Mindfully Emily

Hi everyone!

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all I know this day get’s mixed reviews, but for me it’s always a day filled with love from friends, families, and the past two years with the wonderful guy in my life. Tonight was a family night and I had a Valentine’s Day pasta dinner with my Mom and Aunt:

It was nice spending the evening with the family that show me so much love and support on a daily basis. After we ate pasta and homemade gluten-free turkey meatballs, we went upstairs to my share some homemade dark and white chocolate covered strawberries with my grandparents. My grandparents are approaching their 65th wedding anniversary, they are the epitomy of true life-long love. 

Tomorrow I am lucky enough to have a date planned with my guy to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We will be eating great food, drinking yummy drinks, and enjoying a special night for just us. We are leaving to visit Austin, TX next Friday and I could not be more excited! 

Part of the reason I have so much excitement and joy in my life right now has been my participation in the ToneItUp! Love your Body challenge. I had been looking at the site and the plan for a while…this challenge came along at the perfect time when I had been indulging too much over the holiday and feeling like I needed to make some changes in my life. The challenged focused on increasing cardio by running/walking/riding 100 miles by Valentines Day and increasing lean muscle. The challenge also focused on self-care, which is a huge part of my personal and career focus. Another really helpful part of the ToneItUp program is the online community. Have community and accountability is invaluable in making a big life change. That being said, I’d like to discuss what I alluded to in the title…

A few day’s ago, Alyssa over at GlutenFreeMuse posted about starting a blogging group. The group would be to find community, accountability, and help increase blog-traffic by promoting and supporting one another. I am excited for this as I really want to get my blog back in action, but, like with my fitness challenge, need support to do so.  If this sounds interesting to you, please check out Alyssa’s post and contact her or myself mindfullyemily@gmail.com .

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone and show love to the people you care about today and every day!!

xoxo

Em

Good Evening Friends!

I first want to begin by mentioning the heaviness I feel in my heart in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting tragedy. As a mental health professional who works with children, this has hit extremely close to home. I would like to find a way to process this but I am truly and utterly at a loss. As I pray for the families and all those effected, I can only hope that this tragedy can be a call to arms to speak out about mental illness and remove it’s stigma in society. This is also a reminder not to take a single day or a single person in your life for granted. It can be so easy to be angry and hold grudges rather than being honest about how you feel. Speak up, work it out, hug and say “I love you.”

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Hi friends!

I meant what I said about wanting to write more! I have been really introspective lately of my own process and what mindfulness and wellness really mean to me. I re-read many of my old posts and was inspired by the passion and growth I have experienced in the last year. It’s a difficult thing to commend ourselves and accept that we’ve grown an changed; mostly because we are with ourselves all the time Taking time and slowing down and writing, processing, reflecting, has allowed me this perspective.

So, I am back to taking care and paying more attention. As my life has change and my career has begun, those needs have changed a bit. My typical workday is 12-7 M-Th and 11-6 on Fridays. The great benefit of this is that I get to wake up and do my gym thing in the morning, stress free Lately I have been running again, in prep for my Wild-Turkey 5-miler; I’m enjoying being back on the road and getting some me-time. Recently, though, I have noticed that I need more sleep than I have ever needed before. It took me a while and some consultation, but I realized that it’s normal and okay; my work requires a lot of mental processing while my body is in it’s sleep cycle. That being said, I’ve tried to use the time change as a way to get up a bit earlier so my mornings aren’t so rushed. I like to have a little me-time after gym to enjoy breakfast’s like these 

I recently purchased a new Ninja blender and am lovin’ smoothies in a bowl with a little raw oats

During my work day, I need to be able to recharge and keep moving. Most of my job involves being pretty sendentary. Luckily, my office is spread out a bit and there are many reasons to get up and walk around during the day. I am also on a large campus with a pond to walk around and a coffee shop a few buildings away. I try to make it a point to have a walk as part of my day. I also utilize my iPhone to listen to music and keep up with friends to get a break from the heaviness of my work. In terms of eating at work, this can be a problem as I have my own desk with a “snack drawer.” I’ve tried to pare down the drawer to essentials: almonds, applesauce, single-serve dark chocolate, tea, seltzer. My lunches and snacks are packed each night and I try to balance fruits, veggies, protein, and some healthy fats (cheese, avocado, homemade vinegarettes). Even on my most unprepared days, I try to throw a few staples together and supplement with health eats. Last week I was feeling a cold coming on so I packed some hummus, carrot sticks, and made some green tea with honey. On my way to work I purchased some veggie soup and Odwalla C-Boost Juice:

