what's saving my life (vol. 5)
1) shredded chicken in the instant pot. the easiest meal prep ever -- perfectly cooked chicken that can be added to wraps, salads, or other recipes like enchiladas and casseroles! I follow the directions in this recipe, although I don't always add all the seasonings. and I generally cook 5 pounds of chicken breast at a time, so I increase the cook time from 10 minutes to 15, and allow natural pressure release.
2) journaling. Mom gave me my very first journal for Christmas the year I turned 6, and I filled several more volumes by the time I reached college. eventually I got out of the habit, partially as I was blogging more regularly and just in general with the advent of smartphones and the addition of four kids :) in a recent session, my therapist asked me if I had ever journaled and if I thought it would be helpful to do that on occasion. I laughed and said I'd give it a shot.
the OG journal. the cover is slightly stuffed for a pleasing squishy texture |
written just a few weeks before I turned seven. the packing list (7 books for a three day trip) slays me! |
and, oh. my. goodness. I forgot what happens to the noodly mess of my thoughts when I put physical pen to paper. I have always processed better through writing than through verbal communication, and assumed that typing provided the same neural feedback as handwriting. survey says -- that is wrong! before I knew it, I had filled up five pages of thoughts, reactions, ponderings and questions. there is something about physically forming the letters on the page that allows me to tap into deep thoughts and feelings I didn't even realize were buried underneath there. and of course, the huge difference between journaling and other forms of communication is that is for my eyes only, so I don't have to explain myself or provide backstory or worry about an idea being misconstrued. I plan to stash a journal in the car for quick check-ins when I'm shuttling kids around to activities.
3) QR codes on parking garage tickets. I exclusively park in the Fort Duquesne & 6th Garage when I'm going to the theater, partially because it costs $8-10 on weekend evenings (compared to $25-30 at the nearby garages) and partially because the ticket has a QR code on the bottom. after the evening shows let out and the garage is flooded with fellow patrons of the arts, I wend my way through the melee of people standing in line to pay their ticket at the kiosks, walk up a few flights of steps instead of waiting for the ancient elevators, join the line of cars waiting to exit the garage, scan and pay on my phone in 10 seconds, and am out of the garage and on my way home probably before I would have even made it to the front of the kiosk line. it gives me a little thrill of excitement every single time.
4) Snack Selects from Aldi. I'm always on the lookout for higher protein snack options to throw in the diaper bag or the basketball bags. the trick is finding something relatively affordable, healthy, and that the kids will actually eat (otherwise the first two parameters are meaningless). we have a heavy rotation of applesauce pouches, fruit snacks, yogurt melts, pirate booty, bananas, and cereal bars in the snack tote. on a whim once I bought these little snack packs from Aldi and the girls love them! at $3 for a pack of three, they are affordable too. yes, it would be cheaper and generate less plastic waste for me to make my own, but you know what? my sanity is priceless.
Your turn: What's been saving your life recently? Any tried-and-true snack suggestions? Do you keep a journal?
You had such great handwriting for a six year old! How fun to read that! I love those little snack packs, sadly our kids go to a nut free school. I've always worked at a place where I can bring my mail and packages and they just magically get picked up :) I wouldn't have known how to do it from home, but now I do!
ReplyDeleteRereading my old diaries always makes me realize anew how much is really going on in little kids' brains that we don't think about! I should have clarified the snack packs are for after-school activities, although our school does allow nuts (but if kids pack nut products they have to sit at the "peanut table" at lunch - so they plan in advance with friends ;)
DeleteThat diary entry is a HOOT. I destroyed all my old journals when I was a teen, so I don't have anything prior to university. I keep a One Line a Day Journal and that is perfect. I don't really enjoy journalling and actually find it MUCH easier to get my thoughts out via typing vs. writing by hand.
ReplyDeleteMy kids can't take nuts to school either and it really complicates the healthy fats/protein thing. Cashews and almonds would be PERFECT. But I'm just thankful my kids don't have a nut allergy because I feel so bad for parents that have to navigate the tricky waters of making sure everything is safe.
Oh man, that is too bad that your old diaries are gone. I bet there would be some gems to discover! I find typing to be better for recounting events, but to actually process deep thoughts, handwriting is far better for me.
DeleteYes, I'm grateful we don't need to navigate food allergies either. My kids are picky enough as it is *facepalm*
I do not keep a journal. I did the year I studied abroad. I do keep a to do list notebook and I save those, which are fun to look back at to see what I was doing. I do not own an instapot. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteFridays off are working for me. I need a day. Also I am trying so hard to organize some corner of a room or some pile in the countertop each day- think tiny one thing at a time projects, and that has been helping me feel more accomplished.
Yes! I keep my old planners for this reason. I have some even dating back to college days which are hilarious. I use my instapot maybe once a month or so but it's worth it to me for those times I use it! I know people make all kinds of things in the instapot but I find it best for recipes traditionally made in a slow cooker -- it just cuts way down on the cooking time.
DeleteThat's a good idea with one small area. It's manageable and has tangible results. I have about 15 piles around the house that need attention...