Second Morning

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Overhaul
Time Commitment: 1 hour

Do you ever have particularly stressful mornings that set your entire day up for disaster?  I do!  It's super distressing because morning is my favorite part of the day!  By no means is this selfcare tool only for morning people though--just ask my roomie!  "Second Morning" is about giving yourself a second chance to have a good day.

Procedure:  When work, a relationship, or life in general is stressing you out or taking every ounce of your energy all before noon, the rest of your day could look rather bleak.  When you notice this negative inner prediction arise--hold it!!  Recognize and acknowledge that this is a moment of choice!  Choose to have a Second Morning; a re-do, if I may.  Notice the stressors from your conventional first morning and let them go.  They already happened, so they don't need to affect your current mood in this new moment in time.  The stressors may take further deliberation, yes, but do not hold on to those spinning negative thoughts and feelings. You have a choice!  Restart the coffee pot (I usually switch to decaf at this point...).  Inhale that comforting aroma.  Take a little walk with your coffee: around the office, down the street, around your house.  Feel your footsteps on the ground.  Reconnect with your body.  Continue your day.

Believe in your Second Morning.  Have faith in this fresh start and it may surprise you with how well it works!

Why this is wonderful:  First, it uses multiple senses.  Engaging these senses allows you to reconnect with your body and bring your energy back inside, instead of spilling it all around you.  Second, this highlights an element of choice that we have in our lives.  You are not doomed to have a "bad day."  Rejoice! :)

**Thanks Twinkle Lights facebook page for the pictures I used in this post.  Good stuff! <3

Homemade Parfaits- perfect for a snack attack

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Pick Me Up
Time Commitment: 2 min (preparation)  5-10 min (eat)


Recently, I have remembered my love for vanilla-flavored Stonyfield organic yogurt.  I don't know how I could have forgotten such a thing. It's soooo good.  It is literally the only type of yogurt I like.  It is especially amazing when combined with fruit and, possibly, some good granola.  The combination makes for a delicious breakfast or snack to brighten your day.


Procedure:  Open your wonderful tub of yogurt, and spoon a large dollop into your bowl.  Next comes the fruit. I am currently using frozen blueberries which are delightful, but have used frozen sliced peaches and strawberries in the past.  Fruit may be fresh, and is probably better, but I use frozen so it won't go bad before I finish it.  If  you wish to add granola, go ahead, but make sure you use some with a good, consistent flavor and texture.  I have had some that seemed like there were thorns in it or something--weird.  I like to crumble up an Herbal Oats granola bar into my parfait from time-to-time.  Delicious.
When it comes the time to eat your parfait, whether it is immediately or on a break at work, take your time to enjoy it.  Notice those different flavors and textures dancing magically on your tongue.  Appreciate this gift to yourself.  Let it rejuvenate you.


Why this is wonderful: It attends to 1 main sense: taste.  If you believe this is delicious, it can be a very nourishing snack.  The various flavors and textures are interesting to the palate.  Interest awakens awareness. Awareness arms you for the day ahead!

Cookies- selfcare to share

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Pick Me Up
Time Commitment: 1 hour (preparation and cook time)


I was thinking the other day, I have been living in my current apartment since February, and I hadn't baked anything from scratch the entire time.  Why not?  I like baking, actually I really like baking (every once in awhile).  But, I guess "I didn't have the time."  Well, yesterday morning, between onslaughts of homework, I made time!  I had grocery shopped the day before according to the perfect recipe I found online.  I was going to experiment with vegan baking by making Vegan Lemon Sugar Cookies. (click link for recipe!).


**If you want to experiment with vegan cooking yourself, check out this link: Vegan Substitutions and Converting Any Recipe to Vegan  I found it really helpful because not all people may have access to things like "vegan margarine" that was required for my recipe.  Luckily there are a million Whole Foods stores in Boulder, so I was able to find the darn vegan margarine.  :)


Procedure: Turn on your favorite album of the moment (optional, but fun); I had Foster The People's album "Torches" playing.  Gather your ingredients, measuring cups and spoons, and mixing bowls.  Start preparing according to your recipe of choice, but use awareness.  Note the colors, textures, and scents of the ingredients.  How do they change as you add something else?  What happens to the texture when you mix it with the mixer?  Use curiosity.  When rolling the dough into balls in preparation for the cookie sheet, notice the stickiness of the dough.  Sample a bit of the dough (remember, there are no eggs, so this is OK!), what does it taste like?  Do you like it?  Does it remind you of anything?  Anyone?  Bake the cookies according to the recipe.  Be careful not to burn them!  When all the cookies are done, share them with your friends, family, and/or co-workers.  This is an opportunity for you to be the Selfcare Fairy for the day, sharing little bits of hope and happiness with the world!


