Another Beginning, 2023

Yes, another resolution post, like we haven’t all seen enough of them in the last week or so. I know, how cliché, but I love any opportunity to take a look at where I am, where I want to go, and develop a plan on how to get there. I want to share a few of my 2023 goals just for some inspiration because I know I love to hear what everyone is excited by lately even if I don’t want to achieve their same goals.

I like to pick at least one goal for several areas in my life instead of just getting stuck on one type that can seem overwhelming.

  • Fitness: Work up to running 6 miles/5 days a week. It’s been forever since I’ve had a true running plan and I miss the consistency and love how my mental toughness increases when I do a workout no matter my mood. Plus I am working on building muscle through strength training. It’s never been my favorite so I’m making it my mission to commit to it this year and find what I like most. I like pushing myself physically and it’s been awhile.
  • Health: Focus on small habits to up my wellness game. Specifically I want to have protein at each meal, pay more attention to eating intuitively, especially with portions/stopping when full, and delving into personal habits (why I do what I do). Researching wellness/health trends is one of my favorite things so I know what to do.
  • Finances: Create a new income stream. Ideally something I enjoy as a hobby that can be monetized.
  • Adventure: Travel at least once a month. I haven’t been on a plane since December 2019 and I’m going stir crazy, but road trips to little towns not too far away count as well. I want to explore more.
  • Food: Cook more actual recipes. I love to bake and watch cooking shows. I am the master at roasting vegetables and protein and making easy soups but when I follow recipes I’m amazed at how much better my food tastes. I also want to experiment with new techniques, ingredients, and trying classic recipes I’ve never made.
  • Bonus Challenge: Only buy clothes that are thrifted (thrift stores, Poshmark, etc.) as much as possible. This one is part eco, one part finances. It will obviously help me save money if I’m not buying new items but also make me get more creative in “shopping my closet” to create outfits. I’ve felt guilty for quite awhile with being such a consumer of new clothes when most of my favorites are from thrift stores anyway. Obviously I’ll allow myself to buy new undergarments (hah!) and if something is needed out of pure necessity.

Even though I love the goals I’ve chosen to work on I still give myself grace and not make them too absolute. If I slip up a day or even a week, it is my choice to get up again and restart. If I had said on January 1st “I will work out every day” for example, odds are I will screw it up and feel like a failure. However, I made my goal more about the overall process. I used to think the 80/20 rule with wellness was stupid because, what am I supposed to do? Be tracking my meals and calculating if I ate correctly exactly 80% of the time and splurged the other 20? That just never felt doable or sustainable. Lately though I’ve realized that the 80/20 concept is more like a figure of speech to not take literal. It is about sticking to your goals most of the time and allowing yourself that wiggle room for the more fun moments, the treats, and the mistakes. I think many people don’t set “resolutions” because they don’t want to be disappointed when they “fail.” In my opinion, if you are committed to a goal you truly desire you will be motivated to keep going. Make your goals personal. Don’t start January with a typical resolution that you hear everyone and your neighbor making. That will not excite you. And never forget that even the biggest goal you wish for the most will not always sound exciting and you will not always have the motivation. A little bit each day, one step at a time is how we grow and change.

I love this quote when I feel like my daily habits aren’t adding up: “Your days create your weeks. Your weeks create your years and your years create your life.”

~Whitney

P.S. I have other goals that I’m keeping more private. Plus, I realized I was rambling far too long on each of my bulleted goals above when I really wanted to stick to a simple post. I think I’ll go into each one more in depth later on.

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Procrastination

You know those things you really want to do but you end up procrastinating or worse, never start? I have a few tips for when this hits me and I need some extra motivation. Trust me, this is for me today just as much as it is for you guys.

