Ad·dic·tion
/əˈdikSH(ə)n/
noun
the fact or condition of being dependent or “hooked” to a particular substance, thing or activity.
Book: Maame by Jessica George
Music: Shania Twain’s Queen of Me
TV Show: That 90’s Show (Netflix)
Movie: You People (Netflix)
Cosmetic: Honey Infused Hair Mask (Gisou)
Clothing: Double Breasted Plaid Coat by Treasure & Bond (Nordstrom)
Accessory: Silver Metallic Sphere Ring (Mejuri)
Product: Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 8-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer
I can’t believe how fast February flew by; I mean I shouldn’t be surprised it is the shortest month in the year. I set three small goals for myself in January (which centered on physical health) and then again in February, however this month I focused on mental health. To keep myself accountable I’m checking in monthly with you all. As a refresher, my goals were…
1. Journaling
2. Reading instead of scrolling
3. Meditation
How did I do?
In terms of journalling; I start every morning journalling. I use my 200 Writing Prompt book from Piccadilly. These are the prompts that I share with you each Wednesday. Journalling in the morning keeps me off my phone. I am not scrolling on social media and I am not checking my work emails until I get to work. I enjoy the quiet moments to myself in the morning.
In terms of reading instead of scrolling; I read a book a week. The unfortunate part has been that I ran out of physical books so I had to buy books on my ipad –so I haven’t ended up limiting my screen time before bed in that sense. However, even though I’m on a ‘device’ before going to bed; I am actually sleeping better (my sleep score on my Fit Bit can attest to that) because I am not viewing overstimulating posts.
In terms of meditation; I have been doing a breathing exercise each morning and before bed, consistently. After getting ready for work I sit on the couch do a meditation, respond to a journal prompt and then the Wordle. It’s a really good routine. Right before bed I read up to 7 chapters in a book then my breathing exercise and then turn out the lights.
Describe, in a creative way, how you feel when you have a head cold.
I feel like a DRAGON!
Drained and discombobulated.
Red nosed.
Anxious because I may have to book a sub and that is so much more work and so much worse than being sick.
Gross!
Overtired and therefore extremely ornery.
Needing lots of naps.
I feel like a DRAGON!
What about you?
From Piccadilly‘s 200 Writing Prompts
Last month I went to Houston with my husband to attend the Houston Safari Club Foundation Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Centre. We stayed at the Hilton and ate at Pappasito’s Cantina and Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. It was an amazing trip even though WestJet didn’t load our luggage and then was a total nightmare to deal with. I finally had a moment to go through the MANY photos I took to put together my recap post. Enjoy!
Ingredients
1 cup Orzo
2 cups Water
3 Tbsp Dried Cranberries
1 tsp Olive Oil
2 Zucchini (small; halved and sliced)
2 Garlic Cloves (diced)
1 tsp Cumin
1/ tsp Salt
¼ tsp Pepper
¼ tsp Cinnamon
540ml Chickpeas (drained)
1 cup Grape Tomatoes (halved)
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
Directions
1. Cook orzo in water until tender; drain and keep warm
2. In a large pan add oil; cook zucchini for 3 minutes over medium heat
3. Add garlic and spices and stir for 30 seconds
4. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, cranberries and cook for another 3 minutes
5. Stir in the orzo and mix well
6. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice
Think back to your childhood. Write about an article of clothing or an outfit you remember one of your parents (or another influential adult figure) wearing.
My dad always wore a plaid flannel button-up shirt; with a white undershirt. There were never buttons only snaps. If it didn’t have snaps he wouldn’t wear it. The sleeves were always rolled up to his elbows, exposing the many scars on his arms from his industrial accident and subsequent surgeries. I think the shirts were always from Mark’s Work Warehouse. He always wore blue jeans (medium dye). And of course, he wore the typical “dad running shoes” and black socks which I remember my mom often darning them while sitting in her rocking chair. He had steel rimmed bifocals. And, he either wore a black leather belt with a buckle remnant of his past or blue thick suspenders. More often than not he wore both of them together. I see him clearly in my mind standing in his “uniform” with his thinning black hair combed back even though he’s been dead for 21 years. Wow Vivid his appearance is ingrained in my mind!
What about you?
From Piccadilly‘s 200 Writing Prompts
Public opinion is divided on fidgets in the classroom; but it makes my kids happy and they follow the ‘rules’ associated with their use in my classroom; ultimately –don’t throw them, don’t hit other kids with them, no fighting over them and put them away when finished.
Fidgets aren’t cheap; however, if you wait for sales, conventions or buy multi-packs, its not so bad. Also, lets face it, we are teachers we will spend whatever if it helps our kids. And, we’re well aware of and used to funding our classrooms with our own money.
Here are my kids’ favourite fidgets…
Tangle
Mini Loopeez
Boinks
Liquid Motion Bubbler
Theracubix
Sensory Slug
Senso Sphere
Snake IQ Cube
Stress Relief Magnet Rings
PopIts
Stressballs
Ingredients
1 cup AP flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp salt
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 egg
Everything Bagel Seasoning
Directions
1. Sift dry ingredients together in a medium bowl
2. Add yogurt and mix until dough comes together
3. Roll into a ball and divide it into four parts and turn out onto a floured surface
4. Form into four balls; poke a hole in the center and gently work the dough until it resembles a bagel
5. Put bagels onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet
6. Brush with egg wash
7. Sprinkle with seasoning
8. Bake at 350F for 23 minutes
Have you done any research into your ancestors? What interesting surprises have you discovered?
I have always been interested in my ancestry, my paternal grandma was the gatekeeper to this information but sadly we became estranged and she died. Therefore I am cut off and disconnected from that part of my family tree. However, she always claimed we were descended from Lord Lovat of England and that there were many generations who were mayors in a town in England. Apparently, her parents immigrated to Canada because they wanted to live a life unencumbered by their “positions.” I am assuming perhaps there was a falling or or some sort of scandal but there was no way my prim and proper, “stiff upper lip” grandmother was going to divulge that.
My maternal aunt is the keeper of knowledge for that side of my family tree. I tried to do the www.ancestry.ca thing; they always have a special offer around Remembrance Day but I can only get so far back because the record keeping in the “Old Country ” wasn’t the greatest and I supposed when you flee your country, you leave a lot of stuff behind. Both sides are small; many died or couples had few children than would have been expected at those times. My grandmother and her sister married men who were brothers; so they had the same in-laws. And, interestingly enough all the women tended to outlive the men by decades; so there is a long history of lonely widows and zero divorces.
What about you?
From Piccadilly‘s 200 Writing Prompts
For this year’s edition of my Valentine’s Day Gift Guide I went with some luxurious tokens of love.
Candle
Baccarat Rouge 540 (Maison Francis Kurkdjian)
Jewelry
Yours Truly Pave Heart Studs (Kate Spade)
Flowers
Petit Heart Box (Venus et Fleur)
Chocolate
Signature Chocolate Truffles Gift Box 24Ct (Godiva Chocolatier)
Sleepwear
Pure Silk Lace Flower Trim Pajamas Set 2Pcs (SilkySilky)
Technology
Rivo Nano-Glow Facial Steamer (Indigo)
