“I have found that if you love life, life will love you right back!”

I honestly thought that when my kids were little was so challenging, but as they grow older, what i’m finding is that I spend so much more energy now running kids all over the place, worrying about what they’re doing – because I just seem to have so much less control.

Working full time, writing a blog, managing my family relationships, client relationships and friendships all require energy as well, and while I wouldn’t change any of it…I do sometimes need to recharge.  My idea of recharging may not be the same as yours – I kind of like spending a weekend just shopping, walking, exploring and eating – to me, that’s how I recharge.  In the picture above we are having ourselves a little treat of a cookie shot filled with Tahitian vanilla milk – ridiculously amazing!

Spending time with friends for me gives me energy too…having that time to laugh, talk things through, seek advice and just share stories really makes me feel like I can make it – in the midst of mini catastrophes (if you’re a mum you know what I mean)!

 

I spent this last weekend in L.A. doing just that.  We found some amazing restaurants on Yelp! and a couple in particular stood out:  Broken Mouth (Hawaiian Homestyle cooking) which is close to the Fashion District downtown and Faith & Flower, again downtown.  It’s a good thing we did plenty of walking because we certainly ate plenty because the food was so good.

It can be hard to find time to take a trip away like I did, so here are some other ideas to help you recharge and renew:

1. Dinner of coffee with a great friend…laughter really can be the best medicine, but even just the company of someone that knows you and what you’re going through is huge.
2. Soaking in a hot bath – at the end of every day this is my ritual.  It almost helps me to wash away the day and forget about whatever has been ailing me.
3. Read a good book – it’s easy to over-think things that are happening in your life so distracting yourself with something that causes you to concentrate on something else is good.  That’s why books tend to be so much more relaxing that watching TV which requires little or no imagination at all.
4. Get a massage or facial – I have found that one of the only times I actually meditate is when my eyes are forced to be closed when I’m having a massage or facial.  It helps me to really “zone out” and not think.
5. A hug – sounds corny, but some days I force my boys (including Brandon) to hug me (for a minimum of 20 seconds) and I can feel the energy flowing right back into me.  It really does work like a charm.

Whenever I return from a trip I am always ready to plan my next one…so stay tuned for what we’re going to be doing over spring break

 

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