  1. Check in with myself. Is this even a goal I still want to achieve? I think a lot of times we get thrown off by what we think we “should” do and then wonder why we aren’t excited about it. A goal set by someone else will rarely excite or inspire me. If I get quiet and decide, yep, this is something I really want, then I proceed to the next step(s).
  2. Start small. Say I am procrastinating doing a workout. I can’t go in telling myself I have to do an hour on the treadmill. If I am not feeling it, I’ll tell myself just do 15 minutes. If it’s miserable, well then I’m done quickly but I almost always go longer. Once I start with just a little the initial hurdle of overwhelm is gone.
  3. Remember why I started. What made me excited do this in the first place? If I’m training for a race it’s impossible to love every single workout so I need to visualize my end goal. I like to see myself showing up as my most authentic self who is vibrant, confident, and works out because she loves the feeling afterward. It’s normal to not always feel motivated!
  4. Focus on gratitude. I GET to do this. I get to put one foot in front of the other and run or lift weights. I get to cook a delicious dinner because, gratefully, I can afford healthy food. I get get into bed early and read because I have an open schedule, etc.
  5. Finally, let it go. I only truly fail when I quit so I stop dwelling and don’t call myself lazy. Start over this afternoon, tomorrow, or this weekend. We always have a choice to change and redo things. I used to get so stuck if I ruined my exercise streak. I thought I had to wait until the next day or the next first of the month or whatever to start again. Nope. No one gets to set the rules but me.

I usually end up using exercise/running as a metaphor because it is one of the easiest to comprehend but these steps can help with any of your goals you keep putting off.

Bonus tip: If all else fails reward yourself! See pic of me with an oat milk cappuccino. Haha, but seriously, as long as the reward is in proportion to the task, I say go for it.

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Why I Eat Gluten Free

Why do I eat gluten free? Should you?

Of course it seems super trendy, and I’ll be the first to admit I jumped on that bandwagon a few years ago.  It promised less inflammation, probably weight loss (less carbs!), and an overall high vibe wellness-y life!  Seemingly so at least.  To be clear, when I “went gluten free” back then, it was with little purpose other than testing it out, hoping it would be the golden ticket to perfect health and my perfect body. I never actually was very strict about it.  I would pretty much get a packaged product and think, “ooo, it’s gluten free!  It must be healthy!”  And, if there was something amazing like say, fried pickles or a delectable cookie, I’d eat it, guiltily. Needless to say, I never noticed a difference.

I was feeling pretty lackluster and very low on important vitamin levels for a few months despite eating very cleanly and (what I thought was) super healthy. I finally got a food sensitivity test done when all my other tests came back negative (thankful) for other major issues.  To the best of my knowledge, I do not have Celiac Disease or an allergy to wheat or gluten.  However, I have a severe sensitivity to gluten, wheat, rye, and soy.  This is actually a lesser-known issue they call Non-Celian Gluten Sensitivity. I truly can tell when I’ve been “glutened.” This is a personal choice of mine to stay away from it as much as possible.  I am far from perfect and thankfully a little bit here and there or cross-contamination will not cause lasting physical effects that I feel.  But I do know, when I knowingly have something with those ingredients in it, I feel tired, sometimes get stomach pains, my throat will hurt, and my eyes feel dry.

It’s really important to keep in mind just how different we all are.  This might not do anything for you!  Or maybe you have it worse than me and have a true allergy or Celiac’ s and need to avoid it completed.

There might not be any reason to avoid gluten/wheat, and you don’t have to!, but if you do want to give it a try it might help if you have an autoimmune disease to lower inflammation, lift brain fog, and help with digestion issues, among other things. Remember, just because something is gluten free does not mean it’s better!  Still focus on whole foods when you can.

Right now I do not worry too much about cross-contamination if I would really like to try something. That might change or it might not.  Plus, I will have something like a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery if I’m in NYC.  I just will try my best the rest of the day to be completely G-free so I don’t end up feeling totally wiped.  Another thing I do is pay close attention to how I feel after eating something new. Sometimes I might eat something with oats (usually have cross-contamination), and will feel some negative effects.  If that happens I probably won’t buy that brand/item again.

*Hot tip: This is controversial but I can tell a big difference taking an activated charcoal pill after I’ve been glutened.  Just don’t rely on it!

This is just one tiny piece of the puzzle when it comes to health and wellness so take it with a grain of salt.  I’ve been testing things out for YEARS and finally feel like I’m more in tune with what makes me feel best.

Something different works for all of us.  Wellness is not one size fits all. I don’t eat like this for any other reason other than I feel my best without these ingredients.

Leave a comment and tell me why or why not you eat gluten free!  Or if you have any questions, I’d love to see if I can answer them.

