Favorite Part Of The Day
Yup, my favorite part of the day is the part when I get to come home! It was even better because Bill was home when I got home, which never happens 
My time on the elliptical was great: a nice ‘n sweaty workout basically sums it up best, I logged 3 miles while doing so! The cucumbers were also a great thing to chomp on after a workout, I loved the texture and getting the extra water in didn’t hurt! Plus, Iwas still hungry for dinner.
Dinner was frozen leftovers from a while back. I realized all of my Tupperware was in my freezer being used to freeze dinners so I should take advantage of having a healthy, yet easy dinner tonight, plus I needed some free containers! I defrosted a few containers of my CleanEating pasta bake and my homemade lasagna. Both are definitely crap-free, since I made them myself using wholesome ingredients. I decided on having the lasagna:
On the side, we had salad that I tossed with my mustard vinagrette. I used to make this all the time for my parents but forgot about it! It’s 2 parts red wine vinegar, 2 parts spicy mustard, and 1 part olive oil.
It was such a comforting meal, but I don’t feel stuffed, nor do I feel hungry ~ just right!
Now I’m off to give my parents a call and pack our lunches for tomorrow… Then it’s time for JACK BAUER (24) with Bill.
Love Myself Reflection – Breathe
Before I go, I wanted to reflect on how my breathing experiment went today as part of my “Love Yourself” challenge. During the morning, I found it fairly easy to take deep breaths, but once the afternoon came, I found my breath starting to get hurried and I had to keep looking at my post it to remind me. I’m glad I did the post-it trick though, because if not, I think I would have struggled with this even more. The drive home was the absolute biggest challenge for me. I have a 40 mile commute each way and it’s mostly all on the Turnpike, so I get stressed out easily while driving. I had to keep reminding myself over and over again to really focus on breathing and to not get stressed out.
I think the biggest thing I noticed was basically how out of tune I am with myself and how hard I need to work to get back in-tune with myself. Now that’s the negative (well semi-positive) aspect. But from a positive perspective, I noticed how much more relaxed I was at the end of the day. I also usually have neck and shoulder pain at the end of the day (where I typically carry my stress), but I didn’t feel that today. On a related note, I noticed that my posture was better, perhaps from the deep breathing? I realized a few times that I wasn’t slouching when I walked and I wasn’t crunched over staring at my computer either.
For those of you who did this today, what did you observe?
I wanted to leave you with a comment I received from Amanda, because I found it to really HIT HOME with me and hope you feel the same way. Thank you Amanda for sharing this with us!!!!!:
I really really love this idea!! I take yoga classes twice a week and the instructor is so great at telling us something to meditate on right before Shavansana (spelling?). On Saturday, it really stuck with me:
May you be happy,
May you be healthy,
May you be free from suffering and all causes of suffering,
May you tend to your life with ease.The part about tending to my life with ease really struck a cord with me. I feel like I often dwell on the one thing in my life that is tough or bringing me down … it often seems like I am trying to make my life more difficult. (Same goes for my body/myself … focusing on the few imperfections instead of appreciating everything that I have). Thanks for making the intention to love yourself this week!
haha, so funny — gina actually just emailed me a little earlier to say that her friend danielle has a friend with a food blog … i was like, i know that blog!!! small world, right?
btw, soo smart to have those leftovers in the freezer for a quick meal. i’m all about freeing up containers, too
thanks for sharing the quote from amanda — i will need it this week!
Glad you got home to a happy house!
Leftovers are yummy because the best part is you didn’t have to do much (this time around!)
Thanks for the inspiration, doll! Have a great week!
xoxo
that lasagna looks great!
good post- thanks for sharing your observations from today!
I definitely tried to breathe more, and I definitely needed it today.
Love that ending quote! I think that is part of a Mettha Bhavana meditation, or Loving Kindness meditation. It’s such a beautiful meditation!! You extend love and kindness to those you love, those who love you, someone you are nuetral towards and those you have a hard time loving and then yourself. It gives me the warm fuzzies. Google it!! There may be some guided audio mettha meditations. I think you would love it =)
I love this concept of breathing/ focusing on your breathing. I used to do it ALL the time when I was practicing flute much more seriously. I think I’ll definitely have to remember to focus on breathing tomorrow…if my boss has her way I’ll be having close to a 12 hr workday tomorrow…pretty sure I won’t be going along with her way!!
coming home is definitely the best part of the day! it sounds like you had a great workout, and that lasagna looks delicious! i’m definitely writing down your recipe.
i think that you hit the nail on the head: breathing is so instrumental in relaxing and being able to just sit back and take challenges as they come. i’ve noticed that since i’ve been doing yoga, i’ve been able to manage stress a lot better than i used to, and i’m sure that my calm would be even stronger if i practiced conscious breathing outside of my yoga practice too. thanks for sharing that, that has really gotten me thinking.
hope you’re having a lovely evening!
Thanks for giving your thoughts on this concept. I think it’s interesting to see at what points you notice your stress level increase. I would think that once you’ve identified these times that are vulnerable to stress, then you could make sure and focus more on breathing then.
Have a good night!
That lasagna looks amazing!!
So this morning when you posted about breathing, I made the comment that I’d have to remember that for my chem exam. Well….I got the exam and I was clueless! Then I took a moment to refocus and breathe – the light bulb went off and I was no longer overwhelmed
Thanks, girl!
I am glad to hear you review that Clean Eating Pasta Bake. It is on my menu for this week.
I also went on an unfreezing leftover spree this weekend because I needed my Tupperware back and refuse to buy more!
Look forward to more blogs!
Something unexpectedly bad happened to me at work today, and I was feeling really down about it. I immediately thought of your morning post and just took a few deep breaths. Not only did I clear my head, but I started thinking more rationally about the situation. As a constant worrier, this was a definite improvement in not only my mood – but also my ability to control my feelings for the better. Thanks!
Settlement 3/27 on both!!!!! How exciting…i am seriously so thrilled for you! Congrats
Really appreciate you sharing! =D
And oh my gosh, lasagna looks divine!
That is really great, thanks for sharing
I know I could use a minute, or 500…to just slow down and take a breath and tend to MYSELF with ease- if I treat everyone else so nicely, why not myself right!?? Have a great week Linds!
Oh! Is that from the most recent Clean Eating? I have a subscription, but it goes to my home address rather than my school one. I am dying to read it!
I will try to breathe more today! I love the idea of Love Yourself Week…AND a crap-free week! That lasagna still looks good even though it’s defrosted. Mine always comes out looking a little questionable!
ok
Im sappy
I get all lost in the fact that you are GLAD when Bill is home.
really.
so few people feel that way about their relationships…
Looove Clean Eating recipes!!
I am definitely going to try to make that dressing it sounds so simple and yet delicious! thanks for the recipe!
It is hard to say “no” sometimes, but I often feel a sense of relief once I’ve said it. Thanks for sharing a great article.
That lasagna looks amazing! I admire the “crap free” experiment. I certainly eat more crap than I should. Your goal has made me more mindful about my own eating.
Hi Caroline ~ It’s actually from the 2nd to last Clean eating mag