Get Up Already!! (A Challenge…. I’m Scared)

I am about to embark on a personal challenge, and, if I’m being honest with myself, I am terrified.

Remember a few weeks ago when Lyn told us how she struggles with going to bed? Well, most of the time I’m pretty good at that part (though I am super guilty of dicking around on the interwebs for way too long doing nothing at all). My challenge is the getting up part.

For many of you, this might not be hard at all. Pamela, for example, is a professional morning person. Even on vacation!! But I am nowhere near. I am basically Garfield when it comes to mornings.

The Struggle

I have a few things working against me in life. For one, my work schedule is consistently inconsistent. I work at a clinic three days a week, each shift starting at a different time. At my private office, sometimes I start in the morning, sometimes I start around noon, sometimes I have awkward gaps in my day. See? I’m already off on the wrong foot.

I hate waking up early so much that I tell myself I get to sleep in on the days I don’t need to be anywhere right away. I never make it past 8:30, so it’s not like I’m a college student snoozing until afternoon, but it does give me an excuse to waste the morning, drinking coffee, watching TV, because “I don’t get to be lazy ever”. But I do. Like, all the time. And I’m pretty sure this wibbly wobbly sleep schedule is doing me absolutely no favors.

And what is this: somehow, in the 20 minutes before I need to get up, this is when I find the perfect, most comfortable Goldilocks position. Sleep becomes the best thing ever. Angels sing. All my good intentions and pep talks get squashed by a voice saying “NO!! YOU WILL NEVER FIND COMFORT LIKE THIS AGAIN!!”, and I can’t break free of it. I’m really good at snooze button math, and will give up a fair amount of logic (like how long it takes me to actually get ready) to keep sleeping.

The thing is, I actually really like mornings. Sure, the getting up part sucks- for some reason it takes me a while to shift into gear- but mornings have a bit of magic to them. It’s nice to get started on your day. One of my favorite things in the world is to walk through a city on a crisp morning, the day starting fresh, the smell of concrete warming up, the sun coming up over the buildings, and a world of possibilities. Lyn and I used to get together once or twice a week at early o’clock and catch a yoga class or go for a run. Every single time, I would wish to wake up to a text saying “never mind! Can’t go today!” so I could curl back up in bed, but honestly those early morning workouts (and the delicious juice/coffee/gossip to follow) were the best. We got it out of the way before we even knew it was happening, and set the rest of the day up to win.

The Challenge

So, I’m trying to recapture this magic and get myself on a better schedule overall. I have been working hard this past year on my goal of getting to the gym to lift, consistently, three times a week, and I’m too the point where I start to feel twitchy if I’m going to miss a workout. Yay! Goal achieved! Thing is, sometimes I go at 2:00 on a Tuesday, then 9:00 on a Wednesday, then maybe I can catch a Friday afternoon but if I’m booked with appointments I’ll probably talk myself out of going because I’m hungry and/or tired so hopefully I can grab a Saturday morning deadlift session.

As my husband put it, “damn, I don’t think I could do it without a strict schedule”.

You know what? He’s right. Also handsome. So I’m going to take his advice and stick to a schedule. And, wouldn’t you know it, the time I have open almost every single day during the week? 7:00 in the damn morning.

Starting tomorrow (Tuesday, so hopefully I haven’t failed already by the time you read this!) I am going to get up at 6:30 and my ass to the gym by 7:00. In the morning. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

It’s going to be painful, but I think, overall, it will be a good thing.

The Plan

I’ve come up with a few strategies to try to overpower my strong gravitational pull to my pillow in the morning, and the first is coffee. If I have to tear myself from the grasp of sleeps, then the sweet sweet sounds and smells of coffee brewing away is going to be the thing to do it. Seriously, is there anything better than having hot coffee just ready and waiting for you? (Yes, there is, and that is someone bringing coffee to you while you stay in bed, but I’ll save that for Sundays.) I just have to be on top of prepping it at night and setting the timer. Easy! I’ve already checked this one off the list for tomorrow.

Next, I will work to convince myself that even though I’m getting up earlier than I historically have, I’m still getting a solid 8 hours of sleep. This means I have to go to bed by 10:30, which is pretty normal for me most weeknights. I discovered that a new feature in the iPhone’s clock app is “bedtime”, where you can set yourself, um, a bedtime on days that you choose, and it will sing a cute little lullaby and remind you to go to bed. Adorable! Lyn, you should probably look into this, too.

