What I’m reading

What I’m currently reading and what’s on deck.

I used be a bigger reader, but over the last few years I have not prioritized reading. Last fall I slowly changed that. I’m currently about halfway through the Rachel Hollis book which I likely would not have picked up on my own, but was encouraged to do so by a friend (with come caveats). I also walked away from a “Dirty Santa/White Elephant” gift change earlier this month the Michelle Obama book which is next in my queue and I look forward to reading.

What else should I add to my list this year? Bonus points to keep up the female author trend!

Goals Pants

Yesterday while decluttering my workout pants drawer I came across these bad boys from Express circa 2002-2003. I remember wearing these size Large swooshy-esque pants to the gym in college thinking I was hot shit.

I’ve kept these pants and a few others for 15+ years as a reminder of where I was and at some points where I was hoping to get back to.

However I’m ready to release them to the donation pile. Being firmly in low 170s is new territory and I have new goal pants in mind.

Blue Apron x WW review

I’m 2 boxes into @blueapron x @ww and I wanted to write up my thoughts so far. Keep in mind I did previously subscribe to @blueapron for 6 months in 2016 so I knew the gist of things.

So much kale and radishes! Half the meals have included these two ingredients, perhaps they are seasonal. They aren’t in my top 50 vegetables, but I have thoroughly enjoyed them in each meal. Marinating the kale with 1 tsp of olive oil and lemon juice has really made a big difference. I’m also surprised how much salad is produced from just a handful of kale leaves.

I’m not sure if it’s new to @blueapron in general or not, but the chicken they sent has been precut! I hate touching raw meat, especially chicken, so just drying the chicken with a paper towel and throwing it in the pan has been amazing!

After the first two half price boxes back to back I’m easing into every other week and see how it goes. I like the idea of having @ww friendly meals in the fridge to make in a pinch (AKA 30-50 minutes which is a downside). Since we have a good larger scale meal prep routine going I think we’re just going to use the box to augment what we eat when we have the time to make a nice single meal.

I should also note we aren’t fish/seafood people so we stick to the chicken/pork/beef/veg options. I’ve seen recipes for between 3-14 points so far. I’ve loaded my boxes generally with 2 lower point meal and 1 higher point meal because I rather eat the food I would like for higher points than pick something I wouldn’t really enjoy for less points.

If you are interested in trying @blueapron they always send subscribers vouchers for free boxes to send to friends so let me know!

Dead Dads Club

My bestie C unexpectedly lost her Dad a year ago today. I was her first phone call after she heard from her mom. It was awful and gut-wrenching to hear your friend in so much pain and to have known and loved her Dad. 10 years prior I made a similar hysterical phone call after I heard about my Dad’s passing and I’m so happy I was able to be there emotionally and later physically by flying up for services.

The club really sucks, but it bonds you with people in new ways. Much love to all my brothers and sisters out there who have lost a parent, especially the daughters who lost their fathers.

Thunder Cat (my special nickname for C’s Dad) was such a big man in every way – big heart, big personality, big love of breakfast, big charmer, big comedian, and big beer bellied! Lots of people are missing you today, but I hope all our beloved dead Dads are in a club of their own shining down on us!

12 Steps

Joining a 12 Step program 18 months ago was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. You get out of it what you put into it, actually I get even more. Everyone is those rooms comes to be vulnerable and talk about things that can sometimes be unspeakable, but also so relatable. I am always moved by the shares of others, it’s so powerful and healing. If you’ve ever thought about attending a 12 step meeting or even if you haven’t but if there is a meeting that matches something in your life. GO. No one talks about going, but I know how many people I see in the rooms I go to and the others meeting rooms that I’m sure are hosting other groups. Here’s a non-exhaustive, but robust list of 12 Step programs, a quick google can lead you to find a local meeting.

ACA –Adult Children of Alcoholics
Al-Anon/Alateen (for friends and families of alcoholics)
CA –Cocaine Anonymous
CLA –Clutterers Anonymous
CMA –Crystal Meth Anonymous
Co-Anon (for friends and family of addicts)
CoDA –Co-Dependents Anonymous (for people working to end patterns of dysfunctional relationships and develop functional and healthy relationships)
COSA (an auxiliary group of Sex Addicts Anonymous)
COSLAA –CoSex and Love Addicts Anonymous
DA –Debtors Anonymous
EA –Emotions Anonymous, for recovery from mental and emotional illness
FA –Families Anonymous, for relatives and friends of addicts
FA –Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous
FAA –Food Addicts Anonymous
GA –Gamblers Anonymous
Gam-Anon/Gam-A-Teen (for friends and family members of problem gamblers)
HA –Heroin Anonymous
MA –Marijuana Anonymous
NA –Narcotics Anonymous
N/A –Neurotics Anonymous (for recovery from mental and emotional illness)
Nar-Anon (for friends and family members of addicts)
NicA –Nicotine Anonymous
OA –Overeaters Anonymous
OLGA –Online Gamers Anonymous
PA –Pills Anonymous (for recovery from prescription pill addiction)
SA –Sexaholics Anonymous
SA –Smokers Anonymous
SAA –Sex Addicts Anonymous
SCA –Sexual Compulsives Anonymous
SIA –Survivors of Incest Anonymous
SLAA –Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
SRA –Sexual Recovery Anonymous
UA –Underearners Anonymous
WA –Workaholics Anonymous

WIW

Up this week which isn’t a surprise: grief, missing some workout due to funeral travel, poor sleep, and NY bagels can do that to gal!

I’ve been back on the Blue Dot Days and tracking wagon since Monday and getting back into the swing of routine.

Since I was in NY last weekend I cancelled my plans to go this upcoming weekend. I’ll get to be home and continue to reset. Nothing like a wrench in your best laid plans, especially 2 weeks into the new year, but that’s life. You need just brush yourself off and keep going.

Phone Dates

I had two lengthy catch up phone calls with two of my besties tonight. I logged over 3 hours between the them and my heart is so full.

Call me old fashioned, but phone calls are still my preference – after of course an in person catch up. I honestly like the real time share and response without having to see the judgement, concern, fear, excitement, shame, etc in their eyes or having them see it in mine, but yet it can still be heard.

For me it’s a little easier to be brave on the phone, probably because I tend to talk before I think and therefore overly edit myself when typing – I know you think I’m verbose now, you should see the draft before I hit publish! There is an intimacy of phone calls that can never be there on text. I also think just being “alone” with someone’s voice is a powerful thing and perhaps why I’m still a huge fan of radio shows and now podcasts. I feel like I’m a better listener when relying on just my ears, I don’t have their face or hands to help me understand what they are staying so I need to be present and I love just how real things can get between two present people listening to one another.