~Whitney

 

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meditation motivation

Oh hey, yeah, it’s super trendy and that usually annoys me a little, but meditation is pretty magical.

In this day and age, I think it’s an even more important tool now to help with improving our mental health. Every moment we’re surrounding by media. Technology is always waiting at our fingertips to give our brains new ideas and concepts. We can barely think our own thoughts anymore without some kind of outside influence.

I am not going to lie and say I meditate every day or really even on a set schedule, however, when I set aside time to sit quietly and do nothing, shifts happen in my life.

There are so many resources out there today to help you but you honestly don’t need a single thing to get started.

This summer I started meditating outside and it’s been nice but you can do it anywhere that feels right. If I’m feeling extra fancy I’ll light a candle and maybe hold a crystal or two.  It’s not necessary though! It’s too easy for me to skip it because it’s not the “perfect” time or setup. (What is that trait? Perfectionism or just an excuse to procrastinate?  That’s a mystery for another time.) Literally, you can meditate anywhere without a single prop.

Anyway, it depends on my mood what type of meditation I feel like doing.

Ways to meditate:

Solo – In your car, bedroom, on a park bench…Use headphones with music if you want but it’s not necessary unless you’re trying to tune out some outside noise. I suggest just instrumental music; lyrics usually make me think too much. I’m a dork and love movie soundtracks (Legends of the Fall…swoon) and Jim Brickman.

During exercise – Any cardio is great for this, I think because of the repetitive motion, like running, walking, biking, ellipticalling…that’s a word, right? I rarely wear headphones when running (unless I’m going for speed on a gym treadmill. I like the music for a motivation boost!) and it’s such great thinking time. It’s not classic meditation but it’s mind-clearing time where I come up with a lot of solutions to things I’ve been mulling over.

Group meditation – look around for events on Facebook.  A couple places in my area that have meditations now and then are The Salt Lounge, Bldg 7 Yoga, and Integrative Healing Arts. At first I thought this might be strange, sitting silently in a room with a bunch of people, but it’s usually been great. There’s a different energy when you’re all together.

Apps – If you can’t tear yourself away from your phone, you might like an app to help you get started with meditation. I’ve heard great things about the Headspace app!

YouTube – I’ve been known to search randomly on YouTube for meditations.  There are thousands out there but it can also be a little overwhelming.  I recommend listening to the first few seconds of one before committing. I def. can’t stand certain people’s voices or overall vibes and have to switch to a new one asap!

Journaling – I wasn’t sure if I should include this as a type since it’s a little more active but I think it’s an excellent practice and can definitely be meditative. If you’re not used to writing, start with a prompt. Soon you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to write from your heart, not your mind. Cliché but true.

It’s seriously about just quieting your thoughts for a few minutes. I get clarity, and weirdly, feel more energized after I meditate. Sometimes I’ll do it in bed and then realize I’m a little more awake!  Not really what I was going for then, but it’s amazing at what just sitting still does for me.

If you’re not sure where to start, do this: Set a timer for 5 minutes. Close your eyes and just notice your thoughts. Don’t try to get rid of them or change them, just notice how they come up and how they flow away and onto the next one. There’s no forcing your brain to be quiet, it’s more the action of letting go of the thought, not trying to understand it. Once your timer goes off, just go about your day. See if sitting quietly gets a little easier after each time you do it.

There will oddly be times where I crave it now. Sometimes I just want to grab a notebook and write some random thoughts. Anyway I do it is time well spent.

I’d love to hear your experiences meditating or why you haven’t gotten in to it before!

~Whitney

 

 

Whitney Victoria5 Comments

Current Favorite Snacks

My eating habits have had such a roller coaster ride over the last few years.

I’m pretty over labels and rules and restrictions and anything else that tells me I can’t have this or need to eat that.  However, I’m still into health and feeling my best. I’ve cut out certain foods off and on for years. Seriously, I’d say almost 15 years.  I was searching for that magic bullet, the mystical diet that would change my digestion, my body, and my life.

I’m here to say that diet does not exist. Maybe paleo works for you right now but it may not in a year. Maybe I feel better eating less sugar this month but by September I might feel just as good having dessert every single night.  Things change, so do I.

