The Holiday Tea Swap!

The holidays mean different things for different people. Some people love the idea of shopping, parties, and all around cheer. Others dread it. Not because they are trying to be a Grinch, but because this is the time of year when seasonal depression rears its ugly head.

Seasonal depression can happen for many reasons. Remembering the loss of a loved one. Stress. Family issues. The list goes on. With the days being shorter and the temperatures dropping, hiding in our homes sounds like a great idea. I have a spoiler for you. It's not.



Now I am not a doctor or in any way telling you how to deal with depression, but I can tell you I have been in multiple situations with people from children to the elderly who have dealt with some pretty bad depression. Myself included. Today I want to tell you how I have dealt with seasonal depression and what has worked for me and the people around me. I am hoping some of the tips that have helped me in the past will help one of you.
 

Self love 

 

First and foremost, love yourself. When times get hard we tend to put everything else before our own health. Do little things for yourself. Enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning. Write in a journal. Smile at yourself in the mirror. You woke up today. You get another day to love yourself.

Limit Alcohol and Sugar

 

I know you are probably thinking this is impossible. Everywhere you turn there are sweets and parties with endless holiday drinks. The truth of the matter is, when you add sugar and alcohol to your diet when you are already feeling blue, it can give you a sugar spike and then bottom you out, making your mood even less desirable.

Exercise

Hitting the gym or a quick yoga session can really help bring you back to center. If you don't have time to do a full workout, sit quietly at night and meditate. Only 10 minutes of quiet can make the difference. If that is not your thing take a 10 minute walk during your lunch. Getting out into the fresh air helps boost energy and can help shift your mood to a better one.

Socialize

Accept invites. If a friend invites you to lunch, go. If a co-worker invites you to a party, attend. Getting yourself out of the house and connected with the world keeps you from being alone to your thoughts. You don't have to be a social butterfly or center of attention, but being around others can boost your mood if you let it.

Arts and Crafts

 

Running low on the dough and stressing about gifts? Working with your hands helps your mind stay busy. Not only will you be creating meaningful gifts for your friends and family, you will be saving cash and giving your mind some exercise. It's a win/win if you ask me.

There are so many ways to help beat the blues, but I hope these 5 ideas can help you out. Making time for yourself and letting yourself relax can make all the difference.

One last thought. Make sure you also check in on your loved ones. If you notice anyone having a hard time, don't be afraid to reach out. Maybe even offer them some of these tips if they are struggling. Most people suffering from depression is looking for someone to talk to at their own pace.

Make the difference this holiday season and take your life back. Happy Holidays all.

I had every intention of writing a lot in November. I had ideas and things I wanted to get done. November has proven to me once again that life is unpredictable. You never know what is going to get thrown at you. Today is November 22nd and Thanksgiving is next week. I am already 2 weeks into my new job and 4 weeks past putting in that notice. Crazy huh? Where does the time go?


Last weekend I felt good about writing. I even wrote and scheduled 2 posts, which did actually get posted. On Monday I posted a little update on my life and Wednesday I had a fun post of Bachelorette Ideas for every taste. I really felt like I was back on the blogging horse. I had every intention of sitting down last week and writing up a post for Friday. A full week of scheduled posts. Well as you saw, it didn't happen.

Between the new job and a situation that came up at home that was unexpected, I failed to do what I intended to do. Again. Does this make me a horrible blogger? Am I allowed to claim human? Either way I am hoping as the holiday season comes and goes I will be more involved in taking this space back to where I started to go last month.

I really want to talk to you guys about the yoga class I am taking and how the new job is going. I want to fill you all in on my weight loss journey and how the wedding planning is going. I am excited to share with you all of my freebie tips and how to save over the holidays. Those are the reasons I started this blog. I want to get back to that and away from the fillers I feel like I have been posting.

Now I need to find that inspiration and motivation. I feel like I am seeing that a lot here in the blogging world lately. Lack of motivation. Burnout. Writers block. Must be in the air?

What do you all do to get past some of these challenges? I would love to hear what you are doing.

Now I need to get moving so I have some stuff to share next week. Have a great rest of your weekend!

Wedding planning is fun, but what really gets me excited is what is going to happen for my bachelorette party. A part of the planning that I don't have to plan. I know my girls will do me right by this, but just in case today I decided to come up with a list of fun ideas.

