Category: What I’m Into

what i’m into – that’s keeping me sane {december 2015}

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Pic. What I'm Into. December 2015

Once again, I am pleased to be linking up with Leigh Kramer and her monthly What I’m Into post. This month has been very busy for me and I have been leaning heavily on my sanity savers! You can also check out some of the other things that I incorporated into my December here.

  • Dylan’s World: Yes, this is appearing for a second What I’m Into post. Buddy Man really loves this. Each episode is 2 to 3 minutes long. A new episode is available once a week and now there are enough episodes to last 30 minutes if I run each episode back-to-back. Thirty minutes of uninterrupted time to cook, clean, whatever. Sanity Saver!
  • In early December, I had the privilege of co-hosting a Beachbody 21-Day Challenge with Randi Burke of Team Burke Fitness. I LOVE these Challenges. In them, we’re encouraged to eat clean, exercise daily, and stay hydrated. Individuals participate from all over the country and meet-up on Facebook. With my Obliger Tendency, described in Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before, groups (aka external motivation) keep me focused way more than if I was out there trying to make these changes by myself. Much gratitude to all the members of this group!
  • I LOVE my Fitbit Flex – a wireless activity + sleep wristband! I love it because it keeps track of my steps as well as a pretty accurate description of my sleep patterns throughout the night. You can also record your water intake as well. This month, I have tried to get my goal of 10,000 steps a day and have been pretty successful. Reason? Fitbit allows you to have friends and participate in Challenges: Goal Day, Workweek Hustle, Weekend Warrior, etc. Many thanks to Joy, Nicole, and my mom for setting up and keeping these Challenges going. It has kept us all moving during the Holidays!
  • I cut my my shoulder-length hair! Cutting my hair has reduced my styling time by two-thirds! Definitely a sanity saver!
  • While I love the Holidays, it is easy to get caught up in the busyness-all the stuff that we have to do. I am very happy to have kept it simple this year: a quiet Christmas with my family.
  • And finally, as you read this, I’m headed to my vacation on the beach! For me, the beach is one of the few places where I can shut-off my mind completely and absolutely the best way to bring in the New Year!

what i’m into – that’s keeping me sane {november 2015}

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Pic. What I'm Into. November 2015

I’m so excited to be linking up again with Leigh Kramer who does these wonderful round-ups called “What I’m Into” every month.

I hope every one had a Happy Thanksgiving! And speaking of thanksgiving, this month, I have been focusing on gratitude and appreciating the day-to-day experiences of my life.

  • One of my favorite haunts on the web, Modern Mrs. Darcy (I mention her a lot don’t I?), posted an article about the Norwegians and winter. Read it here. Since I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and dread the winter time, I am using the article’s content to help myself have an enjoyable Winter 2015/2016. Turns out it’s all about your attitude/mindset. Go figure, huh?
  • And speaking of mindset, every November, I try to focus especially on the present things for which I am grateful. I highlighted a few this year here.
  • I took a number of 5-mile walks this month in preparation for the Bridgestreet Half Marathon this April.  The pic is from one of those beautiful walks. I am sure the walks are helping me stay sane.  Gotta get my steps in!
  • Doubling up recipes and freezing the extra is definitely keeping me sane this month. Chili, minestrone soup, potpie filling, homemade pizza crust, cornbread, and BBQ sauce all in my deep freezer in the garage. Sanity savers!
  • Roma! This is a grain beverage, made with roasted malt barley with a touch of chicory and it doesn’t taste half bad. It’s the taste of coffee without the caffeine. And while I try to avoid caffeine as a general rule, while nursing Buddy Man, caffeine has been a strict no-no! Also, this is another great way to enjoy the cooler temps: warm beverages!
  • Discovered a new YouTube channel and show called Dylan’s World, a delightful, refreshing, short, program for kids by kids. Buddy Man loves it! It’s the only show he’s into and thus, I’m into it. You can check it out here. It’s very good.
  • Slowed my reading down considerably this month. More about that next Quick Lit.
  • Although I didn’t listen to many podcast episodes this month, I did listen to a couple that featured Elizabeth Gilbert. I love the sound of her voice! Her writing is pretty good too. I have been listening to a lot more music recently with one particular album on repeat: Stone Rose by Ola Gjeilo. The music is lyrical piano and a mix between classical, jazz, and a little pop. Great music for introspection; very soothing and relaxing.
  • Almost got sucked down the rabbit hole of The Good Wife and old episodes of The Amazing Race on Amazon Prime but I have managed to extricate myself from both of them. Just found out the old episodes of Survivor are available on CBS All Access. Oh boy! And who, along with me, is looking forward to the season 3 of HGTV’s Fixer Upper premiering December 1! Aren’t Chip and Joanna the bestest!?!?!?