Last week’s immunity lunch

At the end of the day, I definitely enjoy coming home to unwind. Though catching up with friends afterwork can be stress-relieving and wonderful, often times I am craving my comfy pants and a good home-cooked meal. I try to focus on coming home and taking the time to prepare something. I have never been one to microwave meals or go for takeout as a default. Tonight was an early night and I came home and made dinner for me and my mom

Steamed kale with sauteed veggies, homemade sauce, and sweet Italian chicken sausage (plus some vino). 

I usually use post-dinner time to make lunch, unwind, and let go of work to have a good night’s sleep. On an ideal night this would be some internet time, reading, and a mug of sleepy-time tea. I have a few shows that I watch (Parenthood, Modern Family, The Voice) and sometimes there’s an evening treat of dark chocolate or frozen mangoes. 

So that’s where I am at. Working on taking my day one piece at a time. 

Tell me: What ways do you work on self-care throughout the day? How do you take more mindfulness into your food and wellness choices?

Have a great night!

xox

Em

Hi Friends!

I have been thinking about coming back the blogging world for a while. I miss writing and having an outlet for all of these thoughts I have about health, fitness, wellness, and of course, mindfulness. In the past 4 months I have begun my first post-grad job as an outpatient therapist. This job has already taught me so much about myself and I feel that in the past sixth months, I have grown and changed immensely.

I finished up grad school in early May and saw a major decrease in my anxiety and stress levels (well, duh)! I finished up my internship by the end of May and had my post-grad job all lined up, hurray! This was a great deal of fun and excitement all bunched together in one.

The summer was a wonderful and crazy whirlwind of family, fun, and new experiences. I began my job one week after my internship ended and really hit the ground running. This summer has brought 3 weddings, several family parties, 3 grad parties, many cookouts, and one fabulous 25th birthday party.

Me and my cousin and mom, love them!

So where were we? Graduation, end of internship, new job, wild and crazy summer, lots of celebrating…most of those involving a new and wonderful guy in my life. So where has that all left me? A little out of check with my self and my body. Between the busy schedule and the stress of a new and challenging job, I find myself stress-eating and checking-out more than being mindful and true to myself. This is all a part of life’s process. The idea of balance is that there is that it always requires maintenance. While many parts of my life are up and in a good place, others are running on auto-pilot.

In my job, I work with many teens and young adults struggling to find a happy stride in their life. They are overwhelmed by life’s demands and feeling out of control or unsuccessful. I talk to them about balance, about wellness, about mindfulness. If you haven’t said it to this screen as you read this yet, it is the perfect place for “practice what you preach, girl.”

I am a natural born giver and I have been givin’ givin’ givin’ to many people lately and have left little for myself. I am a type-A (in recovery) gal who has no problem getting to the gym and eating healthy foods. The problem is this auto-pilot mode means that I assume it’s all going right without taking a minute to check-in with myself.

So here I am, not back where I started by any means, but back in a place of acknowledged maintenance. I need to become mindful again and more in-tune with myself and listen to my body. Last winter, I took a course in grad school that focused on healing stress and pain through mindfulness and natural medicine (from yoga to herbal remedies). During this class, we did a practice in mindful eating. We stopped before mealtime, checking in with our body on level of hunger (1-10), cravings, and types of food we were needing to eat. It was amazing to really stop and think “what does my body need” and to answer that call. We are much more fulfilled, in eating and in life, when we stop and listen to our bodies, our hearts, our guts.

So here I go, coming back to a fresh start of listening to myself and letting my own body and gut guide me to better health and wellness

Hi Friends!