On the same tip, I have also disabled the snooze option on my alarms (much to the delight of my husband), which I have set for 6:15 and 6:30. I figure the first one will piss me off, but then I’ll be happy when I realize that I can sleep another 15 minutes before I really for reals have to get out of bed.

I will not be sleeping in my workout clothes, as so many “become a morning exerciser!” articles advise. Come on now. No one should sleep in compression leggings. But I will put a pile of my clothes in the bathroom the night before so I just have to stumble to the bathroom, brush my teeth, change, stumble downstairs, down some coffee and peanut butter toast or a banana, and be out the door.

So, ok you guys, I feel really good about this. Scared AF, but positive. I’m trying to remind myself how good I will feel to get it done, every day, and how having a schedule will be good for me. Plus, this will free up my random afternoon blocks of time for things I’ve been skipping in favor of the gym, like pedicures and getting my oil changed.

And naps.

So, pray for me. I’m already late for bed.

xo

Are you a morning person? How? Why?? Help!

Summer, We’re Not Over You Yet

Summer is the only season that has a distinct beginning and end, and the weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day zip by entirely too fast! We are scrambling here, as we enter August, to squeeze every last drop out of the remaining dog days of summer. Here’s what’s left on our lists:

Pamela:

How is it already August??!!! While I admit that I do look forward to back to school at our house, to get everyone back into our routines, summer is flying by way too fast. There is a lot I still want to do! Starting with Mile of Music, which is Appleton’s very own music festival in it’s 5th year, and it starts tomorrow! 70 music venues with 900 live music sets. Sound overwhelming? Yeah, it is. Luckily they have an app for the whole thing that conveniently lets you plan out your itinerary if that’s how you roll…. or if you are more of the wandering type, there is literally music everywhere…. If you don’t dig an artist at one venue, there is someone playing next door that you probably will!

Almost every year we get to a county fair, and this year won’t be an exception. I want to eat corndog and a giant ice cream cone, look at some poultry and cows and if we can make it happen, see some monster trucks. I’d settle for a demolition derby or some tractor pulls, but definitely would prefer a monster truck show!

Labor day is my favorite holiday. What’s not to love about a three day weekend? Sure, it’s slightly bittersweet as it signals the end of summer in many ways, but I prefer to think of it as the last hurrah! The last summer holiday to soak in the sun! My requirements for this holiday are a lake to swim in, some cold beverages, burgers on the grill with a campfire and s’mores to follow. We will be camping with friends this Labor day weekend and it should be pretty awesome.

Lastly, the thing that should probably be firstly – I really need to refigure my budget. In April I moved into my own studio space to practice aesthetics and massage out of, after working for someone else for 12 years. Being on my own and working independently has been so great so far…. some days can’t believe how much happier I am. But having said that, I am having to watch my spending much closer now, and in the past few months with having acquired new business expenses as well as some new personal expenses, I really do need to have a sit and recalculate my budget so I have a very clear idea of what’s to come as I head into the rest of the year.

Lyn:

August is the month that causes me panic. All the glorious dreams of hot days by the water and warm nights…also by the water start to feel like missed opportunities. But not this year–I am committed to ending the summer with a bang–or at least a splash.

I haven’t been standup paddleboarding yet. That must change. Jess and I tried to get up on the water at the start of summer but the wind had other ideas. But all is not lost and I will make it on a SUP sometime this month. (jess—what’s your schedule look like in august?)

I have two nieces that I adore and one of my favorite things to do is take them swimming which hasn’t happened, but it still can. I will be poolside at least one time before this month is over, if not more.

Speaking of said nieces, I took my eldest niece to a drive-in movie two years ago and we had a blast! I was super bummed that it didn’t work out last year. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake this summer and yet, we still haven’t gone. Mosquitoes be damned, I am going to the drive-in this summer!

As weird as it sounds, I want one day to just walk around Madison this summer, without any plans and enjoy all the things I love about the city. I’ve only done the market once this year. I’ve been out to the terrace but you can never go too much. I haven’t put on my headphones and set off seeing where the day takes me. I want this to happen. And it will. Soon.