I know now that I can have whatever I want (except bananas. I really believe I have an allergy…), in moderation. “Moderation” can be an annoying term but it really means something different to everyone. I just had to figure out my own moderation.

Anyway, I’m talking about my current favorite snacks that make me happy and satisfied. Maybe you’ll find something new!

Epic Bars

I’m a little tired of most snacks, especially bars, being sweet. I’ve always been more of a savory/salty person so these are perfect!  It’s more portable than jerky and has great, clean ingredients.  Fave flavor is the Bison Bacon Cranberry but I’ve tried a bunch and they’re all good.

Siggi’s Simple Sides

So far I liked the Almonds and Dried Cherries flavor the best. I’ve eated these for breakfast along with a muffin or just alone for a snack. I love the crunch that the toppings add because I’ve never been one for the normal texture of plain yogurt. I love that there’s like 16 grams of protein in each one because I notice I feel fuller longer when I have enough.

Happy Yummies Gummy Bears

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I am not super into candies. Normally I’d rather pick chocolate but since I’ve been experimenting with running fuel (which gummies are great for!), I randomly picked these up at Marshalls on clearance the other week.  They really are some of the best gummies!  The bag I bought has 12 flavors, like Pink Grapefruit and  lemon, and they’re the softest, non-sticky gummies I’ve ever had. It’s nice to grab just like five or six of them after lunch for something sweet.

Black Bean Brownie Bites

And my final snack I’ve been having lately is black bean brownie bites! Really, this is such a good version of them. You would never know the beans are in them, but it gives them such a great, dense texture and really compliments the chocolate well. I love the bite size and the chunks of chocolate chips in them. I’ve been having one after dinner and it’s the cutest little dessert to end the night! This recipe made about 20 so I froze them to keep whenever I want a treat.

‘Till next time!

💕Whitney

Whitney Victoria

Food In Review

First off, let me just say I’m pretty happy the Eagles finally did it again. I heard fireworks and people hooting and hollering in the neighborhood! But….. that doesn’t mean I watched any of it. I was refreshing the score a tad obsessively near the end though…Wait, I lie!  I watched this Chris Pratt commercial…twice, and I’m not apologizing.  He makes me happy.  Just following my bliss…hah.

It’s not news that I’m obsessed with grocery shopping.  The food, the endless new products, the coffee bars, , the mini carts with cupholders to carry the coffee I just bought…The only thing I don’t love is the freezing temperature that somehow is not just in the frozen aisles.  Another recent trip to Whole Foods was as delightful to be expected.

Also unsurprisingly, I love trying new healthy products and want to share whatever I learn.  As much fun as it is to do some testing, it’s not great fun to spend my hard-earned money on something I don’t like and end up ditching.  Thus, I’m a nerd who reads food reviews.  Here are some of my own!  Most of my new purchases are snacks.  You know snacks are the best.

Ripple Half and Half

I’m usually into black coffee but lately I’ve been wanting just little bit of milk to smooth it out.  If I ever add something to my coffee, I prefer real half and half for the richness it adds without the sweetness.  There are a lot non-dairy creamers out there and I am underwhelmed by most of them.  I recently discovered Califia Farms line and enjoy it but I’m not settled enough to stop trying new ones.  I’ve seen Ripple milk for awhile but never saw the half and half until this weekend.  Pleased to say it’s great for a creamy touch with only 1 gram of sugar per tablespoon and clean, pea protein.

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Verdict: Great as a non-dairy sub for half and half. Not so great if you’re into sugary creamers.

Whole Foods Americano 

IMG_7474Wow, I can’t believe I waited this long to get an Americano from the WF coffee bar.  It was delicious just straight up, no cream. I’m still finishing it up cold because I’m weird and drink coffee any way I can get it.

Verdict: Bold.  Yes, please.  Trading it in for the Costa Rican blend I usually go for.

Black Sesame Rice Snaps039631000462-1_1_

I love salt.  I used to be a cracker addict.  I could finish half a box of Cheez-Its in one sitting.  The problem with that is it’s all chemicals, gluten, and artificial dyes. These rice snaps are not low sodium but they are gluten-free, crispy, and richly flavorful.  The first word that comes to mind when I try to describe the taste is umami. According to Urban Dictionary, it’s definition is the pretentious way of saying the 5th human taste (salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and savory, aka “umami”) Sorry, I watch a lot of Top Chef…

Verdict: Satisfying as lunch topped with tuna and good with hummus or avocado as a snack.

