Happy New Year, blog friends (and real-life friends and fam!)

Hope your year is off to a good start and that your Christmas was wonderful.  I have ZERO complaints here–I did work Christmas Eve/Christmas and New Year’s Eve/New Year’s but honestly, no complaints. It made for an  interesting change in our usual traditions and hopefully next year we will be back to our regularly scheduled (maybe some unscheduled) customs.

I thought I’d share a fun little ditty to start your year with some intentionality and  introduce you to a new Saint in your life.  Jennifer Fulwiler started this a year ago (or several) and I tried it out last year….”just to see”—what I was seeing was yet to be determined but you know that curiosity cat just can’t help himself………

For 2018 I used Jen’s “saint generator“; my Saint of the year was St. Frances Xavier Cabrini–patron saint of hospital administrators (as well as malaria, immigrants and orphans)—and so that fit right in with my job.   Hmmmm, interesting.

Next up was my word of the year with the word generator:  Gratitude.  Good one!

So what did I do with that information exactly?    I can’t say that I really and truly embraced every aspect of either my Saint or my word, but I did keep the screen shots on my phone for reminders throughout the year that I had a Saint-buddy interceding for me and a reminder of an intentional focus on gratitude and in all honesty there were a few times that little act really grounded me in whatever moment I reached for those reminders.  Which is something, right?

Fast forward to this past week and I worked the little generators again–they were some interesting rolls of the dice and I figured “let’s see what comes of this” and so…..drum roll, please……… to this year’s Saint and word of the year:

Saint of the year–St. Nicholas:  patron of a great variety of persons-children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need.  Lots of variety there, St. Nick!!

Word of the year–Rescue.  Interesting, eh?  Very interesting!  and a little scary……….

There you have it.  We shall see what 2019 brings!  I have a feeling this year has some pretty cool stuff ahead.

Peace!

December 6.  How y’all doing?  It’s a tough time of year isn’t it?  If you follow social media you might be getting overwhelmed by all the things of Advent and Christmas….Jesse Trees, Advent books, St. Nick shoe stuffing, decorating, gingerbread houses, parties and cards….oh my.  No wonder we are all exhausted come Christmas day–and probably earlier!

As our kids get older, a lot of the perceived pressures are letting up, my “NO” is firmly established in my vocabulary and I have learned to pick and choose what I’d prefer us to focus on as a family.  Game changer.  Some things are trends that came along too late in the game to adopt (looking at the Elf debaucle—Pinterest, I blame you) and others are traditions we didn’t grow up with and opted out as we went along;  life looks different for every family and it’s OK to NOT do all.  the.  things.  Truly.  Pick and choose what works, try new things but man…………don’t sweat the pursuit of the unattainable.  This I know for sure, we don’t get any of this back, those perfect squares come with a price and each day is a gift—so choose wisely and embrace the choices.  Good, bad and ugly.

Here’s what OUR Advent and Christmas season are looking like and I’d love to hear yours!!

Advent wreath is up with mis-matched candles that are lit a few times a week.

Started a #moveandgrooveDecemberchallenge on Instagram with some friends (and ANYONE who wants to join in) to keep us accountable for some very important exercise goals, food choices and in general taking a minute to breathe as well as this very important idea and almost impossible (it seams)– a little time to take care of ourselves during this chaotic time of year. Crazy, right?

St. Andrew novena.  First time doing this.  Not sure if I’m doing it right, but overall it gives me some centered and focused prayer time each day and that is always right!

Christmas cards are done and mailed out.  This is a tradition that works for me and gets my brain in gear and helps to prevent procrastination.  It’s weird, but it works for me.

Baking to come soon!  Just a few tried and true faves as much to share as to save.

And there you go.   We will add a few things, do a few parties, and enjoy our twinkly lights.  Time spent with our friends and family is the most precious and everything else is just glitter.

Peace friends!

Tracy

Friday, Friday–favorite day of the week and I am looping in with the Quick Takes Crew over at This Ain’t the Lyceum.  

With December here, I am starting a December focus challenge on Instagram (#moveandgrooveDecemberchallenge) to help cheer each other on by focusing on some self care, activity, and overall awareness of our choices throughout December so that maybe once we reach January we will have come through a little less stressed, maintained our weight (or lost a few–but hey, it’s December so let’s be realistic here)…but mostly just trying to center and focus on A) the real reason for the season and B) evaluate priorities and not get so sucked into the madness and chaos of all the Christmas and Advent things that we lose all of our sh**.  Let me give you your first gift:  the word, “No”.  Feel free to use it without explanation.  It will save your life.