There are so many ideas out there that don't have to do with going to a bar and getting drunk. Some people may appreciate this, but me personally have not been a big drinker, and would prefer to do something fun with my girls that will be remembered. Here is a list that I think can cover everyone. There are ideas of all kinds and tastes.

Paint and Sip

Who doesn't like to drink wine and paint pretty pictures?  Paint nights are popping up all over the place and area fun way to get together with your favorite ladies and have a good night of laughs and art!

Karaoke

Ladies, I know we all are secret divas who want to belt out a good tune from time to time. Why not rent a private room at a karaoke bar and have some fun? Most places provide props that will enhance your rock star moments!

Glamping

I am not a huge fan of camping but glamping is something I can get on board with. Spend a weekend with your favorite gals and brave the great outdoors in your luxury tent. Who said camping isn't luxurious?

Casino

Love is a gamble right? Head out to a casino and take a risk! A casino offers a lot of options. From fine dining, to shopping, to nightclubs, and of course slot machines! 

Spa weekend

Who doesn't love a good pampering session? Head out to a local spa or take it one step ahead and head to a resort where you will be pampered all weekend. Massages, facials, and mani/pedis sure sound like a good idea to me!

Wine tour

Living in the Finger Lakes, and getting married at a winery, I can vouch for this one. It is SO much fun to hop from winery to winery, sampling delicious wines. Depending on what time of year you are planning this, you can participate in a themed tour, which is always a good time!

Tea Party

Last spring I attended a real fancy tea party in my community. It was SO much fun! I enjoyed all of the little finger sandwiches and snacks. I think this would make a lovely bachelorette party or even better, a fun bridal shower!

Comedy club

Looking for a night of laughs? Why not go to a comedy club? It doesn't matter if you travel to a large city or something local. They tend to be a good time not matter the size or place. 

Road trip

What better way to fully get to know everything about your friends than to share a car with them on a road trip? You can make this a long trip or just a quick weekend trip. Visit someplace near by you have been meaning to visit, or plan out a route and play it by ear!

Bucket list night

Do you have something you want to do before saying "I Do"? Get those bucket list items crossed off in a wild fun weekend with your girls as your backup!

Pin up photos

Every girl wants to feel glamorous and sexy from time to time right? Hire a photographer or head to a studio that offers these photo shoots and have a good time with your ladies! It has been a bucket list of mine for many year!

So there you have a it ladies. Some fun ideas for your bachelorette party. Get to party planning!

It feels a little foreign to be writing here today. Getting back into the groove of things this week for sure. Let me take you back 2 weeks so I can bring you all up to speed on what's been going on in my life.

The week of November 2nd was my last week at my old job. Not only was it a long week of training, it was also a very emotional week. This place has been my family since I moved to Central New York 4 years ago. Although I knew it was time to move on, it didn't make it any easier. My week was full of lunches and meetings. I had to rack my brain on all of my daily tasks to pass along to my boss. My job was a new position when I took it last year so I am really the only one who knew what I did.

I rounded up my week with send off drinks at a local bar. It was great to be showered with love and support. Something I wasn't expecting.

I took Friday off to get some things squared away. It was nice to have the house to myself. I got so many things done that I've put aside for other things. Saturday the 7th I started a new yoga class series. A nice beginners class to get myself back into the groove. My body was in desperate need of some quiet time to stretch and listen. I look forward to sharing all that I learn with you all here on the blog.

Sunday I went with a friend to a concert. We went to see Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox. It was AMAZING! I would recommend the show to anyone looking for a fun night of song and dance.

Now I will take you into last week. My first week at the new job. I was super nervous as anyone would be. You never know if you made the right decision until you jump right in right? I arrived at 9am and was greeted with flowers and baked goods. It felt good to be wanted.

I had an exhausting week of learning new things on top of adjusting on some new medicine for my stomach. I came home every day ready for bed. Blogging went on the back burner and sleep became my number one priority. Friday came and I was thrilled to see 5 o'clock. I needed some rest.

I settled into bed early when news starting coming in about the deadly attached in Paris. Just when I thought my stomach would finally settle down, it was full of knots again. This world is such a scary place anymore. We shouldn't have to be frightened to go out into the world. We shouldn't have to look over our shoulders or be suspicious of people around us. I wish we could all get to a place where peace was the number one priority.

Wouldn't that be nice?

With that I am going to leave you. This was quite mismash of a post, but I wanted to give a nutshell version of what I've been up to. I have a few posts written and scheduled for the week. I will see you all back here on Wednesday!

Make it a good one.