-
Office politics is not always a bad thing, right?
Office politics. Come on, we’re all familiar with it. It’s there… like a ninja… stealthily hiding away, ready to strike, as soon as Susan is away for an extra 10 minutes during her lunch break.
You can literally cut it with a knife during staff meetings (especially when Mike tries to be Head Boy again, brown nosing the manager every chance he gets) and you can even catch a whiff of it when someone does something that goes against the grain of the office. (Yes, I’m looking at you and your boiled eggs, Frank.)
Office Politics. You can’t escape it.
And, I mean, you could be employed at the best company in the whole entire world and you’ll probably STILL be inflicted by some sort of office drama. Why? Well, because we human beings are a fickle folk. And when you chuck a hodge podge of personalities into one mixing bowl, chances are everyone won’t always get along. The political nature of the office means that there will always be some sort of conflict to manage and road blocks to work around.
But is office politics ALL bad? Well, I think it’s not.
I mean, sure, we’ve all had our fair share of backstabbing, manipulation, favoritism and (dare I say it… yes I do!) even sexism or racism, in an office environment. People can be pretty crude when there is an opportunity for advancement or a better income. But if you’re really out to WIN (and not in the financial way, Tina) you would use office tension to better your communication and conflict handling skills.
In fact, an article in Forbes magazine, basically pushes you to engage in office politics. The article says: “If you are not currently engaging in office politics, it’s time to get started and here’s why: Being politically savvy is a crucial ingredient in your career success. Forging good relationships up and down the org chart is a sure way to get yourself promoted, and a key to becoming a respected leader.”
It speaks about staying true to who YOU are, while maintaining transparency, as you deal with the various personalities in your office. You can totally use conflict to help build trust and create clearer lines of communication in that temperamental environment.
You can deal with office politics by:1. Not being a jerk, man. I mean, it’s lekker to be recognized by your boss but it’s even better to make sure you display integrity and honor, even when Pete next door does not. You don’t always have to have the upper hand to … you know… have the upper hand. (Hey, that’s good, I should tweet that!)
2. Getting off the grapevine! Yep, gossiping will probably not be a good idea if you’re looking to build healthy relationship AND create a self-image of maturity and stability. No one trusts the office gossip. Build your reputation as someone who can be trusted and someone who turns a negative into a positive. I want to be around that person, don’t you?
3. Doing your job. It’s as simple as that. You’re employed to do a job, so do it. Hey, do a little bit extra if you have the time. Who cares what Penny is up to. Penny is not your responsibility. You were not employed to keep tabs on her. Stop being an Aunty Mildred, step away from your dining room curtain, and focus on your own work!
4. Speaking up! Okay, honestly Bob, if you don’t like the fact that Sindi is subjecting the whole office to her extensive Cher collection, simply tell her… politely! But walking around like a grump, muttering all sorts of negative things to whoever has an ear, probably won’t get Sindi to turn her music down.
5. Guarding your heart and staying free of offense. I get it, doing the “right thing” sometimes feels like an injustice (because Linda needs to know what a terrible person she is!) but consciously deciding how you will respond to office politics, and how you will allow it to affect your heart, could go a long way towards choosing joy and peace, over turmoil. And anyways, taking the burden of office politics home with you is not part of your job description.
Have you ever had to deal with politics in the office? How do you handle it? Share your advice with us below.
-
Lies I tell myself on my birthday
My favorite thing about birthday’s is that they make you think about how not young you are. Hahaha joking. Kinda. Okay, let me start over. Hello, how are you? I’m fine thank you. It’s my birthday next week and I’m just sitting here, reminiscing on a time when I was a tad bit, you know, younger, and stuff.
I love the saying about how aging and getting old is all in the mind and you’re only as old as you feel and all that other stuff you’d read on a Drake swag note or on an Oprah meme. I guess there is some truth to that, right? I mean, surely.
I know 30 year olds who act (and probably feel) older than some of the young-at-heart 40 year olds that I hang out with. “Age is nothing but number.” Well, that’s what Aaliyah said (and we now know that the song was inspired by the pedophilic R Kelly, so maybe ignore that quote). My point is that we often LIE to ourselves, when our birthday’s loom, bringing with it the reality that we are not as young as we use to be.