Hail Merry Sea Salt Caramel Bites

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I am doing a gluten detox for at least three months to get it out of my system and I really wanted something cake-like yesterday.  It’s not that easy to find, even at a Whole Foods.  No, this wasn’t the heavenly WF carrot cake that I was craving but these little, refrigerated cookies were good.  Butttt, these were an impulse buy, fueled by hunger so I didn’t realize they were coconut macaroons.  I was hoping for more of a crumbly/pastry-type cookie.

Verdict: I’d buy them again if I’m looking for a coconut taste and texture.  The sweet caramel flavor was nice and I only needed one to feel like I had dessert.

P.S. This Cookie Dough Is Good Ror You

It’s edible, protein-packed, chickpea-based cookie dough.  Um, duh.  And, it’s in a nice little container for 190 calories.  This is nice because I’ll admit I’ve bought those terrible, break-off pre-made cookie dough packs and popped them like candy…like you haven’t.  I’m glad this is one serving.  No need to have an endless supply of dough in my fridge.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE DOUGH

Verdict: Peanut Butter Cookie Dough flavor was pretty amazing. If I didn’t know it was chickpeas, I don’t think I would have guessed it was conventional cookie dough.

Anyone buy any random new foods lately?  Obviously, I’m always open to suggestions!

~Whitney Victoria Eating well is a form of self respect - AZENDA.com

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Whitney Victoria2 Comments

December Daze

Apologies for the semi-cliche alliteration title.   Every December I feel kind of weird like I’m not myself and like I’m just confused about my entire life.  Oh yeah, this is normal for me to not feel normal.  I know it’s because I have an internal clock that tells me it’s almost my birthday.  It’s almost Capricorn season. It’s almost the New Year.  It’s almost my chance for a new start.

I feel weird that I haven’t watched a single Hallmark Christmas movie.  Christmas music hasn’t been played much at all.  I have had a lot of junk food and not the fun holiday-themed kind.  Totally trying to fill a void.  I’m very honest about that.  It’s been a strange ride the last few months because I’ve been so aware of the subtle changes in my daily habits and my desires for my life.  Then I would get annoyed that I wasn’t where I thought I should be.  It takes times to achieve great things.

I’m the girl who needs to figure things out and know “why.”  But, that’s not my job.  I’ve made it my job for 28 years.  That was the actual problem.

I decided to rally and make my list of movies to watch before the holidays are over.  I’m the crazy blend of control and fun traditions so I actually would get a little mad at myself if I didn’t do all the traditional Christmas activities I thought I had to do.   Isn’t that nuts?  I’d get a bit worked up internally thinking I didn’t fulfill my duties as the good little girl I thought I needed to be in order to make the perfect Christmas season.  What if I didn’t watch Christmas Vacation?!?!  That means my holiday will be ruined!  That’s a tad dramatic but that’s where my brain went.  Now I actually think, “It would be nice if I get to watch all the movies on my list, but I know I’ll get to the ones I’m meant to get to!”   That’s how the universe works for us.  If it’s not meant to cross our paths, then we missed  nothing of importance.

Who would have ever thought I’d feel less anxious by dropping the reins and giving up control?  Seriously, major.

Here is my movie list that I’ve yet to watch! Some might not be classics to most, but to me, they’re perfect.

Lightening the mood a little! We go on a “Christmas light tour” every year.  This just us driving around the area to see everyone’s lights, including a drive-by of the Christmas Village.  We wear are pjs, clearly!

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I suggested we stop for peppermint sundaes for the ride!  This was so amazing.  It was candy cane soft serve, brownies, hot fudge, whipped cream, and candy cane pieces!  IMG_6918

 

I’m officially the last person to discover some of the hats, filters, whatever you call them. And…then I sent this pic to my mom.IMG_6871

I’m wishing everyone a relaxed, joyful few days leading up to Christmas.  Enjoy all the little things that come with the rush of the season.

