Neat, Simplicity

Genuine 2018: Thoughts on Moving

standard September 6, 2018 Leave a response

Hi friends!

It’s been a while.

I knew when we moved that juggling transition and marathon training and a newly 1 year old and running a business and a blog would be a tough season. But I blindly pushed through thinking I would just build a new routine and move right along with everything.

Any of you with a toddler knows how realistic that is.

It took us two months longer than we thought it would to find a permanent home. We spent three full months in transitional corporate housing, where my daughter took her first steps, where absolutely nothing was baby-proofed, and where we had a beautiful view of the bay, but felt very isolated and unsure. I kept on with managing Celebration Nutrition, though I felt I was lacking a clear direction since life was taking me into a new season. And I kept up this space, albeit sporadically, to help make me feel some normalcy through it all. Goals and plans can help set the tone and mood for a new season, but they only work if you put them into practice.

After searching and searching, we finally found a place to call home here in California. I ran the Big Sur Marathon in April, we had family visit and help us move in May, and then summer hit full force. I was fortunate to have conversations with a few amazing women who helped me set the tone for where my work and my business was going in this new season. A new state, a new routine, a new everyday meant that I had to move my business to fit into my life, and as things grow and only get busier, some things have to get put aside.

In an effort to build and grow Celebration Nutrition, I simply am not able to also put in the time to this space that I have in the past. And instead of fighting that and continuing to put out sporadic and forced content, I’ve decided to just step back for now. Not for good. There is too much history here that I want to preserve. I am slowly starting to get the itch to create recipes and cook in the kitchen again, and this is the outlet for me to be personal and creative and athletic. But you will now only hear from me when I have something really good to say. In the meantime, I’m still writing! You can find nutrition information, plant-based resources, intuitive eating conversations, and wellness tips over on Celebration Nutrition’s blog. I’d love to hear from you over there as I grow that space. If you want to stay up to date when new posts are added, you can join our VIP email community here. I send out weekly emails with exclusive content and links to posts from the week as they are published.

Plant Based Basics ebook

Thank you for following along on this crazy journey! Life will continue to be an adventure, and I’m excited to see where the coming year takes me!

Goals, Neat

Genuine 2018: April

standard April 4, 2018 Leave a response

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And just like that, it’s already April. February ended strong, with the best of intentions planned and scheduled and ready for a fun and crazy March. And then suddenly March was halfway over and there was no way to catch back up without going insane. So instead of trying, I gave myself the grace to just let it go. No guilt. No stress. Moving, selling a house, finding a new house, navigating a now walking one year old, AND managing a business through a transition was plenty going on. Let me tell you, living without baby proofing is a full-time job on its own! Add in stagers and tools and dust and dirt and high-rise apartments with lots of drawers and windows and you’re just asking for trouble. My child was kind enough to pull my hair out for me so I didn’t have to during this season. Thanks, girlie.

Looking all the way back to February, before the craziness began, momentum was building, a nice routine was falling into place. Even with the crazy, unscheduled, dance party filled days we are having now, it feels good to know I will eventually get back to that rhythm of working mom, business owner, marathon runner, and friend. Some days, I honestly feel like I’ll never get anything done. And then other days, I’m running 10 miles with the stroller, crossing of my whole to-do list, and making dinner on time. This season is about learning to see progress, even if small, and appreciating the slow days while we have them.

February In Review:

1. Create something (content) every day.

Even if it was something as small as an image for a blog post, this was really helpful in giving me momentum and progress as the month went on. Once things settle down, I’m going to work on getting back into this habit.

2. Connect and network online every day.

I didn’t manage this every day, but most week days were ended with great conversations with new people. I even have a few new collaboration projects that I am really excited about as a result.

3. Create 2 new client resources.

I have a really fun plant-based nutrition e-book in progress, but didn’t get it finished before the big move. Working on finishing it this month! I will be sharing it first with my email community, so be sure to sign up to know when it’s available!

4. Update Caroline’s baby book.

The baby book is still only half done, but I have started writing memories down in the Promptly Journal I got her for Christmas. Such a fun way to keep track of things that we’d otherwise not necessarily remember or make note of in a traditional baby book.

5. Practice Pilates every weekday.

This was so, so good for my race training and feeling stronger post-baby! Love, love, love The Balanced Life Sisterhood. If you’re looking for at home workouts and a great accountability community, check it out!