I mean, I often catch myself lying to myself about the fact that I’m passed my sell by date. You can’t start that new career… you’re too old. You cant attempt a new hobby… like, at your age, what are you trying to do, win a Guinness World Record or something?! And duh, you can’t be successful in your field of interest at such an “old” age (mind you, I’m only in my 30s… somebody call Dr Phil) because people who actually made it did so when they were in their 20s. Oh the lies I tell myself and actually believe.
I also lie about the fact that I look old now. Oh I’m SO fat! I look SO tired, like, ALL the time. My hairstyle is so lame. My clothes are so mommy-esque and boring. I’M SO OLD. What utter crap? I’ve seen stylish, healthy moms prove me wrong on all points. And it’s made me realize that letting go of my health and letting go of feeling good about my appearance is a decision I make. It’s a lie I tell myself. And it’s one that I don’t have to be stuck in.We often lie about how much potential we have, “now that we’re old”. But in my situation, I think the lie was birthed over time, on all the days when I birthed my kids. The lie tells you that one more baby equals a little less potential, ability, creativity and overall awesomeness.
We lie and tell ourselves that our children are a life-suck… you know, they suck the life out of us. “Oh but I mean, I LOVE them! I can’t imagine my life without them!” *huge smile* The truth is that they’ve done nothing but add value to the adorable badass that is you and you’re probably more capable of great things now that you’ve learnt to manage a whole entire household. Show me a fancy CEO who can simultaneously bath a 4 year old, while on a conference call with your teenager’s school, as you attempt to feed a hyperactive 2 year old AND keep a watchful eye on the pot on the stove. This stuff is not for sissies.
Anyways, the point of this rant is that it’s my birthday and I’ll age if I want to. But that doesn’t mean I’m losing my poise, my power or my passion. It doesn’t mean that this is the end of me. The super fierce girl who wanted to take over the world, when she was 22, is still there somewhere. And like fine wine and a great pair jeans, she only gets BETTER over time.
-
Gift ideas for the practical girl
I’m an expert gift receiver and I have many years of gift giving experience under my belt. So one would say that I’m a pro of sorts (self proclaimed). And today, dear friends, I thought to share my gift giving wisdom with you! (And the crowd goes wild.) Truth be told, the topic came up when I was chatting to a friend who is a Practical Penny like I am. I mean, us Sensible Sarahs are quite difficult to shop for, I’m sure. I apologize on behalf of all of us.
But, good news, I come with tips and tricks! If you’re looking to spoil your practical friend (who probably won’t be swooning over a box of chocolates or another bath and body set), look no further. Here is a list of practical gift ideas, you know, for that functional girl who probably gets excited about a desk organizer more than a tub of body lotion.
Gift ideas for the practical girl
Vouchers and Experiences
Vouchers to your girl’s favorite stores are always a winner! Plus, if she’s a practical girl, I’m sure she’ll probably be more excited that can shop at her own leisure, purchasing goodies that may not come in a gift bag (i.e. underwear, socks or even work attire). If you’re looking for something a bit more exciting, how about a pamper voucher or an experience voucher that could have homegirl enjoying their birthday while experiencing the adventure of a game drive, chartering a yacht for a sunset cruise or even enjoying a wine tasting tour.
Luxe homewareWant to know what your functional girl gets excited about? Fresh towels! New bedding! Beautiful storage kitchen containers! Matching photo frames! Luxe bathrobes and slippers! Pretty oven mits and kitchen sets! Excuse the exclamation marks, I don’t know why I’m shouting. I guess I’m just excited to tell you that the Sensible Sarahs of this world would appreciate anything that would last for a very long time. A practical girl is always on that useful trip, and would probably only spend a ton of cash on a homeware item, if it’s something that she could probably use until she’s like, 80.
