Tag: Canadian

Project ‘Much ado about nothing’

So, yeah… I just ripped off Shakespeare…. (btw… if you google that particular piece of work just know that the cinematic version with Emma Thompson has lots of butts in it.)

Once upon a time, there was a girl who was fearless. She didn’t shy away from ner a bully or a challenge. One day, she decided that she wanted to invent something out of nothing…. well not quite nothing. In fact, one might say it was quite a bit actually.

You see, her pantry overflowed. Her fridge was packed and her freezer was bursting. Determined not to throw out another head of lettuce or a furry steak she decided to take stock. ‘Surely,’ she said to herself, ‘out of such abundance she could feed her family on a budget for a month.’

Many questioned the wisdom of such an undertaking. Why would she do such a thing?

  1. to be creative with what is already right in her hands.
  2. to be less wasteful. (ie. a good steward)
  3. to challenge herself to grow through taking on something new.

P.S. does anyone have a good recipe for random, unidentified dried goods? (asking for a friend….)

picky_eaters.jpgpicky-eater-dog-1.jpg

 

Project Step it up

Today’s blog is brought to you courtesy of goose poop.  (yes… I planned my blog on today’s morning walk… ) Canada Geese and goose poop are part of my daily norm.

I need to reference Crystal Thompson again @flourishintoyou -www.flourishintoyou.com as her wisdom seems to be a common thread underlying my bursts of inspiration.  Her and Matthew McConaughey.  I listened to the speech below this morning on ‘happiness.’  Take a listen and then think about your next right step in your daily battle.

Let’s hope we all avoid ‘stepping in it’ today.

 

Project Flip Flop

Hey! Remember when it was ok to say the word ‘thong’ and it wouldn’t conjure up embarrassed side glances?

I am obsessed with summer. Clear blue skies and sunshine lures me out daily… in shorts…even with single digit temperatures! I am Winnipeg? I am Winnipeg-er?

It only took me 35+ years, but I am finally comfortable (ish) in my own skin (sometimes.) Part of my journey back to mental healthfulness has included:  a) kindness and compassion towards the woman I see in the mirror  b) getting outside, Outside, OUTSIDE!!!

You get out there gurrrrrrl!  Don those shorts! Put on that cute top. Get yourself some fresh air and gain some perspective while you’re at it.

 

Project Pinky Swear

I have been known to throw a mean secret handshake in my day. And by secret, I mean I showed EVERYONE because my ‘secret’ handshakes were awesome!!!

I have never sworn a blood oath or sealed a promise with spit but I have been guilty of breaking promises. Let me take a moment to apologize…. to myself!

Self-care is a huge part of not just coping with my day to day but somehow through the mess joyfully thriving!

The past 3 weeks have been really hard. For some unknown reason, something in my body/brain chemistry has gone whackadoo (yes, that is a medical term.) Even though I have mostly done everything right-ish, I find myself in need of a little checkie-poo with my physician.

Herein lies the challenge… how do I honour my commitments to myself concerning self-care when my body/brain is in rebellion? And if my body/brain is in rebellion that means more than ever it is in need of self-care! ugh!!

I can’t pinky swear my way through this. But, I can extend kindness, compassion, grace, and understanding… and “get thee to a doctor!!” (thanks mom)

 

Project Good Grief

The journey through depression is different for everyone. Think of the happiest person you know, the funniest, the most extroverted, the one with all of the friends. Guess what? They might be struggling through a season of depression.

If I didn’t tell you, you wouldn’t know that depression is part of my journey because a) I smile a lot b) I laugh a lot c) I joke a lot d) I hang out with friends a lot.

For me, depression=my get up and go got up and went.

Recently, with the passing of our beloved Princess Buttercup Bernard Campbell aka Buttersnuff, Flufferbutt, Babygirl, the Sweetness; I have seen some new symptoms emerge. A few of the manifestations were kind of funny:

  1. I have cleaned like a maniac (except I left the dog bones where Buttercup buried them in the house — in the couch, under the table, in the plant, under the  bathmat and in the basement.)
  2. I cooked like a fiend — not for my family but rather for our other dog, Sir Bozley (toots a lot) Campbell.
  3. I cried like a baby while sometimes laughing like a hyena and eventually more like a wheezing old man (visit http://thebloggess.com/2018/01/07/its-the-little-things-yall/ and don’t skimp on reading the comments.)
  4. I have watched so much America’s Next Top Model that I may now embody Tyra Banks (not so much the supermodel part of her but rather her fly dance moves and unique use of the English Language — booch tooch, smize, ‘work it girl’ and much, much more.)

Depression or no, life happens. How we deal is up to us. Remember, nobody is in this fight alone.

Project Winter 101

For your amusement I thought I would share about how I handle Winter.

  1. I don’t (Winter is hard! I want sunshine and beaches 24/7)
  2. I own appropriate Winter clothing which allows me to go outside and not die
  3. I snort Vitamin D (Well, actually I drink it … except for that time I choked on it and it came out of my nose… what is the opposite of snort?)
  4. I open every curtain and blind in our home every single day (This allows me to see all of the dusting I am not going to do)
  5. I do my makeup and hair in front of a ‘happy light’ which results in some pretty groovy makeup (those things are BRIGHT!)
  6. I watch the frozen poopsicles accumulate in our back yard with no intention of dealing with them until Spring (does this count as ‘coping’?)
  7. I move my body … whether it is from my bed to the couch or from my couch to the gym … I’m going to take the win
  8. I don’t hibernate. Life continues on as usual except just add in horrible, no good, very cold temperatures (I. AM. CANADIAN.)
  9. I still eat the rainbow but often I have to rely on the frozen food section … which is ironic because it is cold out and frozen food makes me cold.  (also, frozen Kale is still Kale)
  10. I complain. A lot. But also, I know Spring is coming. It always does. If I have to white knuckle Winter, then so be it because Spring will come.