I completed my first solo week on my night shift and though I still need to tweak some sleeping issues, I would say that overall it went well.  Here are a few things that are getting me through–which honestly, can be used by anyone anytime!

I like a little Kombucha for my ride home in the morning.  It is a nice change from water; I don’t need coffee at that point and the little fizz and fun taste is like a party in my mouth and helps keep me a little more alert and oriented on the interstate.  Extra bonus:  antioxidants!  If you’ve never had Kombucha…..it’s an acquired taste and one you may have to try a few flavors to find your favorite, but it is worthwhile hunt!

I fill this baby up with all the sleepy time oils (and rub some on my feet, wrists and neck)  and then say “Good night!”  I don’t know if it truly works but my room smells good and it certainly can’t be hurting!!

Winter came to Central Florida this week for a couple of days so out came the LLBean Flannel sheets and my grandmother’s afghan.  Heck to the yes.  Slept so hard I wasn’t sure where or who I was when my alarm went off.  

The coffee pot is for my a.m. crew and I reheat it when I wake up, but the BUSTELO…..that is my 5 a.m. hit mixed with almond milk and honey.  YES, SIR!!!   All the wide eyes and bushy tails to carry me through the end of my shift.  

If I don’t feel like coffee in the afternoon, these teas have been hitting the spot.  Warm, comforting and so tasty!

My walking shoes–don’t let the “Run” fool you.  I walk my dog pretty much every day and on my off days he gets a good long walk, so these are a lifesaver.  I had another pair that wore out far too soon and you know what?  The store wouldn’t/couldn’t replace them, but Saucony is sending me a new pair. Free.  Yes, please and thank you for doing the right thing, Saucony!!

Keeping my health on the radar throughout the holidaze.  It’s a sanity saver, mood lifter and performed regularly enough and with enough intensity a booty lifter as well!  Also, pairs well with the December challenge 😉

Peace!

Tracy

Friday.  My favorite day of the week.  Forever and ever.  Amen.   Linking with Kelly and all the Quick Takers today….and here we go!!

1. My first week of Night Shift is in the books.  This week I trained with the tech who currently works that shift to get her work flow, etc. etc.  We will train together next week as well.  She is an utter delight, a fount of information, crazy talented and creative and I will miss chatting it up with her.  She also has a delicious blog with tons of healthy and plant based recipes here at This Season’s Table.  So, while I continue to find my groove with the night shift gig, Tiffany is showing me how I can really maximize my potential…..it’s so exciting!!
2. With Thanksgiving around the corner I am making my menu–although THANKFUL that mom is taking care of Turkey and stuffing since I work the night before–so I am taking care of side dishes and desserts (my fave) next week.  The guest list will probably change a few more times between now and Thursday but will plan on 15-17 folks.  Mostly teens and young adults.  Which is so fun!
3. Annnnnnnnnnnd since I picked up my Christmas cards this week and pre-ordered our Christmas tree from our local Catholic High School’s fundraiser, I can begin my shopping on Black Friday!!  Is it possible that I might even be able to really enjoy Advent?  I don’t want to jinx myself but it is looking possible…………………
4. Speaking of shopping.  If you have any special needs kiddos (or anyone) in your life, Kelly has a great list of ideas here.
5. Also for consideration, donations to Hurricane victims or to agencies that are assisting.  Or the fires in California.  It is all so overwhelming and horrifying.  The need is phenomenal all over right now from natural disasters and although we may feel paralyzed with ‘WHAT CAN I DO?’  (at least I feel this way), I have an amazing friend and her family who have hit the ground running and made several trips to deliver supplies.  They inspire me that we might not be able to everything but we can all do something and when lots of people do something, big things happen. Below are some Facebook exerpts from some of the trips stolen from friend and her hubby.

    My family and I have traveled west to the coast nearly 1/2 dozen times since Hurricane Michael. Houses have been ripped off their foundations, massive trees have been twisted and snapped like toothpicks, and roofs have been torn from buildings and tossed aside like building blocks. And over one month later, we still can not even access Mexico Beach; authorized personnel only. The devastation is indescribable and the locals are still shell-shocked. Please consider putting on your boots and getting involved. Contact me with questions and I will help direct you.

