As I shared last week, an internal battle with loneliness is a frequent struggle in my life.
The way I overcome it? Doses of self care, self love, and tending to my most important relationships with family and friends.
Loving yourself and loving your life doesn’t have to be limited to one day a year, but since Valentine’s Day is coming up this week, I figured this would be as good a time as any to encourage you to do something this year to take care of you and the ones you love the most.
Here are some of the ways I’m doing just that. Hope one or two of them inspire you to embrace love for yourself and others this year too.
1) Enjoy A Little Retail Therapy
One of my favorite things to do pre-kiddo was to go walk around the mall, browse, and try on clothes from the sales racks. This was great for my closet, but not so great for my wallet (even with a good deal!) After having Brielle, shopping was just never the same. My body changed which made old favorite stores like walking into a foreign land. Plus my leisurely days of browsing the mall we gone with a baby in tow.
When Stitch Fix entered the scene a few months ago friends raved about them, but I was skeptical. You fill out a style profile (where you can even direct their stylists to a Pinterst Board of your favorite styles), give them your sizes, and pick a date. On your scheduled day they deliver you a box full of new clothes which you can try on in the comfort of your own home. Keep what you want, ship back what you don’t (in an easy self address stamped envelope they provide!).
It’s $20 to have a box sent, if you keep one item or more they deduct that $20 from your invoice and if you keep everything you get an additional 25% off. So far so good for me, I’m two boxes in, I kept everything in box #1 and 2 pieces from box #2.
Yes I am an affiliate for them, but I’d still rave about ’em even if I was not. If you’ve been thinking about trying Stitch Fix out I highly recommend treating yourself HERE!
2) Schedule That Coffee Date
Get out the calendar and make getting together with that friend you’ve been putting off way too long a reality! If I had an extra hour in each of my days I’d love to fill them with coffee dates catching up with friends new and old. My zen is anywhere there is a cozy nook, a warm cup of joe, good conversation, and a sweet treat nearby. Local friends my two favorite places are Beans in Belfry and Bean Bar. Who wants to meet up this Friday and be my Valentine?
3) Take A Class
I love learning and tackling new skills. Recently I discovered Finch Sewing Studio in a nearby town and am hooked on reconnecting with my love of yarn (hehe….no pun intended). I took one of their recent knitting classes and met some fun new moms, in a coffee shop to boot! I’m also taking A Year of Painting online, which has been a completely uncomfortable yet powerful release. Painting is a completely foreign realm to me and is forcing me to let go of my perfectionist mindset and simply create!
And, of course there’s also always my classes. My next local Momtographie class is coming up quick — Sunday April 26th, 2015 — for those of you ready to learn all about those buttons and settings on your DSLR camera.
4) Read A Book
As a kid I was an avid reader. I can remember spending lazy day days up in my room for HOURS reading book after book in the Baby Sitters Club series. And when Harry Potter came out when I was in college, I’d stay up late in my dorm being a bookworm and reading instead of going out with friends. Somewhere along the path of starting a career and becoming a mom, I lost my intense dedication to reading. In December I bought a Kindle Paperwhite and I’ve made it a priority in 2014 to set aside at least 10 min. per day to devour one chapter of a book. (usually it’s more because once I start I can’t stop…) I’m currently reading the Divergent series and I’m about halfway through Allegiant. Anyone else read it? I seriously can’t wait for the movie to come out in March!
5) Fall In Love All Over Again
One of the best ways I’ve learned to take of myself is by also caring and tending to my most important relationships, the ones at home with my family. Especially with my #1 partner in crime, my husband. It’s so easy for us to get whisked away in the demands of running our home: work, bills, budgets, errands, sleep, rinse, repeat. We’ve been fortunate to have a babysitter we love and trust next door who has been watching Brie since she was teeny tiny. But even our date nights out of the home turned into dinner paired with trips to the grocery store or Target.
This year it was time to mix it up a bit and try something new. Inspired by a friend of mine I introduced Brendan to the idea of 2014 being our surprise date year. For these dates we swap months and surprise each other with something ‘new’. A new restaurant, new activity, new place, etc…. Just something different and spontaneous, and fun! 
In January I planned a trip to the local outdoor skating rink. Just last week he planned a trip into the city to see the popular band Karmin play a live show in a small venue. I felt like I was 20 again!
Short on cash? You can still do date night in and plan something unique at home! A new recipe, board game, silly online quizzes, a workout video you can do together (Prancercising anyone?!). Just something that gets you out of old habits and doing something different together.
Best part is, as friends have been seeing our dates on Facebook and Instagram they’ve been inspired to start their own surprise date night year too!
As we inch closer to the holiday of love, I’d love to know — which of these ideas has inspired you to love yourself and your life a bit more today? Tell be about it in the comments and then come connect with my on Instagram to keep up with my own adventures in self-care.
Pssssssst….Want the ultimate gift in self-care? Time to pause, reflect, renew, and focus on you and your needs, wishes, and goals. I’ve got a 3 month experience including a weekend long live in person retreat for 10 women only coming soon. Contact me HERE if you’re curious and want to hear more details. I’d love to tell you more about it. xo.
