Feeling Wholeheartedly: September 2013

Monday, September 30, 2013

baby brain is no joke...

baby brain... "momnesia"

When you get pregnant they say that you're so preoccupied with preparing for baby's arrival that you tend to "slip up," or become a little "forgetful." #totalunderstatement

Here are a few funny moments that myself and some of my friends have experienced...

I once took another person's grocery cart at the market down an entire isle before I realized what I had done.

I left for spin class without my spin shoes.

A friend of mine in Houston once put a hair dryer away with the pots and pans and couldn't find it for weeks.

I left my groceries in the car for 6 hours after I got home.

My friend left her keys in the ignition of her car overnight on the street... lucky for her it was a well lit street!

I set a date for 3 people I was interviewing to go to a yoga class and didn't check the schedule to confirm that there was a class. There wasn't... I had to take the 3 girls to a nearby bar to interview! #professional

A friend in New Jersey put pacifiers and nipples in boiling water to sanitize them, ran upstairs for one quick thing - got distracted and didn't remember until all the water was gone and they completely melted in the pot on the stove. All except the nipples, those didn't melt. Just 2 nipples in a pool of boiling plastic!

I woke up and fed my dog but never took her out for a walk. I didn't realize until I left for work what I had done.

A friend in Chicago put her car keys and phone in the refrigerator. Her husband found them a few hours later.

With 5 weeks left, I have a feeling I'll have more stories to share. Feel free to share this post with a hot mama or leave your stories in the comments section below.

Monday, September 23, 2013

personal core values...

set goals that stem from what you value.

What is a core value?

It's what gets you out of bed in the morning. It's what drives and motivates you. You wouldn't let anyone take this away from you. It's what makes you, YOU!

Generate a list of YOUR values.

Think about it for a few minutes. Write them down. Choose one to start with and ask yourself, "what is it about this that I value?"

For example, I value finish lines. Why? A finish line for me represents going after something I wanted and achieving it. Crossing the finish line of a marathon is one of the greatest highs I've ever had in my life. I want everything I do to be done with as much sweat and determination as I put into running marathons.

Be sure everything you do, every action that you take, is in line with what you value.

If its not, stop doing it. If you value your health and want to lose weight, stop eating ice cream every night. If you want to reduce your risk of cancer, stop smoking. If you value love and you're in a relationship that's toxic, get out! If you value passion, ensure that you enjoy everything you do. If you value volunteering, get out their and volunteer! It's pretty simple once you know what you value.

Why is this relevant?

It is so easy to get caught up in everyday life. You'll blink and two weeks have past. I've found myself in a place where I wasn't really generating any results in my personal life. Sound familiar? I had goals written down but I wasn't doing anything about them. Getting reconnected with my values reminded me why I set them in the first place and re energized me to take action. Sometimes all we need is a sweet little reminder.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

make this now...

Last week, I was on vacation with family and we ate dinner at a lovely little gem of a restaurant in Naples, Florida. I had an apple salad that just blew my mind! It's insanely simple and easy to recreate. Here is what you need:

1 Green Apple (make sure its chilled!)
A little bit of Manchego cheese (type of Spanish cheese)
Chives (optional but delicious)
Dash of EVOO ( Make your kitchen look fancy with this!)
Quick squeeze of lemon juice

Use a mandolin to shred the apple and the cheese. A mandolin will make your life 100 times easier! Check out this oneDon't have a mandolin? Use a knife and chop like matchsticks (see picture below.) Toss in a bowl with fresh chopped chives and the EVOO and lemon.

Plate up...eat up! Enjoy.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

218 days...

I've been pregnant for 218 days... and last night sh*t got real.

Last week we attended childbirth class with a local doula and last night night we toured the hospital. That's right! We're having a baby in 9 weeks! Walking the halls of the hospital made it so real. This is happening.

It's such an exciting time. It's also pretty scary. We are venturing unknown waters. All we can do is prepare ourselves as best we can and know that everything will be OK, and probably better than OK.

My goal is to have an intervention free, natural hospital birth. No drugs, no epidural. This will be the absolute most physically and mentally challenging goal I'll probably ever take on... AND I'M SO EXCITED.

I'm getting a lot of advice that I should however, prepare for the worst case scenario, so that I'm not completely devastated if my vision of birth can't play out the way I plan. I get that and totally respect that. In the end I know that my doctor and my body will know what needs to happen to get her out safely but I'm stubborn...

I'm preparing for our baby's arrival in a similar way I prepare for marathons. I envision myself at the finish line. I plan for the BEST. I'm mediating daily, practicing prenatal yoga, holding squats and warriors twos for what feels like an absurd amount of time. I'm reading books on birth (see list below.) I'm talking about my fears with my husband and we're squashing them. I've even created my mantra for when I feel like quitting... "I am doing it."

Do you hold yourself back from going for your really big goals by preparing for the worst? Prepare for what you WANT. Don't hold back. GO FOR IT. If you fail at least then you will know did everything you could and you won't have regrets.

I'll be sure to report back in approximately 62 days and let you know how it all goes. I'm going for it!