Consistency and Routine

This month’s focus is on being consistent. Building rhythms into our days, even in this season of transition and change. Work may look different. Some days we drop everything and go look at a house. Other days we spend building block towers and practicing Pilates (otherwise known as mama the human jungle gym). My goals are to go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time each day. To focus ONE hour on work each day, instead of broken up 10-15 minute pieces throughout the day. We run during one nap, work during the other. Play and create memories in between. And on the days that everything falls apart, we just it all go. We are all confined to a small apartment space in a big city with few friends and connections. Some days we all just need to lose it and let it out. There is something about saying it’s okay to have those days that makes it actually okay. So let’s all give ourselves the freedom to let something go this month. Whatever has been holding you back, that you cannot control. Give into it on occasion. Let the mess be. Order takeout. Sleep in. Skip the workout. And see what memories you can make instead.

April Goals:

  • Complete 2 Celebration Nutrition projects (exciting partnerships coming soon!)
  • Run Big Sur Marathon (April 29th!)
  • Find a house.
  • Meal plan and prep each week.
  • Create new routine in this season.

Goals, Neat

Genuine 2018: February

standard February 2, 2018 Leave a response

I’ve struggled this past month with wanting to jump right in yet also slowly ease into things. While I’m ready to get right to my tasks and get things done, I also am craving a slower pace. My goals for February filled up fast, and I’m finding myself finding ways to let some go, knowing that if I get too overwhelmed, I’m more likely to not do anything vs. making small progress on a few things.

My biggest challenge right now is working on new routines, cultivating new habits. Getting up at the same time, going to bed at the same time, having set tasks in the morning and the evening, working on training my brain and my body to get into a new rhythm that is both slow and calming yet driven towards accomplishing something productive.

The focus for this month is ACTION. Going forth and DOING, but not too much at once. Focusing on doing ONE thing a day, each day, for the month. I have a few big work projects that I’m hoping to slowly make progress on, as well as spending more time on creative pursuits.

Goal Setting Notepad Pen

January in Review:

1. Clear out clutter in one room each week.

This did not happen as intentionally or methodically as I had anticipated, but things are slowly getting cleaned out. More decluttering happening this month as well!

2. Set income goals for the year.

Last year I was mostly going with the flow when it came to working with new clients and new projects. This year, I have a more specific time frame for when I want projects to happen, how many people I have bandwidth to work with each month, and how much income I need to generate. I’m hoping having a financial focus will allow me to work smarter this year and take the time off when I need to without worrying about finances.

3. Set up weekly date nights.

Friends, this is important. If you’re not doing this, make it happen. We only get out of the house about once a month for a date, but Friday nights are date night in every single other week. No tv, no phones, no tablets. Just good food, conversation, silliness, and intentionality.

4. Take a walk to the park/swings each week.

My sweet girl LOVES the swings, and I love our time together slowing down, getting outside, and having fun. It’s easy to go, go, go each day, but setting aside time to get out and have a break has been good for all three of us.

5. Go to bed by 10:00 pm each night.

This one I am GREAT with on days the husband is home. But I just cannot get myself to go to bed when I’m home alone. I stay up too late reading or watching Netflix, and then regret it the next morning when my sweet child decides to start her day before 6:00 am. This is something I am continuing to work on, in an effort to get more rest, be able to wake up fully ready for the day at 6:00 am, and set a habit in the evening of winding down from the day.

Goal setting journal coffee

Genuine Focus

I’ve been working on being more intentional with the fringe time that I have. In using the little 15-20 minute gaps to do something that helps me to make progress on my goals instead of wasting the time feeling like I don’t have enough space to make progress right then. And especially with an almost one year old toddling around getting into everything, the spaces of time I have in my day to be productive have to happen in small bursts or they won’t happen at all. I’ve been in a routine of only working on days I have childcare to keep things simpler, but I know I won’t always have full days to get things done later on this year. So taking something that seems big, like creating new content, and working on creatively using my brain AND producing good work each and every day is a challenge I already am realizing I can tackle.

February Goals:

  • Create something (content) every day.
  • Connect and network online every day.
  • Create 2 new client resources.
  • Update Caroline’s baby book.
  • Practice Pilates every weekday.