Dressing Up

So this may seem like a weird way to feel rejuvenated but just trust me. It helps.

Yesterday I did my hair the way I do for Sundays only--putting in some leave in conditioner, extra mousse, and drying it longer. 

I miraculously got earrings in. I never wear them because I can hardly ever get them in. My husband told me a little while ago to put some Vaseline on the ends and the earrings would go right through (strange coming from him). It works but I always FORGET.

I put on some perfume.

I wore one of my favorite cardigans--the kind I usually only wear when I go out (I LOVE cardigans).

And....I stayed home. There was nothing special about yesterday but I felt special because I was all dolled up. 

I had more energy because I felt great about how I felt.

Try it and you'll like it.

xo,
Dedra

Taking the plunge

So we finally "took the plunge" quite literally yesterday and bought a monthly pass to the local rec center. I figured we can spend time there as a family and the hubby and I can go there for dates. If it improves our happiness than it is a price definitely worth paying.

We took the kids swimming and it was a blast--other than the whole changing out of wet clothes part. We tried the big girls and I getting dressed first and then going back for the baby (who was with Daddy of course) and getting her dressed. However there is nowhere to lay her down except my lap. I realized after she was dressed that my whole lap was drenched. Luckily it was drenched so much that it looked pretty unrealistic that I could have wet myself that much. :) Ha ha. Good times. Good times.

I felt exhilarated from our hour in the pool. I love being in the water. My legs are a little sore from jumping up and down with 2 girls in my arms who were giggling with glee. So worth it!  And best yet, I slept much better!

What a difference support makes!

Wow. People are commenting like crazy lately and I have to say THANK YOU! It is really hard writing a blog when you feel like you are talking to no one. I really needed the sweet comments I got today. Thank you to those who are accepting my challenges too. It motivates me knowing people are depending on me. Today's challenge is really fun and great for a Friday. I can't tell you how much this is helping and maybe you already do it.

While reading Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project, I wanted to take on her first challenge of getting more energy and named my challenge Rejuvenate. I have 3 kids 5 and under so I'm not worried that my blood never gets pumping. It is nice to feel a little more fit though and I definitely like feeling like I have more energy.

So whenever I'm feeling like I'm slumping a little bit I've been turning on Pandora's 80's Cardio Channel. I always thought I hated everything 80's. I grew up in the 80's but I always remember hating the clothes, the hair, the music, everything. But this channel does something for me. I turn it on and the kids and I start dancing. The baby shuffles around on her feet and wiggles her little bummy and the other two try to break dance. We break up and do chores but whenever we meet we just kind of get our groove on. It is really nice. Right between my shoulders was actually sore yesterday from grooving a little bit too much maybe? Nah. It felt good to be sore from something so fun as dancing with the kids.

So your challenge today and forever--find some music that makes you move. Turn it on and dance like no ones watching or pretend like you're on a rock video or something if that helps. :) I find we're getting our chores done faster and they are sooo much more enjoyable. I don't feel exhausted after and I really do feel Rejuvenated.  When we are ready to settle down I turn on my favorite channel on Pandora--Film Scores. Anyone else weird like me and love film scores?

Happy Friday,
Dedra

Rejuvenate: 1st Step

The first step of my Happiness Project is to Rejuvenate myself. The first part of my agenda is to get to sleep at a better time. That means I need to leave the basement by 11:00 p.m. to get ready and read before 11:45ish. It is really hard to get out of the basement at night. Going to bed each night feels kind of like failure because nothing has changed during the day and often times it seems like things are getting worse but to help correct my problem of going to sleep too late I am going to invest in a cheap alarm clock that will ring annoyingly at 11:00 and tell me to go up to bed. Here's hoping it works.