~Whitney Victoria

 

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Love Languages

(photo cred:)

Love, a language?  Oh, I am most definitely not fluent.

 I took the love language quiz again…I only remembered half-way.  I needed the full deets on my inner psyche.  It’s free!  You just have to create short profile.

It’s been pretty popular in years past and become a bit of a cliche but….In case you don’t know what a “love language” is, here goes: Your love language is the way someone needs to communicate with you in order for you to feel connected and ultimately loved.  I’m sure there’s someone in your life that just flummoxes you.  You know, like you just don’t know what really makes them happy.  You should take the quiz for yourself and then get them to take it. This is not just for romantic relationships; you can use the language results for children, parents, friends, co-workers, etc.

This is not to say you need to make someone else happy all the time by showering them with gifts (if they’re like me…).  I just think it’s a great tool to understand why someone did not respond the way you assumed they would to your actions and to maybe increase your connections.

Especially with the holidays happening like tomorrow, it’s something that might help you  have a smoother time conversing with relatives…hah!   Hey, you never know.  I found an interesting post about using it romantically if that’s what you’re looking for.

My results:

10 Receiving Gifts
8 Words of Affirmation
7 Quality Time
4 Physical Touch
1 Acts of Service

It’s insanely valid for me.  I know how much I appreciate getting a little note or present because it’s a physical sign that someone cared and was thinking about me.  It’s not about the actual material thing I receive. I’m 100% sure this is why I love giving presents to everyone around me!  I love it so much that I just want to share that good feeling it gives me.

Receiving Gifts

Receiving Gifts

Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures. Gifts are heartfelt symbols to you of someone else’s love and affection for you.
Words of Affirmation

Words of Affirmation

Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important— hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten. You thrive on hearing kind and encouraging words that build you up.
Quality Time

Quality Time

In Quality Time, nothing says “I love you” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes you feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed activities, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful. Whether itʼs spending uninterrupted time talking with someone else or doing activities together, you deepen your connection with others through sharing time.
Physical Touch

Physical Touch

A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, and thoughtful touches on the arm—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive. Appropriate and timely touches communicate warmth, safety, and love to you.
Acts of Service

Acts of Service

Can helping with homework really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most wants to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter. When others serve you out of love (and not obligation), you feel truly valued and loved.
I’d absolutely love to hear if you take the quiz and agree with the results!
~Whitney Victoria

 

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Supermoons and Staycays

Crazy lunar happenings this week.  It’s a supermoon (full moon) in Gemini and the first feels of Mercury in retrograde.  don’t worry if you missed the moon last night!  It’s the closest it’s been to Earth for all of 2017 right now so you can still see it in all it’s glory tonight.

The Moon is most powerful when at Full Moon, when her light outshines the light of the Sun and our emotions are stronger than our Solar consciousness. Just look at the Full Moon. The Full Moon is honest, the Full Moon reveals herself entirely. When full, the Moon wants to expose everything, to show things as they really are The Full Moon on the 3rd of December is in Gemini, and will be all about illuminating the truth. (source)

“The full Moon on the Gemini / Sagittarius axis is a quest for the truth.”

In a few weeks, it will be Capricorn season-aka Whitney season. I can tell already.  I’ve decided years ago just how intuitive I am and I can honestly say I feel the effects of things like this.  There’s a spark in the air around my birthday.  It’s easier to hear my thoughts and drop facades and let myself have more fun.  I never put two and two together until now actually….that’s probably why I love the holidays!  I just always attributed it to being festive and in the spirit but now it all makes sense that it’s probably closely linked to my time of year.

I finally decided on a new planner from Danielle LaPorte for next year and I’m excited to use that little baby.  It’s beautiful and massive and full of good words.  Check it out!  LOVE the look and feel.

I’m using it this week to remember all the things I want to be and how I stopped myself from fulfilling that potential the past few months.  In a good way.  Nothing too deep…that’s not true.  I want to go real deep and listen to my soul (feel free to insert eye roll).  We teach people how to treat us by how we treat ourselves, which brings me to my second point.