So as I posted last week, I am working on being more conscious and mindful of my food and fitness choices. I really want to feel my best as I enter the next phase of my life as a post-grad. To start being more aware of what I eat and how I feel, I am making it a goal to write it all down (and snap photos when possible). Food journaling is not just a useful tool to watch calories but it also helps to monitor how certain foods make you feel–energetic, tired, bloated, calm, etc. Our bodies are very intuitive; we often eat or avoid foods that make us feel less than stellar. Unfortunately, we we are busy, overworked, and overstressed we eat for comfort and for what is convienient and appealing. We rarely stop to ask our bodies “what do you want to eat right now” and “how does that food make me feel.” Enter, the food journal. By journaling our food, we stop and let become more aware, more mindful, and hopefully more health conscious. The goal of journaling is to realize that fruits and vegetables make you feel more energetic and full of life than thpizza and chips. So what are some of my recent eats?

Grilled Chicken Salad with brown rice

Eggs and oats, a breakfast staple

Almond butter and banana open-faced sandwich and apple, both topped with cinnamon!

A blurry picture of tonight’s salad topped with an avocado and turkey burger. Glass of sangria on the side to celebrate the arrival of summer weather

Tell me: what are your breakfast, lunch and dinner staples?? I am in need of fresh ideas!

-Em

Hi Friends!

I know it’s been quite a while, I have missed being here! So many times I have been wanting to write and share things with all of you but I kept letting life get in the way. I am just under a month from my last graduate class and 39 days until graduation, but hey, who’s counting

With those big milestones coming up, and my impending entry into the real world, I have been thinking deeply about what I want for my life moving forward. I am still lost on the job search aspect but I am taking the time to look at that critically. I am unable to move out anytime soon, however, I am considering where I will want that to be and with whom I want to live. I have also begun to think about my health; my commitment to having a fit mind and body. I know that I should be taking care of myself better: eating more fruits and veggies, finding exercise that give me strength and vitality, getting enough sleep on a regular basis, and having a more consistent mindfulness/meditation practice. 

With a month to go until the end of grad school, the time is now. I am starting today, to take better care of and be more gentle with myself. I would like to share my journey with all of you. I will be posting as often as I can different meals, workouts, thoughts and musings. Until then, here’s a picture of my family and I after my big brother, Dan, was sworn in as a firefighter last week:

Be well and talk to you soon!!

xoxox

Em

Hi Friends,

Happy New Year!!! How was your NYE? Mine was a great night of dancing and drinking out in Boston with some of my favorite people. Pictures were not taken but we had lots of laughs the whole night and memories were definitely made.

Yesterday as I got ready for NYE, I started thinking back over the past year. I wanted to look back through my posts from 2011 and I was really amazed at the changes that I have gone through in the past year. I honestly feel that I am such a different person than I was a year ago; this year has been filled with ups and downs but I’ve learned much about myself and my own personal strength. I’ve also to try to let go of feeling the need for control and to spend more time focusing on the positive parts of life. On that note, here are the highlights from 2011:

Birthday celebrations with my girl friends

Mountain views at Sugarloaf in Maine

Views of Mount Washington from WildCat Mountain in New Hampshire

Spring skiing at Sugarloaf with my Aunt MaryAnn and Jackie (it was in the 40′s this day!)

I became a Warrior!!! My best friend Jenna and I after the Warrior Dash

Beachy days with Jackie

Fun on the 4th!

Seeing my aunt alive and well after a really scary car crash

Celebrating 24 with the people that I love

My first summertime trip to my aunt’s farm in Maine

I had a fabulous time with my family and friends at Jackie’s big sister’s wedding

Starting my internship, which has been incredible and challenging, and also taught me the new skill of riding a dirt bike with a clutch

I ran my first 10k!!!! I trained for and ran the Tufts 10k for Women this past fall and it was incredible Can’t wait for more!

Got smurfed on Halloween

Ran a 5-miler on Thanksgiving! Was definitely amazed at how far my running has come, my first 5k was two years ago that day and this year I kicked up my milage and speed

Had a family reunion with my Dad’s side of the family (minus a few)

And another the cousins on my mom’s side of the family (minus my cousin Brian)

I saw SANTA!!! And Jackie and I took an awkward, “we’re scared of Santa” photo

Tell me your favorite 2012 memories; link to your list if you’d like

Happy 2012!

xoxo

Em