Jess:

At the beginning of summer, I was ready. June started out solid, and I had a few great pool days, some long morning walks, an amazing NYC weekend, and a lot of rosé. Then it got cold. Then July was crazy stormy. Lately, I feel like I am just going from one freezing cold air-conditioned building to the next. So here we go- full stop, let’s reclaim summer with the following:

Just like Lyn, I need more time on the water. I even bought a membership at a nearby boathouse this year, thinking it would give me a “no excuses” outlook on running over to paddle around randomly throughout the week. Well, turns out I am not that person, but I still need at least one (or two?) good, solid hours paddling and/or floating around on a lake. In previous years, we’ve also done a day trip kayaking down the Wisconsin River- I don’t know if that’s in the cards for us this year, but I hope we can figure it out! (ps- I’d also like to join Lyn on that meandering walk!)

I have not been to the Memorial Union Terrace AT ALL this summer, and that is a mistake!! I could go for a Sunday afternoon with nowhere to be, hanging out with a pitcher of Spotted Cow, lively conversation, and maybe some card games. Who wants to join me??

Just in general, I feel like I need to slow. down. Summers are notoriously busy for me, so it’s easy for it to slip on by. I need more bike rides around the arboretum, visits to the zoo, ice cream stops, and street festivals. Basically, I need to take a month off work! 😉

What’s your favorite season? Do you have any musts left on your list for summer?? Tell us in the comments!!

 

Go to bed already!

Last month was my birthday, which I always find is a time for reflection. I’ve also been traveling a ton–nothing really new there–but I feel like it’s been effecting me more than usual. And not really for the better. And just in general, I’ve been taking stock of my life: my goals, a review of how I’m feeling, things I think I’m doing well, areas where I’m struggling.

In looking at what’s working and what clearly isn’t, I’ve come up with an overall theme with the state of my life as I write this today.

I’m tired.

It seems so simple–but it’s really the thing I seem to struggle with the most–How to find balance when there’s always one more thing to do? And in looking for answers I find I’m willing to lay down hard earned cash for products that promise impossible deliverables–a cream to lessen the bags under my eyes, a juice cleanse to feel refreshed, new workout clothes for motivation–but I don’t commit to the one thing that is the true foundation for all the elusive dreams of good health, good moods and good relationships: sleep.

Why is it so hard to just go to bed?! Continue reading

Things I’m Loving Right Now: Summer Flings Edition

As we’ve pointed out about 87000 times on this blog, we love summer!! I got really mad at Target the other day when I came upon the Back-to-School section already on full blast. Uugh. But hey, we’re only about halfway through, and no one has even made any Labor Day party plans yet. So! Let me tell you about a few totally random things that I’m loving right now, and may or may not continue to love them once the leaves start to turn…

Urban Decay Go Naked Perfume Oil

via Sephora.com

Did you know that Urban Decay came out with a limited edition perfume oil last month? They did, and I sleepily snatched it up the morning I got the email about it’s release (we all shop in bed now, right?), and I have no regrets. The main notes are citrus and lavender, and UD describes it as “the scent of sun-warmed skin and salt air”. Since I want to be at the beach at all times, I didn’t even think twice about buying this. It is a perfect light scent- it lingers but never overpowers. It is an oil with a roller ball applicator, which also makes it perfect to pop in your purse or travel bag. And it really does smell like sunshine! I may need to stockpile a few for next year.

Breakfast Smoothies

I realize this is far from a newsflash, but I do love the ease of a breakfast smoothie in the summer. When it’s hot, I don’t feel like cooking breakfast on the stove, or like, chewing… and some mornings I really am just in too much of a hurry to sit down with a meal, or too antsy to get outside for a walk to work on my tan and get some fresh air. Plus, I recently rediscovered that my blender has a handy smoothie-cup accessory.

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Happy 4th!!! and the winner is…

Happy 4th, everyone! We hope you are enjoying time with people you love doing things you love–whether you are traveling, having drinks by the pool or camping.  And of course–wearing plenty of sunscreen regardless of the activity! 🙂

We are excited to congratulate, Val for winning our one year anniversary prize pack!! We hope you love these products as much as we do!

Thank you for continuing to support Everything & Nothings! We raise a toast to you!

We are always looking for new things to write about–so please let us know in the comments if there is any topics you want us to cover, products to review or feature you want added.

And we will leave you with patriotism at it’s best: GaGa and Beyonce-style

(thanks for the inspiration, Kathleen!)