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I have vacation this entire week.  Long story short: I had a trip planned that my inner self was so not feeling so I cancelled. The minute I got my hotel refund, I felt crazy relief.  What I’ve been craving was time away but not away.  You get it? (Staycay?  Yes way!  Hah!) Now I’m doing some major R&R and detoxing in the form of workouts, clean eating, and home organization and cleansing ala Marie Kondo. Attachment gets us nowhere, my friends. I also have scheduled a facial.  It’s literally been years since I had one and I don’t want to wait until my skin hates me to start that pampering.  Lets be proactive. I’m not getting any younger, although it is said to be true that Capricorns age in reverse.  I can attest to the fact that I used to think I was like a 35 year old and serious as a jr. high kid.  Now I think I’m 16.  Don’t hate me when I’m youthfully glowing at age 72.

Anyway, enjoy the holiday vibes going on just about everywhere and take time for YOU in between all that present shopping.

Case in point below.  A wonderful Whole Foods trip that involved lots of gifts for family members also included me finding this (yet-to-be tasted) Mint Cocoa Califia Farms almond milk creamer.  Um yeah, I bought it for myself.  It was a necessity.  All in the name of self-love.  As was posing for a pic in front of the bulk nuts. IMG_6680

Be good to yourself this time of the month!  It’s not just the full moon phase; it’s almost a new calendar year.  2018 is in sight.  This is when you reassess and are able to see things in a new light.  We all have things we want to leave behind. It might have been wonderful once but nothing is meant to last forever and stay the same.

There’s nothing wrong with moving on from what no longer serves us.  Make room for the new surprises.

~Whitney Victoria

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Whitney Victoria2 Comments

Grocery Love

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My name is Whitney and I’m addicted to grocery stores.  One of my favorite things to do is walk around the grocery store.  Well, I discovered my new fave place.  I went to Connecticut with my mom, on a whim.  I picked a town that was local to a few areas I wanted to hit.  Norwalk fit the bill.  There wasn’t all that much to do there as far as “tourist” attractions go, but I did find Stew Leonard’s on several lists all over the internet.

As much as I like a good food store, I still was a little confused why it made TripAdvisor’s “Things To Do in Norwalk.”  And, then we walked inside.  There was time to kill our first day in town so we thought it was something to check out, even if we just ended up with a snack for later.

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Of course we took pics in a grocery store!  It was totally swarmed with shoppers the first time we went so we actually ended up there our last morning to leisurely walk the aisles.

The floral section was beautiful!  They had fresh lavender which is not all that common to find. IMG_5610img_5612.jpgWe need to talk about the rainbow, unicorn bagels.  I thought they were legend and only existed in a big, fancy city bagelry.  Isn’t that bagel bin a beauty?img_5977.jpgIMG_6018It was even prettier inside!  I’m 100% sure the bagel was amazing and would have been despite it looking like Play-Doh.  Light, fluffy, airy.  Mmmm.IMG_6027Some macarons made their way home with us.  The chocolate one was fudge and creamy.img_6003.jpgDark potato chips are a weakness.  These did not disappoint. IMG_5773The first thing that’s around the corner when you walk in, is the coffee and juice bar!  That made me happy from the first step inside.  IMG_5931I went for a mix of 1/4 hazelnut, 3/4 iced Columbian.  Very excellent.IMG_5864Just a girl among her coffee bean barrels.IMG_5971I’m obsessed with lobster rolls and order them whenever possible.  I LOVE that Connecticut has them to-go!  Seriously, one of my favorite goods and I’ll take them any way I can get them. IMG_5744Since Stew Leonard’s is a “dairy store,” they even had part of the assembly line in the store to watch!  IMG_5812

A sad, unphotographed item was edible cookie dough.  It was a massive chunk that I bought for dessert.  It’s long gone.  There was an ice cream counter attached to the store and they actually serve and ice cream cone with one scoop cookie dough, one scoop ice cream!

There were lots of samples too, which is always good in my eyes.  I had an apple cider doughnut hole and some great sugared pizelle pieces.

I’m a Fuji apple gal but Honeycrisp are my mom’s favorites and they are a pretty close second for me.  Stew’s even had Honeyscrisp apple cider!

img_5996.jpgimg_5826-e1508456178598.jpgAnyone else LOVE grocery stores, food, and shopping for treats?

~Whitney Victoria

Whitney Victoria5 Comments