It has already been SIX weeks since we left Cork. With a week on the Queen Mary 2, a week in Providence visiting my in laws, Christmas, unpacking and reconnecting with family, and this week in Boston for work – we’ve been so busy that it’s nearly impossible to believe that that much time has already passed. I really don’t know if I am even fully aware of the fact that this isn’t something temporary yet, but I do know it feels bittersweet. I’m so excited to be here with my family, in our new home (which we officially close on today! Although thankfully we’ve been living here already), and…
Foundational Habits Part One: Sleep and a Whole30 Butternut Squash and Sage Frittata
Although summer is my favorite, I do love September. The changing colors outside are gorgeous and (usually) the weather takes its time transitioning to full on freezing. I also love fresh starts and fall resolutions and getting back to routine, perhaps especially this time around when I've been out of it for so many weeks. I feel a bit behind in general as I attempt to catch up on everything personally and professionally in addition to preparing for a major move back to the States in just three months (that in and of itself is both exhilarating and anxiety-provoking simultaneously!). And while there's so much to do and I have…
Learning to Trust in Abundance and a Three Ingredient Sweet Potato Waffle
Although a few weeks ago at this stage, I have continued to muse over my experiences at the Whole30 Coaches Summit, which truly was as my friend Julette said, like a Whole30 Disney World. We had SO many out-of-this-world delicious Whole30 approved and compliant food options, group workouts both mornings, a hike on the picturesque trails of Park City, Utah, a full schedule of meetings and breakout sessions, plus time to connect and network with other coaches and to learn from one another. Although it was pretty much nonstop awesomeness, getting to know
The Benefits of Reading Fiction and Dark Chocolate Paleo Granola
I am definitely what one would call a creature of habit and love my routine oh-so-much. Recently my guided journal provided me with a writing prompt to describe the ideal/perfect morning. And to be honest, as I considered the idea, it didn't look all that much different than business as usual. I'd still get up early (usually between 5-530 AM) surrounded by my little fam and I'd prefer to eat one of my "normal" breakfast foods in my kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand and messy bun atop my head, before I head out to teach and take barre. Initially when I think about these types of questions,…
Learn to Flourish: Why Do a Happiness Project and a Whole30 Broccoli “Cheese” Frittata
"However much we resist acknowledging it, we humans are not static. We're either on a positive trajectory or a negative one. Either we're growing in goodness, becoming more creative and resilient, or we're solidifying our bad habits, becoming more stagnant and rigid. [Our] life trajectory is leading [us] to languish or flourish…. People who flourish function at extraordinarily high levels - both psychologically and socially. They're not simply people who feel good. Flourishing goes beyond happiness, or satisfaction with life. True, people who flourish are happy. But that's not the half of it. Beyond feeling good,
Overcoming the WTH Effect with a Whole30 Smoked Salmon Stack on Sweet Potato Toast
So there's failing, and then there's failing big. And let's just say, when I do go wrong, I often do it BIG. And it ain't pretty. I'm feeling like I'm finally caught up now, but just recently there were a few consecutive weeks which were extra hectic with a lot of deadlines and time intensive deliverables plus an inordinate amount of "little things" here and there which just required a lot of time. It was one of those months in which everything that had to be done was just barely getting done at the last possible moment and anything else was moved to the backburner. The lack of downtime was…
Purpose in Leisure Time and a Whole30 Sweet Potato Crusted Quiche
Ahh. That's a sigh of contentment after the three day May Bank Holiday weekend here in Ireland. It was a particularly quiet one for me since in addition to having an extra day off from normal work, Flex in the City was closed and Jonathan was away for round two of his sailing course. And although I love all these things (ok - definitely less so when it comes to the day job, but I do love teaching at the studio and spending time with my husband!), I have to say that it was a pretty fabulous few days at home and around town for me and little Coco. The weather was nice,…
Learning to Reframe (Because Words Matter!) and a Whole30 Breakfast Sausage and Gravy
Words matter. Perhaps especially to me since as previously mentioned, I am a self-professed logophile and I know that my love language is “words of affirmation.” However biased I may be though, there is a lot of evidence which supports my claim. According to Gretchen Rubin, “research shows that people who use language that emphasizes that they’re acting by their own choice and exercising control (“I don’t,” “I choose to,” “I’m going to.,” or “I don’t want to”) stick to their habits better than people who use language that undermines their self-efficacy (“I can’t,” I’m not allowed to,” or “I’m supposed to”). There’s a real difference between “I don’t” and…
The Significance of Now and a New Whole30 Fiesta Frittata
I actually gasped as I received a work meeting invite yesterday for a Q1 business review scheduled just a few weeks from now. Although, I spend plenty of time with my calendar, it provided me with an alternative (and startling) perspective on the fact that we are already halfway through the third month of the year – which served as a powerful reminder that there truly is no time like the present. One thing I have started trying to do consistently over the past month is to observe what Gretchen Rubin calls the “One Minute Rule.” In her book, The Happiness Project, she talks about her commitment to automatically do…
Choosing the Bigger Life :: A Second Dog and Paleo Almond Butter Blender Muffins
I would generally consider myself someone who really likes to have clear expectations set, be in control, know the plan and stick to it. I would not consider myself to be very spontaneous, but I suppose moderately flexible. Since I am an Upholder, I sometimes find myself hesitant or reluctant to take on new things because I don’t want them to crowd out the things I have already started on because of course, we all have limited resources (time, attention, money, etc.) and I am not one to commit to something unless I know that I can see it through to the very end. When I take on a new…
