and my acne was getting bad again!

So I met with Carly from Nutritional Wisdom who a number of my colleagues have worked with. She's pretty intense but also very direct. After my initial meeting with her and a lengthy discussion, we both agreed that I'm in good health but that clearly something I'm eating isn't agreeing with me. So I completed a two week detox where I couldn't have dairy, grains, alcohol or caffeine. And while it was tough at times, especially when I was on the road, overall I felt great and sleeping better.

I'm now on a two week maintenance plan where I can introduce some grains, some dairy (goat and sheep's milk) and have some wine. Which, to be honest, were some of the things I've missed the most. I've been enjoying drinking herbal tea instead of coffee (which I never thought I'd say) and I haven't missed sweets at all.

Over the course of this maintenance plan we'll track what I'm eating and see how different things make me feel. It's obvious that if you eat crap, you'll feel like crap but sometimes I just need a reminder.

I also went for a routine physical, which I hadn't done in years. I got my cholesterol tested and everything was all in normal range. Getting my teeth cleaned wasn't hard for me, but since it happened to fall into this month I figure I should get credit for it.

So all in all I feel great about this month. Not only b/c I did things that felt good for me but they are also sustainable and helpful for more than just this month.

Onto November, where my focus is on relationships.

Pumpkins

My mom visited last weekend and since I was out of town most of the weekend I only had one day to spend with her, Lucie and Audrey (and Carl). So Carl was the great boyfriend he always is and spent the day with the girls.

We went to a pumpkin patch (note: a church lawn with pumpkins) and then out to lunch. Lucie insisted on pulling Buster on his leash and I mean pulling! I think the poor dog has some whiplash but I think he still had fun.

Fall Breezes

So Fall seems to be slowly working its way into Austin. The nights are so much cooler (50s and 60s) and tolerable. The days are still a bit hit or miss. Some days have been heavenly with highs in the 70s but most days still seem to get up to the 80s and even 90. Sigh.

In anticipation of Fall, though, Carl took on another home project - installing screens in all our windows!

For some reason, the only window in my house that has a screen is the tiny kitchen one above the sink. Not anymore - now they all do!

I literally left town for a work trip and came home to new screens in all the windows that Carl built and installed. Yep, I'm a pretty lucky girl......

LIVESTRONG Challenge

Every year I participate in some capacity in our annual LIVESTRONG Challenge. It's our signature fundraising event and includes a run/walk and bike ride. I've been both a volunteer and participant. Each year I'm so impressed by my colleagues who put the event on and am honored to support them.

This year I both volunteered and ran the 5k (well, ran/walked it). It's a tradition that Devon and I do the 5k together (our runniversary) and I look forward to it every year. It's also the kick off to my training season each year. Specifically the LIVESTRONG half marathon in February.

It was also an especially poignant event for me as a colleague and friend of mine just lost her husband to cancer. He was only 37 and had been battling his disease for over 12 years. For some reason this loss hit me especially hard and I thought about them a lot during the event. Not only does participating in the Challenge make me so proud of where I work but it reminds me why I do the work I do.

Proud Auntie

Last week I went over to see Lucie and Audrey after work. I hadn't seen them in over a month, since we were all at the beach. I think that's the longest that I've gone ever! It makes me so sad how busy I've been and that there hasn't been as much time for them. Good news is that my mom is coming in town this weekend to watch them while Chris and Missy go out of town. Bad news is I'm gone most of that time. But I'll have all day Sunday with them.

Lucie is growing into such a little girl - in most of the good ways! She's talkative and sweet and playful and still says Buster is her best friend. She's also mastering potty training! What a big girl!

Audrey just turned one and, like clockwork, started to walk. She's more and more confident each time she waddles across the room and is still a snuggle bug and an amazing sleeper.

I love both these girls so much, it makes my heart ache when I don't see them for awhile. Hopefully as work and my travel slow down, I'll have even more time for them.

Mindfulness Project - September Update

Another month has flown by. While I'm so happy that the temperatures are finally cooling off and summer is looking to be behind us, I'm reminded of how fast time flies.

September's mindfulness goal was to focus on distractions. By this I mean, how I spend my time - at least in the ways that seem to be mindless, unnecessary or even unhealthy.

The things I think I do as distractions that I was looking to modify are:

1. constantly checking my phone - for emails, texts, phone calls, etc. While I don't text and drive, I do talk and drive and will text at red lights and both are unnecessary. Why are we so available all the time?
2. watch tv without purpose. I've done this less and less since starting to date Carl b/c he rarely watches tv but when he's out of town I fall back into my old habits.

To address the above two items I thought I'd try out the following things:
1. leave my phone in my purse or another room in the evenings, especially when Carl is home.
2. not talk on the phone when I'm driving.
3. not turn on the tv in the morning before work or after work, unless watching something I taped on my dvr.
4. turn on music instead of tv.

It was both a good and bad month to do this in b/c I had two vacations scheduled. My thought was that I'd be able to relax on those trips and not think about work. That didn't exactly work, especially on my first trip due to some unexpected deadlines. But working by the pool was still certainly much better than working at my desk.

During Sonoma I was able to disconnect. While I couldn't figure out how to turn email off on my phone, I practiced good will power and didn't work for 3 days.

I've done a good job with changing my tv habits, though (although I'm watching tv as I type this) but I no longer have it on (as background noise) in the mornings and have been listening to music instead when making dinner.

So while I didn't have any big goals for the month, I think I did ok. I'm glad that I am aware of what I use as distractions and will continue to monitor them and try to change them.

Fall Planting

Austin is finally getting some Fall weather. Sadly, Fall around here still means 90s during the day but some cool overnight temps in the 60s. And because daylight hours are shortening, it's not hot for as long and you can actually eat dinner outside (which we did both nights this weekend). Apparently it also makes our garden happy!

For the past 3 weeks our garden has really taken on a rejuvenated life. We thought we were done. That the hot, hot summer had taken its toll on our little garden and we'd peaked in June. Turns out, we were wrong!

Over the course of the past 3 weeks, we've had a resurgence. We had only 2 eggplants all summer but now we have 10 in bloom! Our green peppers and jalapenos are also coming back to life. The herbs have never really suffered so those are still doing great. The biggest news is that our tomato plants have turned out over 30 new tomatoes and more are growing as I type this!

So while I have visions of future eggplant parmesan and pico de gallo, we're making the most of our tomato situation. Last week, we (mostly Carl) made tomato sauce with the tomatoes and herbs from our garden and we finally got around to eating it last night. It was delicious!

We're now planning our Fall garden, which will include beets, onions, lettuce and spinach. We're getting a little bit of a late start and using seeds so wish us luck!