For Yourself Friday- Keep Calm and Polish On

I began getting my nails done at a salon regularly around 5 years ago.  I enjoy everything about the process, including slipping away for some me time, picking out a new color to fit my mood, and rocking some femininity on my hands (which are waved around incessantly during my expressive chatter!).  I opt to get acrylic, but I know several women who enjoy a simple manicure, shellac, or a good paint job at home.  Whatever your preference is, getting your nails done (or doing them yourself), is a great way to relax and enjoy something just for you.  It is also a way to creatively express yourself in a small way.  Whether you go bold, simple, or elegant, your nails inevitably give some insight into your personality, as well as your current mood!

Last night one of my nails fell of, and every valley girl stereotype was recreated.  I will be making an emergency stop at the salon today, and encourage you to enjoy some nail pampering yourself!  On this For Yourself Friday, join me in making your nails a little extra fabulous!  With spring kick starting, now is the perfect time to try out a new bright color like mint or coral!

This is my current, sad nail truth.  If this is as bad as it gets, I suppose I will be alright :-)

In addition to getting your nails done, I strongly encourage having your husband paint your toe nails. Although I know this an absolute never guna happen situation for many, for others all it takes is a little bit of a puppy dog eye.  Sitting back and allowing your man to jack up your toes (or make them look great, depending on his skills), is super fun regardless of the outcome!  My husband did it while I was pregnant, and although he is pretty bad at it, every now and again I ask him to do it just for fun.  It gives me a laugh, and I love knowing that he will do it for me just because he loves me and I ask.  

Keep Calm and Polish On!!

Do you typically get your nails done?  If you participate in fabbing up your nails on For Yourself Friday, tell us about it!  What color did you choose?  Where did you go?  Was it relaxing?  

-Lindsay

Motivational Monday- Feelings Inventory

In a recent SS discussion the idea of a feelings inventory was brought up.  I do these with clients at work, the kiddos at home, and throughout my days internally.  It is basic, but can have so many benefits.  A feelings inventory is just that.  Taking a brief, yet thoughtful, inventory of your feelings.  Taking a moment to identify what exactly you are feeling, as well as why you are feeling that way, can help you process and manage those feelings.  

Let's stop for a second and acknowledge that, yes, this is completely and utterly cheesy!  Should we sit in a circle, hold hands and sing Kum Ba Yah?  Now that we have hit that truth head on, we can move on to the fact that, regardless of the cheese factor, it is still a kick ass way to get in touch with what's going on up in your head and in your heart!  Moving on...

You may initially think you are feeling angry, only to realize upon further thought, you are actually feeling hurt or dissapointed.  Knowing what exactly you are feeling can help you determine how to manage that feeling, as well as determine if your emotional response to that feeling is appropriate and necessary.  You may be feeling overwhelmed, and realize with some insight that that stress has an easy solution.  Knowing what the feeling truly is, often opens doors to solutions you otherwise woul've overlooked, due to a misinterpretation of feelings.

On this Motivational Monday, I encourage you to take a feelings inventory at some point.  Utilize the moment of self reflection to heighten awareness, revive your positivity, and problem solve through any negative feelings.  

Today is a good day to have a great day!!  

                                                    

How often to you assess your feelings?  Did you take a feelings inventory today?  Was it helpful?  Too cheesy?  Tell us how your feelings inventory was?  What were you feeling??

For Yourself Friday- Wrecking Ball

I'm sure many of you have seen a recent video floating around of a couple singing a song from Frozen.  My instant reaction upon viewing it was, how the heck did this go viral?  My husband and I do this ALL the time.  Is that out of the ordinary?  Doesn't everybody rock out in the car, make alternative lyrics, have crazy voices, and have photo documentation of it all?  I just happened to have a video of us doing Wrecking Ball a few months back.  It was recorded and sent, in an attempt to cheer up a fellow SS (admin Kristi).

Laughter is the best medicine, and where you can't find it, create it!  On this For Yourself Friday, I encourage you all to let it all out.  Make fun of yourself, get goofy, and don't worry what anyone else thinks!!

What will you do to create laughter this weekend?  Did you rock out in the car?  Ugly picture war?  Dance off?  Let us know what you do to spread the giggles!!  

