A Healthy Balance

Just in time for the new year, here are 5 Ways that Running Can be Spiritual: 1. Running fosters gratitude.  Running has a way of simplifying life and reminding us of our basic needs. When I relax into the steady cadence of a run, I am reminded of what a gift it is to have functioning limbs, a beating heart and clean air to breathe. I appreciate my running shoes, cushioned and treaded to provide me with the ultimate running experience. Luxury swaddling my feet. After a hot sticky run, I am grateful for the ease of which I can grab a glass of ice water, take a shower, and then relax in a temperature-regulated environment. Running reminds me that all my basic needs are met, and more. 2. Running allows us to experience God’s creation. When I run on trails, surrounded by trees, my feet on a dirt path, I feel closest to God. I have time to admire the unusual twist of a tree trunk, a blanket of tiny bluebells, or a fleet of darting deer. I’ve also encountered the shock of s...

Taylor Swift's sixth album,  Reputation, was released a little over a month ago, on November 10, 2017. I've been listening to it on my morning commute and can't help but analyze the themes. (This is much more fun to ponder than the day's impending workload.)  Similar to previous albums, Swift alludes to her victimization. ( "I don't love drama, it loves me")  Her upbeat, sassy lyrics suggest that Swift has risen above it all, but the very fact that she has focused an entire album on mourning her reputation suggests otherwise. She explicitly addresses her reputation in several songs, almost as if the album is an elegy for it. There are also hints of disillusionment but, really, isn't that a stage of development in young adulthood? Growing up and losing innocence happens to us all, though maybe not with the public scrutiny Swift endures.  There are more adult undertones in the album, as well, most notably the dramatic spike in references to d...

In my steady crawl towards hippiedom, I decided to try using natural deodorant. I don't have any hard evidence that regular deodorant is harmful and the smell of Old Spice lights up the nostalgia part of my brain-- But I also believe that a shorter, more wholesome list of ingredients is usually preferable to the opposite. I settled on the Charcoal-Magnesium formula from  Schmidt's . It's kind of festive in a dark way, right? First impression: Yikes! This stuff has no glide! It feels really abrasive against the skin and is difficult to apply. The back label instructs to hold the deodorant against the skin for a moment to warm it before applying. I didn't notice a big difference after doing this but the label also said you don't need very much so I figured I would be fine. Day 1 (evening): I was shocked that my armpits were essentially odorless after a full day. Usually I can smell the deodorant's fragrance and also some body odor, as if the two forces ar...

I was introduced to essential oils several years ago but have really integrated them into my routine this past year. Essential oils are simply highly concentrated oils from plants.  I still use regular medicine but I try the oils first when it comes to stomachaches and headaches. Several of the citrus oils help me feel awake, focused, and motivated so in that sense I think they help adjust my mood (I still use prescription medication to treat my anxiety). Also, we diffuse oils in the house instead of using candles--the scent is so light and pure that I just can't go back! I use oils from a brand called Doterra, which maintains a high standard of quality, "Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade," which means no fillers, contaminants, etc. and that they test it rigorously for quality control "to ensure exact purity and composition potency". The oils can be inhaled, diffused, used topically, or even ingested (maybe with a few exceptions). Here's an example of mul...

Oh, Asheville. I love your quirky houses, leaf strewn streets and eclectic shops. Your food is so delicious and you have more beer options than I could ever drink, but that's kind of exciting, too. My favorite part about visiting you, though, has to be your chill. Everyone seems so relaxed! I met inspired artists, passionate shop owners, and sociable bartenders. Happy. Accepting. So much chill. My vacation eyes and 12-hour night of sleep Friday night certainly didn't hurt anything. Asheville, you were a breath of fresh mountain air. (And mountain water, I suppose, since your tap water was superior to mine.) Thank you. Love, Maria Here are some highlights from our trip! Biscuit Head Restaurant : In general I'm opposed to waiting in long lines. (You won't see me waiting for cupcakes in Georgetown.) But. I guess I was committed to checking this place out, and once we were in the vicinity, no competition drew us away. You can choose from a plethora of savory biscuit ...

Self-care is my weakness. All of my responsibilities and obligations tend to come first, and then the day is over and it's time for bed. The problem is that the to-do list will never be fully completed, so we must give ourselves permission to take a time-out when we know we need it. Or really, before you reach the point of really needing it. Here are three ways I'm walking my talk these days, when it comes to self-care: 1. I'm exercising more regularly, with help from the nifty fitness app 8fit . The app provides you with short, doable workouts customized to your goals. The workouts are similar enough to feel familiar, but there's enough variety in structure to keep things interesting. For example, some workouts have you do as many rounds of exercises as you can in a given amount of time, and other workouts are simply a certain amount of rounds (untimed). For each exercise, the app shows you a video of someone performing that move while you're doing it so yo...

Hey guys! I know it's been a while...school is in full swing and I find myself exhausted most of the time. I got a massage over the weekend and then started worrying about report cards and parent teacher conferences. But they're done! So let's catch up. First of all, while kids are on the brain, let's talk about my new discoveries: Creepy Carrots! is a fun children's book by Aaron Reynolds about a rabbit that thinks he's being haunted by creepy carrots. There's a great twist at the end that can open up a discussion about perspectives. Check it out  here . There's also a new sequel called Creepy Pair of Underwear . Mermaid Bracelets enticed me via facebook advertisements for a while. There was one particularly mesmerizing video of a girl running her hand back and forth over the bracelet, turning the sequins from teal to purple and back again. "What a great sensory item for my kiddos," I thought. The official website is  here  but I g...