February Recap

February didn't go as smoothly as January because of a trip to DHMC and a visit from a nasty stomach bug, but I'm going strong with my goals and Charlie's doing well with trying new foods. We had broccoli several times and he just pops it in his mouth!

To start, my goals were as follows:
-Meditate for 20 minutes every day
-Exercise for 30 minutes every day
-Drink at least 2 Nalgene bottles (roughly 10 glasses of water) every day
-Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies every day (still one of the harder goals)

I've also added two smaller goals:
-Write down 3 things I am grateful for every day
-Write down 1 positive event from the last 24 hours

I attended the Second Sunday Sit at my yoga studio at the beginning of the month and my instructor mentioned a video she had recently seen about training your brain to be more positive. She later emailed us a link to the video (which is pretty funny). The speaker, Shawn Achor, believes there are five ways to train your brain to be more positive: write down three things you are grateful for daily, journal about one positive experience in the past 24 hours, exercise, meditate and perform a random act of kindness (he suggests sending off a quick email praising or thanking someone in your social network).

Exercise (which I can never spell correctly - I always use a z) and meditation are already a part of my daily routine. Keeping a gratitude journal is something I've seen pop up several times in the past year so I decided to make use of one of the old journals I had tucked away in my desk drawer. I've missed a few days, but I'm really enjoying reviewing my day by writing down three things I'm grateful for and one positive event from that day. I do it after I meditate and it takes less than five minutes out of my day. Although my journal is pretty short right now, it's been fun to look back at other days and see what I've written. I'm looking forward to seeing it at the end of the year.

I completed 7 books in February which puts my total at 12 so far this year.

February
Stacy Hawkins Adams - The Someday List (Mommy Bookclub pick) (not a fan)
Laurie Halse Anderson - Speak
Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale
Tatiana de Rosnay - A Secret Kept
Darien Gee - Friendship Bread (Library Bookclub pick) (fun fluffy read)
Jodi Picoult - Change of Heart
Alexandra Ripley - Scarlett (loved it)

The Little Things

It's so easy to forget the little things. Those little moments throughout your day that never fail to make you smile, no matter how many things have gone wrong in your day. I thought I'd share some of my favorites so I have something to reference when I need a pick-me-up. :)



The smell and feel of opening a new book
The smooth, creamy, minty bite of a Peppermint Patty
A warm cup of Sleepytime tea with the perfect amount of milk and honey
An ice cold glass of lemonade
My herb garden in the spring

Playing a game of Scrabble with my hubby
Crossing items off my to-do list
Cleaning my house from top to bottom (it rarely happens, but oh, it feels so good!)
Rolling out bread dough

Reading a book to the boys at bedtime
Rubbing Peanut's belly
Mixing up dough for chocolate chip cookies

A warm cup of milk and honey in my favorite sunflower mug at bedtime
Gerbera daisies
Hanging clothes to dry on the clothesline
Spending a morning or afternoon hiking with my family

The spicy smell of my baking cabinet when I open its doors
Beef & Barley Soup in the crock pot on a fall day
Watching Charlie tell a story

Warm Chai tea with milk
The smells of Christmas
Apple picking!
Eating a freshly picked apple
Rainbows

Going for a walk on a crisp autumn day
French Toast with Orange Syrup
Isaac's smile

Getting a hug from Charlie
Sweeping
Days that Charlie actually takes a nap (so rare!)

Mystery rides with the family
Skinny dipping in the pool! (sorry, no pictures :))
Isaac and his binky

Spending time laughing and talking with old friends
Hearing Charlie say, "I love you, Mi"


What makes you happy?