If you are feeling down..

Here we are - a week into Dry January! I hope you’re all hanging in and feeling ok. I know the news has a lot of people feeling stressed and depressed. Looks like America couldn’t even make it a full week into the new year without another fit of divisive disintegration. We have so much healing that needs to be done. It starts with ourselves. Always. On that note, If you find yourself lacking energy, feeling weak, anxious, depressed, unable to focus or at the mercy of one chaotic mood swing after another - you might have a B vitamin deficiency. Which would make sense if your are newly in recovery. B vitamins are water soluble so, drinking means that once we “break the seal” they all quite literally go down the toilet. Not ideal. Our body does not produce B vitamins so we have to get it from the food we eat or supplements. These MVP’s keep the body energized by converting our food into energy and creating red blood cells which are responsible for carrying oxygen to your muscles. They also ensure that your immune and nervous system are working properly. In fact it is vital in the production of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, serotonin and GABA. All essential for feeling calm, sleeping well, experiencing pleasure, being happy, ya know - our general well-being.

There are plenty of delicious things you can eat to get all your necessary B vitamins. Leafy greens, eggs, yogurt, salmon, avocado, legumes, bananas, plantains, tofu, pork and chicken breast.. to name a few.

Day 363: Last night I did not sleep so well. My dreams were less than great and I blame it on consuming too much news. I woke up this morning and I just wanted something beautiful. I wasn’t very hungry but if I have learned anything over the past year it is that skipping breakfast means things will get a little dark and bitchy by 2pm. So.. something simple, nourishing and beautiful to balance out all the chaos and negativity from yesterday. Bavarian yogurt, pumpkin seeds, a few raisins, almonds, some toasted pine nuts leftover from last nights dinner, half an apple and a turmeric, honey syrup I whipped up with a little fermented pineapple shrub that I made a while back. So damn good. I could have used a splash of any kombucha but that’s not what was around. Point is - work with what you got. Get creative.

You are enough.

There’s been a lot of talk about the influencer campaign that Tropicana put together featuring a bunch of moms hiding in their closets from their kids - drinking mimosas. This kind of marketing is mindless, dangerous and furthers a bunch of narratives that hurt women and their children. As I read through the comments there were so many women who were thrilled by it though. They thought it was hilarious and seemed to feel seen, understood and even validated by watching some very rich and privileged women secretly drinking to manage their stress levels. It made me sad. I am not a mom but I did nanny for a long time and.. I totally get it. I have hidden from children. Honestly I believe that is how the game hide and seek was created. Once upon a time someone just needed a minute and they didn’t want to scream “get the hell away from me!” at an innocent child and thus the counting down from 100 began. Reading these comments though.. I realized how many of us don’t honestly know what self care is and too many large corporations are right there to profit from that. Painting a pretty picture that looks like us all consuming a lot of things to feel better - suggesting we will never feel good enough without their products. Keeping us all reaching outside of ourselves for a solution. Keeping us all believing that it isn’t ok just to feel something. The companies themselves are victims of this too. Their profit margins must keep growing or they will disappoint their shareholders. It’s an unsustainable vicious cycle.. remind you of anything?

I’m ranting today but hear this - you are enough. You hold the solutions. You have what it takes to manage your mood, your mindset and your actions. If you are in a place right now where that feels untrue - I get that - but you can learn and grow into someone who knows that to be the truth. No one needs to be hiding away anymore. There is an ever growing community waiting for you.

Day 321: Hash with russets, kohlrabi, cabbage, purple carrots, scallions, oregano, parsley, a drizzle of yogurt, a squeeze of lemon, some pumpkin seeds and smoked salmon. This meal was grounding, nourishing and delicious. Lots of omega’s, iron, magnesium, protein, warmth and comfort. Plus it only dirtied one pan. This is self care. Anyone can do this.

Airplane Mode

Friday night was spent celebrating International Self-Care Day. I put my phone on airplane mode, cued up a Leo Sayer based radio station on spotify and rain danced around the apartment while a new batch of grain free granola was in the oven. It is remarkable how ones definition of a good time can change so drastically. Putting the ole phone on airplane mode is like cancelling plans, taking your bra off after work and that “catch me if you can” feeling you get when you speed past a cop who has already pulled over someone else, all at once. You’re off the hook. Literally and figuratively. Free AF. The rain dancing paid off, the granola is absolutely addictive and so is airplane mode. Peace of mind and partially cloudy skies for the win. I am going to let this theme roll through the weekend and straight to voicemail.

Day 192 : Grain free granola made with all of the nuts, tahini, maple syrup, soft rock disco vibes and love + bananas, bloobs and almond milk yogurt. I have to say that I am not wild about the yogurt… It seems like something I would enjoy, like trivia night. All signs point to “Bonnie would love this!” but NOPE. No dice. Not my jam. Not my yogurt.