The Sunday List #1

Happy Sunday!

Raise your hand if you kinda-sorta dread Sunday because it's the day before Monday. You can't see me, but those who know me are visualizing me with a cartoon Mickey Mouse hand raised high in the air.

It's true, I used to get through Sundays by worrying/fretting/anticipating the week ahead of me with no intentional plan of creating something better. Oh, I have planners - lots of them, but all of them just had work and our hockey schedule listed on the days.

Like I don't know when I'm working?

After the year that will be forever be known as The Lost Year, I decided that I want to create something a little different, and maybe memorable for something better. Let's be clear, I fully understand I created the mess last year, and this is my time to clean it up. And I thought, what better way than to celebrate the little things - the things that bring me joy - with all of you?

Enter The Sunday List.  It's not a big list, five things or less, depending on the week, but something you will be able to read, download, or find at Target. I have decided to choose things in my life that actually make me happy instead of what is expected. Some days Dexter fits that mold, and other days it might be a sappy romance. I'm over trying to figure out why things matter to me... only accept them as they are.

Less judgement, more acceptance.

So without further ado, here is my first official Sunday List.... comment below if you agree (or disagree!) with any of them!

• Of course I'm going to start with a book... They will always be my first love. So the book I just finished a couple hours ago, My Favorite Half-Night Stand, by Christina Lauren made me giggle on the first page, and then throughout the book. After reading the uber-tense Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman, Half-Night was the perfect follow up book. Witty, romantic, and a great ending to boot. If it wasn't snowing outside, I'd say it was the perfect beach read. Seriously, download for your next vacation. 

• Last year, I remember being obsessed with a new Serial-like Podcast called Dirty John. It was part murder mystery, (in that you didn't know who actually died) and part Dateline-telling of the story. If you haven't listened to the podcast, I highly recommend it. However, if podcasts aren't your thing, then you have to watch the series. The final one was aired last Sunday, so all of them are available for your binging pleasure on demand. I mean, is it really a Sunday if you're not binge-watching something? Connie Britton and Eric Bana are perfectly casted - Eric (John) will make your skin crawl. If you like Dateline, this is a perfect escape, especially since it's based on a true story. 

• And finally, my favorite story of the week involves a hockey player, an NHL team, and one of my favorite cities. Jacob Piros - 17 year-old goalie for the Capital City Capitals and cancer survivor - had a dream come true this week when he got to visit with his favorite player, Pekka Rinni, goalie for the Nashville Predators. The trip was part of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and was a once in a lifetime moment for everyone involved. He met with them off the ice, practiced with them, and even led them on the ice for their game on Wednesday. You can read more about the story and check out videos here. It was one of those stories that reminds me that hockey players aren't just great athletes... they're amazing people too. I think you'll agree.

Well, that's it for me this week. I hope this post finds you warm and snuggled up with a good book (or show!), and that you begin to look for the little things that bring you joy every day. It really is as easy as changing your focus.

Until next week... Happy Reading!

xo, Mo

More Words to Live By

This is a little surreal, writing here. For the last two years, I had moved all of my writings to a Wordpress "real" website, and never-not once, did I find myself comfortable with the format. I'm a blogger girl at heart - always have been - and because I'm literally locked out of my other site, I'm back here.

Yes, there's a story there, but I'm not getting into it with you.

I'm too happy doing what I love and remembering why I started writing so long ago. It all started with a blog and literally one reader (thank you Ping!).

I haven't always believed I was a writer, yes, even after this past year, and it still surprises me when someone tells me they like my book(s). It took me so long to share anything with anyone, and now they're just out there for the world to see.
It can be a bit daunting for someone who still refuses to tell people I meet that I'm a writer. I'm not sure that little voice in the back of my head will ever truly believe the writer in me.

And I don't think I'm alone.

So, that's why I have decided to tackle the subject of those nagging voices in our heads that stop us from dreaming in my next book, To Live in This World. It will be the third and final book in the Frankfort Beach series, and this one will be told from Julia's point of view.

I really believe every one of us has a dream of some sort, but never go after them. And I get it... it's not easy to carry the faith needed to believe in something before it's real. My goal is to figure out how to break it down and present it in a way that inspires and motivates, with the occasional giggle.

Tall order for someone with a cranky voice in her head, if you ask me.

On the plus side, I'm 99.9% certain no one will die in this book either, so there's that to celebrate :)

I hope this day finds you well and reading something spectacular... Please comment and let me know what you're reading.