Guest Blogger- BBQ Chickyyyyy with SS Ash

BBQ Chicken in a crockpot. Yum!!

This has become a fast favorite for my family. So simple and easy to make (I am kicking myself for not making this a lot sooner!). All you need is a crockpot, chicken breasts and your favorite BBQ sauce. I will also suggest some crockpot liners, they are a lifesaver!

First gather your ingredients:

4-5 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I use frozen)

1 12oz bottle of your fave BBQ sauce

2 Tbsp of brown sugar (optional)

1/2 Cup Water


Mix everything but the chicken together, until well blended. Add frozen chicken, just make sure they all get some sauce on them, even if they are not immersed right away. They will be later once they have thawed. Crank up the heat on the crockpot to high for 2-3 hours. Want to cook it slower? Put it on low for 5-7 hours.

After the chicken is cooked through, you can either remove it from the crockpot to shred, or if you are skilled at shredding while in the crockpot, do that. I always seem to tear the liner when I shred it in the crockpot. Put chicken back into crockpot, and make sure to stir, getting all the yummy sauce throughout the chicken.

Grab your most favorite buns (mine are gluten free), pile the BBQ chicky high, and enjoy!!

-Ash

Motivational Monday- Vent Reduction

We all love a good vent sesh.  It can feel so freeing to release pent up stress, and let it all hang out.  At times it is therapeutic, but it can also be taxing.  Venting is often a facade for complaining, and we need to be able to halt an unnecessary 'vent' session that can hinder our ability to maintain positivity.  Life is hard. Period.  Now that we have gotten that simple reality out of the way, lets reevaluate our need for any venting on this Motivational Monday.

As we kick start a new week, lets work to minimize the whining venting, and sing through it all.  

How often do you find yourself venting throughout an average week?  Do you find it therapeutic, or can it hinder your positivity?  Let us know if you work to reduce your venting, and how it feels!  Was it hard?  Did it have a positive impact?  

-Lindsay

For Yourself Friday- Permission

As I prepared for jury duty this morning, I found my mind conflicted on where I should be focusing my energy.  I was feeling a heavy heart, overwhelmed senses, and stress regarding what my blog post would be.  I stopped myself and realized, some stress is self inflicted and should not be a priority.  This blog, while I enjoy each and every post I am privileged to write, should not be a sense of stress for me.  On days like today, it is okay to focus on more important tasks at hand.

On this 'For Yourself Friday', I want you to give yourself permission to focus on something other then unecessary stress.  While some stress is essential to ensure we fulfill responsibilities, other stress can be revisited at a later time.  That unecessary stress has no right to ruin this fabulous Friday!! Whatever stress you are facing, give yourself a temporary freebie. Whether it be for an hour, a day, or the entire weekend, do it for yourself and your sanity! Identify the stress you are feeling, no matter how large or small, and determine its priority within your day.  

                        

TGIF, ladies!! Enjoy the sunny days heading our way!!

-Lindsay 

Motivational Monday- Shake It Off

Last week we decided to begin our lyric wall.  I wanted to paint the lyrics from Crosby Stills and Nash's, 'Our House' on our living room wall from top to bottom.  It had graced my to do list for over a year and I was ready to take the plunge.

I wanted the imperfections of words scribbled in a journal, but not so much it looked overly sloppy.  We taped off lines and I jumped in, writing out the words with a pencil, the hub then going over it with paint.  I knew within one line it was disastrous.  I tried to warn the hub that I already knew I would hate it, but he insisted we continue on, in the hopes it would all come together in the end.

As you can see from the final photo (above right) my hatred for the wall won out and we repainted the wall.   

With that being said, we will be tackling this wall again, more optimistic then ever! We will learn from the experience and cross our fingers that the second time is more successful.  

Sometimes, we just have to shake it off.  Shake off the feeling of failure or inadequacy, in the hopes that the process made us more capable for the next time around.  Shake off the irritability from having to start over and spend more time and energy than we had originally planned for.  Shake off the lack of motivation, and kick ourselves in the ass, to finish what we have already started.  

On this Motivational Monday, shake off whatever may be keeping you from making this day your own!  Shake it off, and know all things can be better then ever!