- These scones were a hit for brunch today. Tart Cherry and White Chocolate Chip. And Wanda...see that drizzle? ha. They were delicious...thank you. They were the perfect side to our bacon and spinach omelettes.
- I've been wearing my retainer for a week now. I can't say it's comfortable or that I'm enjoying it, but I can feel my teeth moving back to where they are supposed to be. Meanwhile, I've been reading up on teeth grinding, jaw clinching, and even tongue thrusting while you sleep. Who knew!
- I've also taken up some of your great suggestions! I've drank less coffee, gotten about an hour more sleep each night, and I've relaxed in a hot bubble bath a few times. I have even said no to someone asking me to do something that I really didn't want to do. No feeling of obligation at all. haha.
- I've tried to reduce some stress. It's my health we're taking about, right? So if someone stresses me out then I'm going to remove myself from that situation. If someone is cranky, I don't have to continue a conversation with them. I'm discovering I have to learn to manage some people instead of letting them manage me.
- I've seen a few people in blog land have started their spring cleaning. Funny how the new year just makes us (well some of us) feel like everything needs a freshening. I think it also has something to do with removing the Christmas decor. We start with cleaning up the dust and pine needles revealed underneath. Then room looks a little bare and we start rearranging, organizing and and throwing out old Christmas stuff we don't want to store another year. I'm finding my decoration storage getting smaller every year and I think that's a good thing!
- I've pulled out the humidifier in our house this week. With the temps in the subzero range (Fahrenheit), the furnace has been pumping warm, dry air into the house non stop! Our noses and skin are feeling the effects. Time for some moisture!
- Anyone else craving Mexican food? Seems I can't get enough avocados, cilantro, blue corn chips or sriracha lately. Yum.
♥
I am glad you are feeling a bit less stressed. Hope you continue on your path and you get even more relief. You've always said you want to be around a long time for your boys and I think that lessening the toll on your psyche will help. Yay for you!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that is so true...I have to live forever! :)
DeleteI have enjoyed puttering around in my studio and working in my shop....that is very fun to me. I'm itching to creating some jewelry, too...a great thing to do on a quiet winter day around here. With the boys home for wind chill days last week, we really haven't fallen into a routine since Christmas break began! Hopefully this week will resume some normal schedules around here!
One thing I have started to do is before I go to bed I listen to "meditation" music on YouTube. They have a gazillion different kinds and lengths - some with music or sounds of nature, some with chanting, some classical music. I mix it up depending on what I feel like. There are a few that last for three hours! By that time even I am asleep. But I turn it off at some point because otherwise it will wake me up later. There are also various chants you can say to yourself either before bed (although it sounds like you fall asleep right away) or during the day when things are getting stressful. "Aum" (Om) of course, but there is also one that I repeat to myself before I fall asleep and it really helps. "Om Namah Shivaya" - you can Google it and find a whack of information about it, but the repetition of this particular mantra really helps me.
DeleteSounds like music helps a lot of people fall asleep. But you're right...that isn't my problem. I've never had to sit and read or pace floors or stare at the ceiling. I fall right to sleep and sleep all night! I just wake up with a clenched jar and my tongue plastered on the roof of my mouth...and slanting teeth. lol....obviously stress related. I've really been trying to stretch, relax and fall asleep as limp as possible...especially my face and mouth.
DeleteArgh... not good. Switching subjects... I am laughing at you and Spencer laughing. I can just picture this! :-D
DeleteIt was so cute...I love those little moments when their eye contact is awesome and you can tell that totally 'get' it. :)
Deleteha!
ReplyDeleteI like what you are doing for stress relief. I should do a few of those things too, starting with more sleep.
ReplyDeleteThe scones look wonderful! And yes - I have really been craving Mexican too!
I think most of us could do with an extra hour!
DeleteThink you have found the key :) I've started my spring cleaning early. Helps that I've just found out we have two lots of company coming all turning up at the same time. They don't even know each other. Oh well, back to the dusting!
ReplyDeleteNothing like company to get your house in shape! Funny how we see it differently when looking through their eyes!
DeleteThose are good random thoughts Betsy. Feeling a little random myself:) Still a very good Sunday! Enjoy the rest of your day.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good Sunday...I will agree with that!
DeleteMy daughter went through 5 years of orthodontic work, (for real), for all kinds of issues, including tongue thrust problems. They installed these prongs that protruded up from her bottom front teeth and held her tongue back. People thought it looked crazy, and it did. However all is well now with straight teeth. She shares your dislike of the retainer. If you haven't tried epsom salt baths, I would recommend them for relaxation. It puts magnesium into the body.