Have a great week!!! Cheers–Lyn, Jess and Pamela

My camping essentials.

Camping season is upon us!  Now with more shelter!  My husband and I have always been tent campers, but as fate would have it, this spring we found and  purchased a camper (I don’t mean to brag, but it’s not just any camper… it’s a 1972 Airstream!!!) Tent camping – you’re dead to me.  Even still, many of my camping essentials remain the same.  Here are some of my requirements to survive a long weekend in the woods.

Coffee – More than likely I’ll sleep not quite as good as I do in my own bed at home.  You know….. that bed, that is in a house, not on the ground or a less than comfortable mattress of sorts.  While I love camping, getting a good night’s rest is a challenge for me.  I require lots and lots of coffee in the AM.  We always bring pre-ground beans and a french press, which is how we have it at home.  Just add hot water and you’re good to go.

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Put A Lime In It: A Poolside Cocktail Guide

SUMMER IS HERE! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

I’m really committing to not letting summer pass me by this year, which means Sunday-funday afternoons at the pool are mandatory. While soaking up vitamin D and catching up on my Instagram feed, which beverage should be at arm’s reach?? Let’s discuss options while we cut up some limes:

LOW EFFORT

Beer!

Despite my Wisco heritage, beer is not my go-to, but I really love a light, refreshing Mexican beer with a lime in it on a hot summer day. It’s kind of like a snack, right? I mean, there’s carbs in it? I’m not too picky or bougie about what kind- I can hang with a Corona or a Dos Equis without complaint. I can’t remember if the lime, traditionally, is to keep bugs away or improve the flavor, but either way, it’s in there. Bonus: beer goes great with Pringles, which are a poolside requirement.

Pro Tip: If you’re really feeling summer, or having a pool party*, mix up a batch of frozen margarita and “float” some on top of your beer. This is called an iceberg, and it is our vacation go-to after we are sick of sweet drinks, but still want something fun in the sun (sorry).

*inviting me to your house to watch Blue Crush counts as a “pool party” 

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Instagram-a-rama.

Instagram happens to be my favorite of the social media apps/platforms.  I don’t like Facebook.  I’m bored (not to mention super irritated) with Snapchat.  I don’t even open my Twitter app anymore at all.  But I could look at pictures all day.  It’s somehow much more soothing to my senses than all of the nonsense I seem to encounter on other social media apps.  Sure, they added the very similar to Snapchat “story” function, which I was kind of mad about at first, but I’ve grown to be ok with with it, and even use it over Snapchat now.   So, who am I following and why?  Here are some of my current favorites.

If I cannot live by the ocean and surf daily, I guess living the beach life vicariously through @roxy is going to have to be enough.

@roxy

Claire Marshall, @heyclaire, is an amazingly talented, smart and beautiful makeup artist turned vlogger.  She has great style, awesome tattoos and a cute cat.

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My Recent Amazon Purchases and What They Say About Me

Do you remember when Amazon only sold… wait for it… BOOKS?? And it was so exciting to get your box with books inside? I remember once they even sent along a sheet of penny stamps with my package because postage was going up. Can you imagine?? Mailing letters while you listened to music illegally on Napster?? How adorable and quaint!

Fast forward (holy shit- over 20 years!!) and we now live in a world where if you can’t buy it on Amazon, it must be really special. I can’t be the only one who shops on her phone while in bed at night, right? Anyway, here are some of my recent Amazon purchases, and my hopes and dreams about how they will improve my life.

Pinky Rubber Balls (box of 12)

Yep, that’s right- I ordered a box of rubber balls. I swear it’s for a good reason! See, I’m a massage therapist, and I also really love lifting weights, and I’m in my 40’s, so I know (and feel) the importance of self massage and mobility work. In the past, I’ve used tennis balls and lacrosse balls for self care, but I find tennis balls too big, and lacrosse balls too firm. The pinky ball, however, is the Goldilocks ball I didn’t know I needed until I bought one at a conference earlier this year. It has just the right balance of squish and resistance, so it works your soft tissue without crushing you. I bought a box so I can give them out to my clients, and also to keep one in my bag, one on my coffee table, one in my husband’s gym bag…

Aspirational Jess really thinks she will do soft tissue work on herself all the time. I will be soooooo mobile and pain-free!

