There is a common misconception, that if you are a stay at home mother, or homemaker, you do not need nor deserve a day to yourself, because after all, you are home all day which means you have the days off anyway.
I've always been fascinated by this way of thinking, and I believe that it comes from a place of ignorance and not really knowing what a homemaker does all day. True, we don't have to leave our homes to go out to work, but being home does not mean that we sit around doing nothing all day. Matter of fact, I often find that it's harder for me to sit and do something for myself, because the feeling of guilt is tremendous, and honestly there isn't always time anyway.
But I also believe that it is as important for a homemaker to have me time, as it is for anyone else who works outside the home. I won't get into the ins and outs of our daily life, what I do, what I am busy with, I think I've talked about that ad nauseam here on the blog.
Over the years I have started making sure that I make time for myself. At least once a week, I have a day that is for me, where I make myself stop, read, watch whatever I want, do a puzzle or whatever else I want to.
Reading of course, always at the top of my list. I have been really enjoying the Megan Soja trilogy. The writing is wonderful, home and family stories that just flow. It is a quick and easy read, and I just finished this second book, so will be starting the third and last called Scars of the Revolution.
Some scars are born from duty, others from rebellion—theirs were carved by both.
Libby Caldwell has been in love with Isaac Harrison for years, ever since her late father befriended him. While her head knows there is no hope of sharing her life with a British soldier, her heart is much more difficult to convince, especially now that he is quartering in her home. With Boston under siege and battle looming, each day together forces her to recognize how deep her feelings truly are…and how forbidden.
Bound by duty to both his family and country, Isaac is determined to serve honorably in the King’s army, despite never wishing to be a soldier. But quartering with the widow and daughter of his old friend places another obligation on his shoulders—that of their well-being. The more time he spends with Miss Caldwell, the more that duty begins to feel like something personal, something he cannot allow.
As the siege of Boston tightens, Libby finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of espionage that could save the Patriot cause—and destroy any chance of a future with the man she’s growing to love.
Will betrayal and war keep their two worlds forever apart? Or will they look to the One whose love knows no bounds to bring them healing and a future?
Watching tv is and has been one of my favorite things to do, since forever. I loved it as a child, a teenager, newly married and now in my 50s. But I don't like many of the mainstream, contemporary shows, and I really dislike reality tv so you won't catch me watching that at all.
But give me a sweet family show or a period drama and I am fully immersed. I just recently started watching Emily of New Moon and I'm loving it, maybe because it very much reminds me of Anne of Green Gables.
On slow days like today, the art and process of making a special coffee is something I love. Grinding the beans, pulling the espresso by hand, or just even using the Nespresso machine to create a frothy delicious, very much Cafe style coffee to enjoy, while staring out my window into the fields and trees before it.
I don't always have the time to sit and work on a puzzle, and if you have cats you also understand the necessity to have the right setup, or even attempting such a hobby is hopeless.
I recently bought myself a very simple puzzle mat, what I wanted was the full board with the drawers and all that fancy stuff, but they are so ridiculously expensive and not something I could justify buying. So, I settled for this one, there are no drawers, just a small piece of wood that slants into 3 different positions and a foldable puzzle mat. It works, and it allows me to do this hobby that I so enjoy doing, and at the end of the day that is the only thing that matters.
Another thing I do is to light candles and create a cozy atmosphere. I light candles all year long but some days, when I have a self care or me day, I especially like having candles all around me, they seem to bring me calm and help my soul to rest.
Have you ever felt like your mind is constantly going, and you can't seem to turn it off no matter how much you try? Well candles, for me, seem to make my brain immediately slow down, it's almost as if it looks at the flame and smells the beautiful scent, and knows it's time to relax.
The next thing I enjoy doing on these days, is to play a computer game. I used to be a huge gamer back in the day, Curt and I would spend hours playing online together, but obviously as I've grown older, that doesn't appeal to me anymore, I would much rather be sat with a book or a good tv show.
However, some days I still enjoy a sweet game on the computer, but whereas before they would be complicated games, I much now prefer a game like Sims or anything similar where I am creating a home, gardening, walking around a sweet village. I love cute graphics and cartoon like characters.
I just started playing Palia which is free to play and exactly the style of game I am enjoying.
Slow mindful days for me, also include creating a meal that is not rushed, and often a new recipe that I have been saving. Our dinner tonight was a Chicken Changezi Curry from my new cookbook called The Slimming Foodie Easy Meals Every Day by Pip Payne. Pip also has a website so be sure to go on over and give it a look, she has tons of delicious looking meals available.
It is filled with delicious recipes, I don't think there is a single recipe in the book that I wouldn't like. And if they're all like this one, then oh my goodness, I cannot wait to make the others.
I will have this recipe up for you on the food blog later. I am trying very hard to get back into posting recipes on there, I know I've been awfully neglectful and I need to change that.
I hope this post has in some way inspired you all to take time for yourselves, give yourself a me day, whether that means doing similar things to mine, or going to get your nails or hair done, going to the movies or a lunch with a friend or family member. Whatever it is, make sure to take a day for yourself, a day where you can be slow and mindful.
We all need that!
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