    

                   Friends, please know that every sacrifice you made was appreciated. We just dropped off a truck FULL of supplies and then traveled through some smaller neighborhoods in Panama City. The devastation is utterly astounding. We handed out $20 bills to the people we could find. One man exclaimed that now he could buy dog food, another told us that his house is uninhabitable and he has to leave. Didn’t know where he was going or how he was going to make it. A man and another woman we met began to cry when we handed them money. Another young lady simply wept in my arms. Her name is Amanda – pls pray for her💗

   One of my new favorite things to do – hand out Starbucks drinks to those in need. While I don’t drink coffee, nor do I wish this devastation upon anyone, I am so grateful to be surrounded by a community willing to help. What you can’t tell from these pictures is that the backs of many of these buildings no longer exist. Please share, visit; help.
   #panhandlenotforgotten

   

   

   

   
6. Switching gears:  the Hubs and I are off to the opera tonight.  Sounds so fancy, right?  Our son is a music major at UF and the college is putting on Hansel and Gretel tonight and tomorrow, with full orchestra so if you are in the area……..  Tickets here
7.  And that is a wrap for this week.  Have a great weekend and stay warm.  Even here is Central FL it was a brisk 44degrees this morning, which 100% means pulling out boots, jackets and flannels!

Peace,

Tracy

Happy Wednesday.  In my blogging bonanza I figured I’d share with you some goodies I have come across recently AND a recipe for breakfast.  How’s that sound?  Out of these three tidbits there is theoretically something for everyone=everyone wins!  **also not sponsored….I think  you have to have a ton of people following your blog for that, so these are just a few of my new favoritey things!

Last month my girlfriends and I took a weekender to Savannah (which I instagrammed but haven’t blogged–so you MAY see that in the near future) and during the daylight hours we took in some of the fabulous shopping offered and I came across some really great finds.  With Christmas undeniably around the corner you may want to incorporate some of these in stockings, so without further ado……………..

Deodorant stone.  Now I have been VERY skeptical about “natural” deodorant b/c I am no fan of patchouli and that has been my “in real life” experience, but also HIGHLY intrigued because I am aware of the Alzheimer’s/dementia link to aluminum found in anti-perspirants and with this little blessing already present in the genes I would like to do what I can to prevent or delay this onset.  My super sweet sales girl explained to me how it works:   unlike traditional deodorant, this is not a “one and done” swipe, but rather wet the stone and apply to CLEAN, DRY skin as you massage it in—vvvv important if you want this to actually work as expected.  Again.  Super skeptical, but worth the try.  It is unscented, dries quickly and not sticky at all and after 3 weeks of use and truly putting it through it’s paces in the ER, I am a fan.  I’m pretty sure it will last almost forever which makes the $5.50 price tag UBER worthy.  I’m putting these in the girl’s stockings and they have promised to give it a whirl over Christmas break—but like their mother they remain skeptical.  The whole store was really fantastic with all kinds of great bath, body and home products (color me a sucker for all that jazz)  and you can shop online here @ nourishsavannah

Moving on to fab find #2………………

The Spice and Tea Exchange

This store is directly next to Rise Biscuits Donuts which pretty much had the best peach AND blueberry biscuits in the universe and since I had one the day before and just finished brunch I went next door to avoid the inevitable pull of the dough….but I am getting off track here.  (but if you’re in Savannah and not gluten free………..GO!)

The Tipsy Toffee Herbal Tea (decaf) and Pumpkin Chai Latte Tea (because hello, FALL!) were AHmazing!!!   I am a complete and total newbie to loose leaf tea and needed to buy the ball thing to put the leaves in,  however, I am a BELIEVER!!!   So.  Freaking.  Good.  Sorry to say the Tipsy toffee tea is currently out of stock, but if it comes back in…..get.  it.  I bought several other various spice packets (which I have used pretty frequently with wonderful results) and had to quickly check out because I could see where things were heading but they also offer online shopping and I found them very reasonably priced.  Tasty options for corporate gifts, hostess gifts, etc. etc. etc.    The owners were super sweet and knowledgable as well, so you can’t go wrong there!  HIGHLY recommend!!

OK.  Last thing….a breakfast recipe.  Short, sweet and nutritious!!

No name for it.  Let’s call it pumpkin souffle breakfast.  Works for me.

1 banana smooshed up in a bowl

2 eggs lightly beaten (or 1 egg and 1 egg white, shoot, 2 egg whites will prob work, too!)

1/4 cup of pumpkin puree, more or less—I just eyeball measurements

cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice to taste…..1/2 tsp ish

scoop of coconut cream (put a can of coconut milk in fridge….the stuff that floats to the top is coconut cream–super good!)

raisins–optional so however many you want

Mix it all up real good

Microwave 2 minutes and stir and let it go another minute.  Depending on your microwave, once it’s not runny in the middle you are good to go.  Let it cool and enjoy!

Until we meet again, have a great Wednesday!

Tracy