What are you into that’s keeping you sane? Perhaps I should try it.

enjoy life…

what i’m into – that’s keeping me sane {october 2015}

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Pic. What I'm Into. October 2015The usual Friday’s “secret” is being preempted by a new type of post for Shannan Enjoys Life. Today, I’m excited to be  linking up with Leigh Kramer who does these wonderful round-ups called What I’m Into of what she’s into for the month. I found her through one of my absolute favorite haunts on the web, Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly What I’m Into posts. The idea to create this kind of post once a month appealed to me because it will help me be more mindful of what I’m doing throughout the month.

So here’s my first of what I hope to be many What I’m Into That’s Keeping Me Sane posts. October has been a particularly busy month for me.

  • My kid, who we’ve kind nicknamed The Buddy Man, turned a year-old this month. I can’t believe it’s been a year all ready! As Gretchen Rubin says, “The days are long, but the years are short.”
  • Gave a presentation at a health and wellness retreat in Orangeburg, SC (Ugh, public speaking, as shivers run down my spine). Learned some things though and will write about them soon.
  • Ran my first 5K race since Buddy Man’s arrival. Trained with my friend, Mel, and it was great to spend time with someone who’s becoming as addicted to running as I am. Oh, it feels so good to be back out there running regularly again – definitely keeping me sane! Posted about the race here.
  • Being a vegetarian, you wouldn’t think that there would be anything for me to eat at Longhorn Steakhouse but you would be wrong! The sides are amazing and my family and I had the greatest waiter at the Statesboro, GA location, a young man who was so pleasant that it was refreshing. I aspire to that level of pleasantness; an aspiration that I, sadly, will never attain in this lifetime.
  • Reconnected with my love of writing letters thanks to the Love Notes project. Thank you, Jennifer, for creating such a wonderful project. I’m so looking forward to the next round in January. Previous post about this here.
  • Facebook and Instagram. Yes. Facebook and Instagram are keeping me sane. I am in the process of weeding out negativity from my feed and following only inspirational and positive people. It’s working.
  • The Challenges with my friends have helped me get more steps this month than I have gotten in a long time. Thanks so much Grandma, Mommy, Alicia, Joy, and Nicole!
  • Read a number of books this month; you’ll have to wait for my first Quick Lit post to find out what – hint, it was heavy on the self-help shelf. I’m going to be reading some lighter fare for November – to stay sane.
  • Listening to The Lively Show and Happier podcasts. Jess Lively interviewed Elizabeth Gilbert this month, one of my new favorite writers of all time. Speaking of Gilbert, I’m sad that Magic Lessons is done for the season. But I’m enjoying Gretchen Rubin’s Happier podcast series right now on the Four Tendencies. Obligers, where are you? She should be covering our tendency next week.
  • The fall shows are back and my DVR is working overtime. Have to mention three of my personal favorites though: (1) Survivor – it so interesting to watch the dynamics between people and observe each one’s level of self-awareness and how it plays out in the game. (2) The Amazing Race – I have watched every season of this show! Love it! (3) The Big Bang – same thing here. On a certain level, I can relate to those nerds and, of course, laughter is the best medicine!

 What have you been up to this month to…

enjoy life…