Happy Reading!
xo, mj

Perfection

Here I am, broadcasting from Day 23 of the Whole 30 Program, and I'd like to say that everything is going perfect... but I'm not going to lie to you like that.  Plus, you already know that coffee creamer is my non-negotiable, so there's that.

I will be honest and tell you that I went out on Saturday night... A brewery-bus-pub-crawl, and yes, I participated.  Going into it, I thought maybe I could just drink a glass of wine at each place, and it really wouldn't be so bad... right?

But here's the other thing.  I pretty much broke every rule possible, but I also didn't care.  Why?  Because I had the best damn time.  I struggled with it on Sunday (mostly because I was reeeeeeaallly hungover) but got right back on track and didn't feel the need to eat myself into a coma like I've done in the past when I slip on a diet.

Was it a perfect weekend?  Not at all, but I learned more from that experience than I did the first 20 days.

I think this is how I get into so much trouble with eating in the first place.  I'm not perfect.  I love food.  I love sweets.  And I love wine...or beer... or a margarita.  What I have never learned is the ability to balance my eating.  It's all or nothing usually.  Black or white.  Healthy or unhealthy.  Good or bad.

What I want is to live in a world where I can have those things, on occasion, and still maintain most of my current eating habits.  I have one week left, and from there I am going to figure it out.  I have gained so much from this and I don't want to ever go back to the way I was eating and living.  I was miserable with myself, and that isn't good for anyone.  But I also know that my world doesn't exist without homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Balance.  Healthy with the occasional side of sweets.  Or wine :)

I've also learned that there really aren't "good" or "bad" choices.  They're all just choices, and my job is to figure out which ones are best for me.  One size plan doesn't fit all, and I have to create one that's unique for me and learn to live with adding healthy choices more often.

Logical, right?  Yeah, it's because I haven't had sugar for 23 days.  Sugar and logic aren't buddies.

So there... If you're chasing perfection or judging yourself against perfection, STOP.  You won't win.  Perfection will kick real life's ass every time and leaving you feeling not enough.

You are enough, even with peanut M & M's.

We always were...

Happy Thursday Peeps!  Make it a good one :)

Humble and Kind

I won't sit here and go on and on about how this song moves me to tears every time I hear it.  I don't have to tell you how beautifully the video is done.  

The proof is right here, in his words, melody, and vision.

I hope you love it as much as I do...

When those dreams you're dreamin' come to you

When the work you put in is realized

Let yourself feel the pride but

Always stay humble and kind

These are my words to live by today....

Happy Thursday Peeps :)

10

10 Days.

240 Hours.

14,400 Minutes.

864,000 Seconds.

As in I've made it through 10 days of Whole 30.  A part of me wishes it was Whole 10, but then again, I really feel like I'm just getting started.  Never did I imagine that I would make it this far.  After all, this is literally the longest I've gone without any of the following:  sugar, processed carbs, dairy, alcohol.  I've haven't given up any single thing for this long, let alone ALL OF THEM.

It's crazy when you think about it.

No cookies fresh from the oven.

No glass of wine while cooking dinner.

No side of crackers with my bagel sandwich.

No pizza.

Sigh..... this is getting depressing.

But, in all honesty, I'm not worried about getting to day 30 anymore.  I'm more worried about what happens on day 31.  I know we reintroduce groups back in, but I haven't gotten there yet.

In honor of this momentous day, I thought I'd give you this:

The Top Ten Things I Learned from Whole 30: Part 1

1. I can go so much longer in between meals than I could before.  And hunger doesn't feel like I'm going to pass out if I don't eat something.
2. I like things like sweet potatoes, mangos - and taking a page out of my mom's cookbook - adding onions to EVERYTHING.  She'd be proud.  Blake and Toby, on the other hand, are mortified that the house smells like onions.
3. I definitely have more energy now.  Couldn't say that the first week, so that is a good thing.
4. Coffee creamer is a non-negotiable for me.  If I can only have fruits, veggies, and meat, then I am allowing this one small mental treat.  Yes, I said mental treat.
5. I am waking up easier now.  Or maybe I should say that when I wake up, I actually want to get out of bed now.
6. I no longer think about food 24/7.  
7. Night time is definitely my Danger Zone.  I went to bed at 9 pm pretty much the whole first week to stop myself from thinking about the things I used to eat.
8. Tea really does help curb some cravings.
9. I feel a weird happiness at odd times during the day.  
10. I've learned it isn't so much about will power, but just setting your mind to something.  I have wanted nothing more than to feel better for the past few years, and I finally feel like this is the last puzzle piece to fit in.  

