September, the disappearing month

Can you believe that September is almost over? Where did it go?

We have had some beautiful fall weather here in Upstate New York. What have you done to get back in touch with nature and enjoy the last few weeks of great weather before the winter kicks in? My family finally checked out Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville. If you have never been, make sure to check it out. The walking paths are beautiful and there is plenty for your little one to explore.

We also were able to get out apple picking. There is a little organic farmer near us in Jamesville called Adams Acres. This man has planted an organic Apple Orchard in his backyard as a hobby- how cool is that! Unfortunately he lost about 80% of his crop this year due to the frost this spring. His apples are still delicious; so make sure to keep him on your list for next year.

With the change in temperatures, I am finding that my body is craving more comfort foods in the forms of soups and stews. I am looking forward to making a batch Shepard’s pie this weekend with some local lamb and beef. That is the ultimate comfort food at this house. I have an amazing recipe that is definitely a labor of love, and worth every second!

For those of you in the Syracuse area, I have some upcoming classes you may want to check out:

Kick Start Your Health Mini-Series at The Beattie Sanctuary 

10/11- Got the Sugar Blues?

10/18- Deconstructing those cravings

10/25- Intimidated by Green Smoothies?

Make sure to visit my website: www.besthealth-forlife.com for more information on these classes and more!

Rejuvenation

What do you do to regroup when you are feeling stressed? This week I am officially on my summer vacation with my family. I left behind the stress of my {OT} job, and house cleaning for a week in Maine. And let me tell you it has been therapeutic! My daughter and I spent some time at the top of a mountain while my husband did some mountain biking. Just watching her explore brings the biggest smile to my face.

Monday night we took her to the ocean, you should have seen her eyes light up! Here is a picture of her running on the beach, just look at the innocent joy on her face.  

Having a child really does bring out the child in you. I find that I am re-experiencing life through new eyes, and it is amazing.

I find that just breathing the fresh, salty air clears my mind and rekindles my soul. It also sparks my creative juices and leaves me motivated! What motivates you?

 For those of you in the Syracuse, NY area, I will be hosting some great workshops this fall to help kick start your health. Check out my website for details.

Paralyzed

Does this ever happen to you: You have a “to accomplish list” that is a little too long, and rather than crossing things off, you find yourself paralyzed, unable to complete anything?

This happened to me this past week. I find that there are days in which even the smallest items on my list are impossible to complete. I call these days my “ADD” days. My mind is on overdrive with all that I want/need to do, and nothing ends up getting done.

I wish I had some novel, mind-blowing tips to help others in this situation, however my suggestions are basic: make a list and cross it off as you go. In situations like this, it is important to prioritize. Here is my example from this week:

1.     Reports for work (these have specific deadlines)

2.     Meal preparation (my daughter requires food)

3.     House cleaning (I focus on one room at a time)

I read somewhere a great way to help with housecleaning is to set a timer for a specific amount of time [say 10-20 minutes] and focus on only one room. When the timer goes off, time to move to a new room. This would help a person like me that tends to wonder from room to room.

What are your tips and strategies for when you are overwhelmed?