do 43 guilt-free things for myself

after a very rocky morning, rocky month and not so uplifting day, i decided to not go home and let my husband give me a chance to go out and have some free time on my own.

it was liberating.

i have been spending moments of alone time in the office so i can catch up on my blogging and email correspondence while doug sat with chaeli while she finished her meals.

it wasn’t so bad… she was well behaved. and her eating is pretty uneventful. plus, he’s a slow eater so…

it wasn’t just for me, as doug was with me, but for once in a very long time, i went ahead and ordered whatever it was that i wanted for dinner, without worrying how much it was adding up.

read more about our third anniversary dinner at the keg mansion over here.

not that i advocate skipping class, but i’m doing exactly that tonight!

my parents have chaeli for one more night, doug will be working late, i’m still tired and drained…

i want to go home, workout, and then chill. i don’t know what i’ll do, but it will involve watching a movie or sitcom, reading, and maybe something creative.

edit: forgot to mention… i’ve actually gone ahead to finish homework for next week so i may be bored in class today, anyway.

i’ve mentioned it here but i think it needs mentioned again as a guilt-free thing…

fore i didn’t just do one midnight bath, but two in a row. and it felt just wonderful! with no care about anyone else but me at that special moment.

and to think… it’s such an easy concept. it doesn’t cost much (aside from utility bills and whatever i spent on the bubbles)... it is at a convenient time when everyone else is doing their thing and nothing else really can be done… and it’s my own thing.

so simple.

my parents-in-law and doug wanted to take chaeli out for a paddle in their canoe. i could tell by the look on my MIL’s face that she was puzzled as to why i wouldn’t want to come.

i said to them/her, “no thanks. i don’t feel like canoe-ing. i just want to read.”

and so i stayed behind.

there was a time where my MIL and would really pressure me to do EVERYTHING family related, and it got me miffed that i she would not respect the fact that i need my solitude in order to re-charge.

of course, this turned into a vicious cycle, where anytime i turned them/her down, i would feel guilty.

not this time…

i sat out on the dock and read my book. it was great. no one else around. i was a happy camper. and felt no guilt what-so-ever!

when they left, i thought to myself, “the canoe only sits 3 adults anyway – where would she expect me to sit?”

doug went to work today… chaeli went on a church picnic with my aunt, uncle and mother.

i slept in. 2 hours later then i normally would wake up.

about time…

my mom offered to babysit chaeli today while i go the trish’s bridal shower. even though i had planned on taking chaeli, and know others are looking forward to see chaeli, i feel relief that i don’t have to do a 45 min. drive there and back with a toddler fussing and whining in the backseat.

had doug not been at a weekend course today, i would have left chaeli home with him for sure, but felt i had to shoulder the responsibility since i really wanted to go to the shower.

one big plus… i rarely get to go off on my own. this is a chance to do just this! even if only for a couple of hours.

it can’t. period.

once or twice a day, i treat myself to a cup of piping hot tea (usually red rose or earl grey). once mid-morning or right after breakfast, and once mid-afternoon. it’s how i make sure i take a break.

and the reward of my milky tea is heaven. it’s really a cup of heaven! a santuary.

in the evening, i refrain from my tea-addiction, though there are times i do a decaf variety.

i just bought a canadian maple and vanilla, decaf tea. and you know i’ll be sipping one of those, while curled up with a good book…

and without any guilt what-so-ever.

while chaeli napped for two hours, i did a 45 minute yoga session (much needed).

afterwards, i headed upstairs to my bedroom, spread a comforter on the carpet, tossed some pillows on the floor and then snoozed for 20-30 minutes while the t.v. was on.

it was such a deep and relaxing power nap. i cannot begin to describe how guilt-free i was just to take a little moment for myself to recharge for the rest of the day.