Motivation Monday: A lil' detox

Living in San Diego - or rather by the beach - perpetuates (or has the potential to perpetuate, at least) a 'spring break-like' attitude. With constant visitors, community activities and new restaurant/bars opening each week, the hubby and I are consumed in almost a party mode. Yet, our bodies, albeit still young, cannot sustain such a lifestyle. So, a little detox is in order. Starting last week, we have been more cognizant of our activities - attempting to skip that one beer/glass of wine with dinner. This week, we plan to be even more aware of what we put in our bodies...and minds. Here's my detox plan for both my body and soul.

1. Limit the adult drinks. It's customary for me to enjoy a glass of wine (ahem, sometimes two) with dinner and week night reading. But as I age, it's starting to catch up with me. In effort to shed a few LBS before my 34th birthday, I plan to only drink socially. And just once or twice a week. For those that don't consume alcohol, this may seem like an easy fix. But this will be a test as I do enjoy the wind down after work. Wish me luck! 
2. Cook more fresh ingredients. With the help of Blue Apron, we have been enjoying more home-cooked meals with fresh, healthier ingredients. It's amazing that with each meal, we can barely finish half of our plates. I truly think this is credit to unprocessed fixings.
3. Introduce detox tea. Last week I implemented a morning detox tea along with an every other night evening tea. This is just a 14-day detox, designed to help increase energy, cleanse my system, improve concentration and curb unhealthy cravings. Please be aware that starting this on a work day isn't the best idea! My body is starting to adapt...slowly but surely. =)
4. Cease the "should" from my vocabulary. Each day, I prepare a list - for both work and home. This has proven to be challenging as I inevitably cannot tackle each task thus setting myself up for a guilt-ridden day. The "should" word comes to mind almost hourly, and before I know it I'm living to complete a list. Not living to live. Therefore, I want to remove this word from my vocabulary and start to focus on mindfulness - being present. Take yesterday, for instance. I started to feel disappointed with my accomplishments of the day - didn't weed the yard, didn't run, didn't edit photos, didn't read a book - and I decided to push those negative thoughts and just enjoy the afternoon sun. The next thing I knew, I was relaxed on my patio, listening to the sounds of my neighborhood - birds chirping, children laughing, and the sea breeze.
5. Re-engage a gratitude challenge. Last June, I jumped on board with the 30-day gratitude challenge. Re-reading my grateful posts on Facebook, I couldn't help but smile. It was such a wonderful way to see my world through a different lens. So, I plan to restart this challenge and make it a yearly tradition. 

There you have it. That's my detox plan. Excited to see the results - both physically and emotionally. I'll be sure to report back!

Tasty Tuesday: The TJ List

When I first learned of Trader Joes, I was in college and sadly didn't appreciate the exclusive items found at TJs. I much preferred my inexpensive options at WincoFoods - heck, I still do! Miss that store... At any rate, TJs is now my go-to grocer, and I thought it may be fun to provide my general list.

• Succulents
• Flowers
• Cards 
• Kale quinoa salad mix
• Grape tomatoes
• Persian organic cucumbers
• Bag of organic carrots
• Organic banana bundle
• Bag of cuties
• Trader Joes wheat pizza dough 
• Parmesan cheese bag
• Four cheese bag
• Trader Joes pesto
• Trader Joes sourdough wheat bread
• Individual bags of dry almonds
• La Granja 360 wine
• Bombers

And here are some yummy recipes, courtesy of Trader Joes!