Why this is wonderful: It attends to 4 main senses: sight, smell, touch, taste.  Paying attention to the little things and the details as you move through the recipe helps you to enjoy the process more and brings you into the current moment.  The stress in your life seems smaller and more manageable.  Also, I like taking breaks from homework to cook because I still feel productive- You gotta eat, right? :)

Trail Mix- morsels of amazing

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Get Me Through the Day
Time Commitment: 5 min (preparation)

I never used to be much of a trail mix person before.  The pre-mixed bags always have too much of one thing (like peanuts) and I get bored and never finish the dang thing.  But, now, I have discovered the option of making my own. Many grocery stores with a health food section have a line-up of bins with separate ingredients. I always assumed these lil guys would be too expensive, but they are definitely cheap if you don't go for a whole pound of each thing at a time.  My mixes are made up of salted nuts, chocolate, and fruit; whichever options appeal to me at the time.  My current mix has pistachios, M&Ms, and dried mango (although I really like dried apricots, too).  The key is to vary tastes and textures for mix that will keep your palate interested.


Procedure: At home, keep your ingredients separate.  Combine your trail mix daily before you head off to school, work, whatever.  Do not make a huge bag of trail mix to last for days because the nuts will pick up moisture from the fruit, and lose their crunch.  I know this from experience.  Soft pistachios are not as fun to eat as crunchy, fresh ones.  Also, just mix up a small container because this is not a meal.  I use a 6.5oz. jar that originally came with artichoke hearts in it.  The small portion helps me to appreciate the individual pieces of the trail mix more.  When eating the mixture, wherever you are, slow down and eat one piece at a time.  I will reiterate that this is not meant for a meal.  The purpose is not as much to stifle hunger, but to bring you into the moment to appreciate this little gift to yourself.  Before it touches your tongue, notice the colors and textures of each piece.  Then, with your tongue, notice the textures and flavors.  Chew deliberately.


Why this is wonderful: It attends to 3 senses: sight, touch, and taste.  By giving attention and awareness to the effect the trail mix has on these senses, each morsel can help ground you into the present moment, making you better able to get through your day!

Coffee- a snuggly blanket for your insides

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Get Me Through the Day
Time Commitment: ~5 min. for preparation (varies depending on how you like to brew yours)


This is definitely an old favorite, but it deserves a post because it makes me so happy (and keeps me sane) everyday.  I enjoy my ritual of coffee, especially on Sundays when it holds my hand through an overwhelming pile of school work. I have such an appreciation for my ritual that I will spend a little extra money at the store to get the good stuff.  Yes, the situation is exactly as described in the "Jimmy" scene in Pulp Fiction:

My favorite is Peet's Coffee brand in the House Blend. I also like to pick a flavored creamer that sounds comforting.  Currently, I have liquid Coffee-Mate creamer in Coconut Creme flavor, yessss.
I drink coffee everyday, but in this post I will only describe the Sunday experience because it is the most nurturing and most helpful to this blog.


Procedure: Brew coffee in whatever way you enjoy.  I use an instant coffee maker because I can set it up super quick, then do other things while it brews.  When the coffee is ready, pour it into your favorite mug.  This step is super important.  To me, the mug makes all the difference.  All the mugs I use are large, fit in my hand(s) nicely, and have nostalgic value.  I usually use a mug that I made in a pottery class in undergrad, but I have others that friends have given me, so those are nice too!  After poured, add creamer, mix, sniff, and gulp at your leisure while doing whatever you need to do that day!


Why this is wonderful: It attends to 3 senses: touch, smell, and taste.  You feel the warmth and weight of the mug.  You smell the enveloping aroma of the coffee.  You taste its full bodied flavor and hints of sweetness.  The procedure may also appeal to your sense of sight if you find your coffee mug visually pleasing. Each sip snuggles you into the moment, whether you are at work, cleaning your house, or writing papers. It is a gentle way of helping you through potentially stressful events.


**Note: If you are not fond of coffee, hot tea or other favorite drinks of yours may work as well!