Have I told you that I really like lists? I haven't? Well. I really like lists. And because I like lists and sharing my awesome life with people, here's my weekend in a list!
Gym.
Laundry.
Tan (JUST KIDDING).
Road trip with my honey to Rend Collective concert in College Station with my best friend.
Sing our hearts out, jump around like crazy people.
Ate Pho for the first time- quite enjoyable.
Road trip to Nacgodoches, take wrong turn due to great conversation, arrive at 3:00 am.
Sleep.
Saturday:
Early morning wake up call at 8:00 am.
Breakfast and chai latte at my favorite coffee shop with the aforementioned best friend- lots of great life and Jesus conversation.
Long walks in the fall weather through the arboretum trails where life and Jesus conversations continued.
Lunch at the best little cafe downtown.
Road trip to Fort Worth to be with other best friend for wedding dress hunting. (Successful!)
Accepted position of Maid of Honor in said wedding.
Red Robin dinner.
Braum's desert. (I can't resist their chocolate malts. They make me feel like a kid.)
Road trip back to Nac, arrive at 1:30 am.
Sleep
Sunday:
Late wake up call at 9:30 am. (Lovely.)
Brunch of potatoes, eggs, and avocado.
Chicken noodle soup and pumpkin cookies happened.
Lots of Friends episodes.
In house barista (besties roommate and our friend, Shelby!) made awesome cherry mocha frappucinos.
Road trip back home, arrive at 7:30 pm.
Unpack(ish) and rest.
Sleep
This weekend, this blog challenge was the last thing on my mind. I did not meet the challenge goals by blogging every single day. But I didn't take on this challenge to blog every single day. I took it on to try something new and share how I am working toward the healthiest life for me possible. A lot of that has to do with getting away and really focusing on where I am, who I am with, and what we are doing. My soul needed this weekend. I needed to get together with my best friends and word vomit about our frustrations and joys, our setbacks and successes. I needed the freedom and safe environment to dream out loud. I needed someone to tell me not to worry, that they don't have it together either. I needed the familiar chai latte that I can't find anywhere but Java Jacks. I needed clear skies and crisp breezes. I needed belly laughs and small amounts of sleep. This weekend, I got very little sleep, was in the car for about 18 hours, and put close to 900 miles on my car. Needless to say, it was a busy weekend. But it was the best kind of busy, the kind of busy that happens and you don't even notice because you are so blissfully happy to be where you are. The kind of busy that comes with great peace and encouragement. True wellness, for me anyway, cannot be accomplished without these things. The things that leave you softly smiling as you head back home, the things that you talk about the whole way home and then for days after.
The National Wellness Institute defines wellness as, "a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential." This is so encouraging to me. We have control over our wellness, we are constantly fighting to achieve our full potential. We are free to make decisions that are the best for our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. I hope that you got some soul food this weekend, and if you didn't, I hope you find things that drive your spirit and incorporate them into your regular health and fitness regime!
Woke up sick.
Lunch meeting.
Came home and promptly passed out for an extra 2.5 hours.
Woke up from my nap still sick.
Made spicy veggie & chicken soup.
Consumed copious amounts of Vitamin C.
Wrote blog post about total wellness and fitness while sick (still in progress).
I. Hate. Sick days. There is little I like less than things I can't control getting in the way of my goals. Being sick makes me feel lazy, it makes me feel like I lack discipline, it makes me tired, it makes me achy. Blech. I'm not good at resting. I'm a doer. If I ever end up with down time, I have a long list of things I want to do with it. I'm not good at sitting, not good at lounging...but when I try to exert myself, my body quickly humbles me and demands that I listen. She turns into a bit of a bossy lady when she isn't feeling her best. She will demand hot, spicy soup with lots of veggies. She likes lots and lots of water, lots of Vitamin C. And she sometimes forces me to take involuntary, irresponsibly long naps. Listening to our bodies while we are sick is the best thing we can do for them.
After a weekend off, I was looking forward to getting back into my gym routine. My daily workout consists of heavy lifting and intense cardio. These things are a no-no when are bodies are busy fighting sickness. My husband said earlier, "working out when you are sick is like trying to build a wall to keep your enemy out while they are already chilling in your living room." We can't do both at the same time. To take care of my body while I'm sick, my routine will have to change a little bit to get her back to her best. Instead of pushing the limits with weights and cardio, I'll focus on yoga and stretching; Stressed and anxious bodies heal slower than peaceful ones. As far as food, I'm eating lots of foods that fight sickness as well as things that clear congestion like spicy and hot food and hot tea. For dinner tonight, I made Spicy Thai Chicken & Veggie soup. It's been proven that chicken soup will help you kick a cold faster than any over the counter cold medicine. Plus, it's just so comforting! Here's the recipe for you in case you get sick (or if you are just like me and love soup and thai food!)
1 tablespoon coconut oil for sauteeing
2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or cubed- your preference
1.5 cup Julienned Carrots (packaged at the store unless you're just awesome! Chopped small will do also.)
1 onion
2-3 zucchini
2 yellow squash
1 carton mushrooms (cut up)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced ginger or ginger paste
1 (32 oz) carton chicken stock
*(or veggie for veggie/vegan friends)
2 cups water
1/2 can full fat coconut milk
2 tablespoons red curry paste
1 tablespoon fish sauce (soy sauce for veggie friends)
Cayenne pepper to taste
2 teaspoon coriander
2 tablespoons red curry powder
1) dice onion and carrot, sautee in coconut oil until soft.
2) add garlic, ginger, diced squash, zucchini, and mushrooms. Sautee for 1-2 mins.
3) add chicken stock and water.
4) add curry paste, fish sauce and seasonings
5) add shredded or diced chicken
6) let simmer for 20-30 mins.
7) add coconut milk and eat!
**taste spices and adjust to your liking fish sauce and chicken stock have salt so if you add salt, add it VERY LAST. Enjoy as it opens up your sinuses and warms your soul. Seriously. It's spicy. And hot. And awesome.
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