Change doesn't happen overnight, but second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. It happens one choice at a time.  It happens when you can't tolerate the way things are anymore and brave enough to make that choice.

I'm so happy I did.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Tribe

Taylor Swift has her squad.

Oprah has Gayle.

Mark Wahlberg has his entourage.

And I have my tribe.

In this day and age, when life is moving quickly, and you don't know what day it is half the time, it's nice to know that a girlfriend is just a text away.  I know, I know, we're all obsessed with our phones, and everyone just wants to unplug!

But not me.  No way.  I get nervous when my phone gets to 20% battery left.

If it weren't for my phone, I wouldn't have been able to get through this week.  Like, for real.

A simple text message, or a year long group text, can literally change the course of my day.  You see, on the other end of that text is someone I treasure.  Someone I can bond with over Whole30 Hell.  Someone who gets my writing struggles.  Someone who is also waiting for the end of a Championship game that has gone into overtime and a shoot out.  Someone who makes me giggle, and someone who knows when I'm crying.

I don't think it's antisocial - unless you're at a restaurant with a friend across from you - because you're communicating and sharing your life with your tribe.

And everyone needs a tribe.  I love my husband just as much as the next person, but it's my girlfriends who have gotten me through life.

The nitty gritty stuff.
The stuff that men just wouldn't understand.
The diets nutrition resets.
Stuff like waxing, mothering, and Criminal Minds.
Scandal textathons.
Books!  Men just don't get books.
Fear of failing at motherhood.
Fear of failing at writing.
Fear of just failing.

I don't know any woman who is able to handle motherhood, work (or not), schedules, meals, family, games, and travel without a TRIBE around her.  If you're lucky enough to see that tribe every day, well yay for you.  I am not that fortunate, but I am blessed to have a list of friends I can text at any moment to share my life with.


So be thankful, today.  Thankful for the women who just get who you are and still like you :)  Life goes fast and I know we are only here for a short time.  Don't hold grudges or pass judgements... you sometimes don't know what someone else is going through.   Instead, take the high road and be kind to everyone.  Not everyone will be a part of your tribe and that's okay.  Haters are going to hate, and you'll always be able to find someone who can criticize everything you do.  It's okay.  You don't need their opinion, but you can still be nice.

It's taken me a while to get to this point.  Like I said earlier, I wouldn't have gotten through the week without my peeps, so perhaps I'm feeling a bit mushy right now.

Take a moment and text a friend.  Make them giggle... tomorrow is Monday and they need it.

Happy Sunday Peeps!

Food

My friend Linda has always told me that weight loss and getting to a "normal" size is 90% about what you eat.  

I never liked it when she would tell me this.  I would simply look for an exercise plan that could allow me extra calories or cheat days.  I mean, I would hear what she was saying, but politely decline that it would work for me.

After all, I've tried every diet on the planet.  Giving up food groups is too hard.  Tracking food is too annoying.  Counting calories makes me want to stick a fork in my eye.

So when I came across the book It Starts with Food, I was a little skeptical.   Okay, a LOT skeptical.  You don't give up one food group, but several.  S E V E R A L.  

And by several, I'm talking about 90% of what I eat.  I'm guessing Linda is giggling about now.

But here's the deal:  When I started reading the book, I wasn't intimidated by what I couldn't eat, and what I'd have to give up for 30 Days.  I was inspired by the benefits I would gain from doing getting rid of the foods that are wreaking havoc on my system.  Within the first few chapters, I was hooked.  More than anything, I want to wake up in the morning and not think about how many hours till I can crawl back in.  I would actually like to feel my age (or younger!) and not 85.

Will this be easy.   Ummm, no, but I'm actually excited about the challenge.  I'm ready for it.  And I bought more vegetables today than I did pretty much all of last year alone!  I've never really been one for taking the easy road either... just look at what I do for a living.

So, tomorrow starts the day.  The day when Linda's 90% makes the difference in my life.  Needless to say, I'm taking the week off from working out, mostly because I think I'll want to kill someone by Wednesday.  

Good news?  The Golden Globes is on TONIGHT (oh how I've missed Ricky Gervais), and I can even enjoy a glass of wine while I watch!  Can't say that tomorrow :)

Need a laugh?  I highly encourage you to watch this then.  I giggled most of the way through it... Will probably watch every day this week.

That's it from me tonight!  Wish me luck, and those are my words to live by...