Lickin' the Batter: 16 June :: been, being on vacation

i'm currently having a much-needed respite in the crunchy-granola mountains of North Carolina. After two days of heavy downtown exploration here in Asheville, I'm ready to put on the yoga leggings and hike at a nearby state park, maybe swim, too.

frugality was heavily on my mind today after some overspending and subsequent anxiety in the early portion of the weekend. much needed was some knitting under shady trees at a free botanical garden, and a couple hours of porch sitting on the farm with a new-to-me Dickens novel which I am actually reading and not just fantasizing about starting.

i allowed myself an hour after breakfast this morning to wallow in things and really feel the pain (in the form of a stomachache and nausea, unfortunately, though by afternoon it was a lurking shadow in my inner self, trying to motivate my determination). i've been reading that spendthrifts (hello) have two brain parts that work very differently from those who are naturally "tightwads" and "frugal". interesting but not an excuse.

and then i got this teabag. don't you love Yogi? "when the mind is backed by will, miracles happen." i'm keeping this one with me.

i also even journaled some thoughts today over a yummy portabello sandwich for lunch (the food here is all that you want a crunchy place to be, hence those locally-raised beef sliders above), and i never do that. i feel on the precipice of some great changes. well, yes -- in the next year we are moving, getting married, coming really really close to (hopefully!) starting a family. financially, it's really time to get my damn hat on straight.

it also occurred to me that i truly believe my body runs much lighter and less weighted down/bloaty feeling for HOURS ... when i cut the gluten out. i know this is a "thing" these days. but i listen closely and i'm telling you i don't feel that way after ice cream and cheese (not that i attempt to eat tons of that stuff either). but i do feel that way after a muffin (well not just a muffin, but that's the bread part) for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and two slices of pizza for dinner. i was doing okay for a while there and then i slipped back. i actually love ordering things without the bread. so. i'll focus the next week on that.

also, i've been taking one or two fish oil supplements a day. i'm noticing minor physical pains (hello early thirties) that tend to be on the chronic side disappear.

by the way, since the package has been received, here is what i've worked super hard on for many too-late school nights over the last few months. the sewing was a bungle but i'll try to stay positive ..... the teddy is from my babyhood. he's very special to me and makes a good model, don't you think?