In reality, I’m a human being, so I’ve maybe worked on my shoulders here and there, and I do like to roll it under my feet, but the other night it rolled away and I haven’t moved the couch to get it yet, so….

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Drop It Like It’s Snot: A Spring Allergy Survival Guide

There’s something about living in Wisconsin- more specifically, surviving the dark, dreary days of winter- that makes spring feel extra magical. The world goes from black and white to color overnight. The air starts to smell sweet and alive. Birds wake you up in the morning, chattering about, and the days get longer. Summer teases a hot sunny day once in a while, and it’s the brief span of time when you can break out your medium weight jackets. I adore spring! But with the blooming of the trees, grass, and flowers, plus the shedding of cats’ winter fur, my allergies are in full swing. I know I’m not alone- this is the season of non-contagious sneezes, sniffles, and wanting to claw your itchy eyes right out of your face. So, fellow sufferers, today I bring to you my best tips and tricks for surviving- and thereby enjoying!- spring:

On The Daily

Ok friends- if you suffer from seasonal allergies, I know you already know about antihistamines!! There are plenty of options on the market, and everyone needs to find the one that works best for them. I am not here to tell you about this. I am here to tell you about buying your allergy medication at Costco.

Buying generic is also not much of a newsflash, but listen- if you or a friend have a Costco membership, buy your allergy meds there! It is so cheap I feel like the Hamburglar getting away with something whenever I buy it, which is once a year, because that is a one year supply in that bottle. For like $15. FIFTEEN DOLLARS. For comparison, the Target generic equivalent (300 pills) is $49.99; the Walgreen’s version is $47.99. Go!!! Go now!!!

Stuff For Eyeballs

My least favorite allergy symptom is itchy eyes, or worse, the feeling like something is in your eye, and then not being able to find anything in your eye. I do pretty ok with not rubbing them during the day, but I am totally guilty of rubbing my eyes during my sleep, which leads to an ever-so-lovely giant puffy eyelid in the morning. I like to use some micellar water on my eyelids before bed to get rid of any stuck-on allergens, which helps a little. When they are really irritated, I reach for one of these guys:

I used to use an OTC medicated eye drop made for allergies, but I find the “dry eye” artificial tears to give me the relief I need when my eyes are itchy, and I can get a drop or two in even if I already did my makeup for the day. The eye wash is awesome for when you don’t have makeup on, and you feel like you want to pluck your eyes right out of your head and rinse them under cool water. Totes refreshing.

For When I’m Miserable

I hate sinus rinsing (neti pots, for example), but will do it when I am desperate because it does help. A friendly client, who shares my misery this time of year, recommended Xlear nasal spray to me a few weeks ago. This product might be genius- it does the job of the neti pot (it’s a saline spray) without feeling like drowning, or tearing up your sinuses like Flonase can. Plus, it has Xylitol in it, which apparently creates some kind of non-stick surface in your face and prevents allergens from hanging around. I usually use this before bed, and sometimes in the morning if it’s particularly bad, and I have noticed a difference in my general stuffiness since using it! Plus it smells like grapefruit, which I enjoy.

Bonus Points

I don’t typically have issues with dairy, but I can’t deny that I feel better this time of year if I cut back on it. Specifically, in my morning coffee- for whatever reason, I’m always stuffiest in the morning, and having milk in my coffee tends to really make that worse. I mean, it’s no secret that dairy contributes to snot and phlegm, and also? I think it makes me sneeze sometimes, which is totally weird and maybe made up. Anyway, when my allergies are piling on, I like to switch out the milk in my coffee with a non-dairy alternative, which used to be terrible. Fortunately, we keep on living more and more in the future, and the non-dairy milk producers are realizing that nobody wants thin, watery almond milk in their coffee. I like this one by Califia Farms ok- it lightens and has the right amount of creaminess to it. For being unsweetened, I still find it a touch sweet, but it’s not a deal breaker.

Obviously, moving to a warm, tropical island is the best cure for my allergies, but until then, I live here. And mostly, I do love it, so I shall soldier on. What are your best tips and tricks for surviving during the itchiest months? Tell me in the comments!

xo

These are all real things that I use and bought with my own money. Also, I took all of these pictures in my kitchen. While you’re at Costco, you should also pick up some of their spiced rum- it’s cheap and great for summer cocktails!