ReplyDeleteI read about those prong things! Actually I have permanent retainers...upper and lower and I still moved my teeth!
DeleteMy baths did have epsoms salts in them....two cups worth! I crawl into bed after that and fall right to sleep!
Teeth moving back already ~ that is so quick.
ReplyDeleteHope life is much less stressful for you soon . . . . :).
That brunch looks super . . . . :)
Yeah, you can tell they are moving because they hurt! ha.
DeleteMy cousin gave me an old Walkman today (Remember them?) they came out before iPods. She also gave me a bunch of cassette tapes to play in it designed to ease stress, "Peace of Angels" is one of them, it's soft gentle music that plays continuously for an hour. The idea, she said, was to lie down, put the headphones on and the music relaxes you and sends you to sleep.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's something you could try Betsy. No doubt you or the boys have an iPod and could download some nice hypnotic music from t'Internet. Or get the Mister to sing to you? Perhaps not.
You will really enjoy that Walkman and cassette tapes! Peace of Angels...well now, you can't get any more peaceful than that!
DeleteI was reading along seriously and thinking what good ideas you had until the end! WHAT?? Yes, perhaps not. hahahaha....
Keith and I shall come and sing to you . . . . lol . . . :)
Deletehaha...well, laughter IS the best medicine! :)
Deletelol
Deletedoe-ray-me-far-so-la-tee-doe . . . . . . lol
DeleteOh no! Anything but that! Where did I put those earplugs. . . . . ?
DeleteOh, you had to go and mention Mexican food, didn't you? Ever since those enchiladas we made last Sunday, I can't get enough. It's been years since I was craving t like this. I think I'll blame it on Sergio.
ReplyDeleteRandom thoughts...stress... managing people instead of them managing me... Yeah, that's what I've been learning too. Took a "burn out" test the other day. I didn't score well. :( However, it does give me an incentive to keep with the de-stressing program and not let anyone plan my life for me. It hasn't worked out well when I do. You pray for me and I'll pray for you.
Tomorrow is our day to visit my brother. Hoping he's smiling when we arrive.
:0)
I have never made those two Mexican dishes you make...the corn husk one and the other one...don't think it was enchiladas, though. You need to post recipes some time! I've always loved Mexican food...oh yum!
DeleteHope your next test scores better. :) This is a rise and fall kind of learning...I think once you are aware of the problems that is the first step in improving. Doesn't make it easy, though! Prayers back and forth...will do!
Have fun with your brother...so glad that you do that!
Tamales are the ones wrapped in corn husks, and I've decided the homemade ones are the best.
DeleteMy favorite MIL made them with us a few times and now I am brave enough to do it alone. Maybe one day I'll hitch a ride your direction and we can whip up a batch. Got a big steamer?
No, but I'm sure I could get one. :) Homemade is always best. yum.
DeleteGood way to be
ReplyDeleteGive a whoopdi friggin doo and be stress free
The cranky people can fly away
And saying no works too at your bay
I stay clean so no need to spring clean
Heave away at my scene
And hate the stupid dry skin
That sure is not a win
Dry nose and itchy skin
DeleteOh where do I begin!
The only thing I hate about winter, though,
as the snow can pile high and the wind blow!
haha.
Yeah stupid dry skin and excema for me
DeleteBoth itch like crazy so to florida I should flee lol
Oh yes stress is something heavy!
ReplyDeleteIm agree with you.
I try to make something nice all days like swim in this time or take a nap.
I love read too!
All three of those are good ideas! I'm not good at any of those! haha.
DeleteBoundaries. Gotta have 'em. It is kind of like the old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Some situations are just better avoided. Take good care, Betsy. Glad the Luke scripture spoke to you also. blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos in your previous post. I do wish people would stop showing pictures of all this yummy looking food - not fair; all I'm trying to do is catch up with people's blogs and they're simply making me hungry! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have awful t.m.j. I started looking into a retainer for that, and then chickened out.
ReplyDeleteThe scone looks so yummy! Bacon and spinach omelette? Yes, please!!
Always craving Mexican!! Your scones look so pretty, I bet they were delish!!
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy - good luck with that retainer and I sure hope it helps. I know one little boy, who received your calendar, who loves his Mexican - actually as he's 15 - he's probably not so little ... I enjoy tasty food and yes some a sriricha style sauce ... spring cleaning - that's been taken out of my hands - see tomorrow ... Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteA few good things to work on Betsy...
ReplyDeleteI also have trouble saying no.....
Cheers!
Linda :o)