Stuff she actually uses
I’m here for all the lovely smelling bath and body stuff. But sometimes your homegirl is allergic to specific products and ingredients. If you’re going to purchase creams and treatments, rather try to find out what she uses. Your practical girl would go gaga if she unwraps her gift and finds out that she doesn’t have to spend her hard earned moola on her favorite face cream or perfume, this month, because someone has thoughtfully gifted her with it. We’re a frugal, easy-to-please bunch.
Hobbies and interests
We all have that favorite thing to do. For some of us (me, I’m pointing at me) it probably involves listening to Tori Kelly and, you know, binge watching The Voice. For others it might be nail art or crafting or hey, I’m not judging, exercising. (Exercising has become a thing, you guys, I don’t understand it but I support it.) My point is that your friend probably has hobbies and interests and if ever you’re stumped and not sure what type of gift to buy her, how about gifting her with something related to this hobby. I know, genius. Clue: Books are always a good idea, if she has a favorite author!
Shoes and bagsI feel like shoes and hand bags are, like, the unspoken “best birthday gift idea” of the female world. Right? We’re female and we love shoes and hand bags. There, I said it. Not sure what type of bag or style of shoe to get Practical Penny? Here’s a tip for free: simply check out the style of hand bag and shoe she wears on a regular basis, and base your pick around that. Penny isn’t your “I need an orange Armani bag because I have one in every color” kind of girl. Stick to neutral colors or basic black. Penny will be overjoyed.
Keep it classy
When you think practical or sensible, you might be thinking “uhh boring!” But your practical chick is none of the above. She’s not bland or boring. She just prefers to keep it classy… think: CLASSIC, stylish and elegant. She knows what she likes and is not easily moved by the latest trends and fads. She also values her friendships and relationships and probably only has a handful of you (because she’s very old school like that) so I’m sure she’s going to love whatever you end up gifting her!
Do you have any practical gift ideas? Drop them in the comments section below.
Pics: “towels” designed by jcomp; “shoes and bags” designed by senivpetro
-
Things we learnt by accident
Three months ago we were rear ended by a Ford Ranger while standing stationary at a red traffic light. The accident happened at about midnight, on a Saturday night, while we were on our way home to our babies after attending a celebratory supper. The last thing I remembered, before feeling the impact of the double cab, was Chris looking into the rear view mirror and shouting “he’s going to hit us!” The impact of the collision (is it a collision if we’re standing dead still and you’re speeding through the main road – probably drunk – and you end up hitting us?) was so huge that our boot was on our backseat. Homeboy then dismounted his cab (it was practically on top of our Astra), reversed and then drove away without checking if we are okay or if we have insurance, or if, you know, his negligence killed anyone.
Hubstopher injured his back severely and has been in and out of doctors and hospitals and chiropractors. The discs in his lower back has collapsed and he pretty much writhes in pain every other day. Playing guitar or bass guitar has become a tense situation because he almost always ends up with hectic back pain afterwards.
We now also have no car because, for various reasons that I won’t get into, this current car was not on our name yet and therefore was not insured. It’s all fun and games, really. Especially more exciting knowing that we don’t have the registration number of the driver of the other car, and so can’t hold him liable for the damage.
But anyways… my point is that this accident has left us in a far worse condition than it found us. And because the driver of the other car drove away, we kinda have no one to blame and no insurance to pay for the damage. We’re stuck. Right? I mean, that’s what it looks like. Right? Well, surprisingly, the accident has done a lot more than leave us in a crappy situation. It’s crazy but it’s kinda helping us to grow, guys! Weird right?! Who would’ve thought that I would even find positivity in such a traumatic event. Here are some of the lessons I’m learning:1. Our passengers (yep, there were passengers!) made it out alive. And judging by the state of the car, even the paramedics were shocked that not one of us spilt blood, on that night. It had been raining that night and one chatty paramedic told me about the other accident scenes he attended to, before ours. There were fatalities at the other scenes. If ever we needed proof that the protection of God is on our lives, this accident was it! One of our passengers should have broken her back. She’s fine. That’s God. I’m so thankful for His faithfulness.
2. I was totally dumb and did not have my seat belt secured. If my husband had not looked in the rear view mirror, yanking me towards him, before the cab hit, I probably would have slammed right through the windscreen. In fact, the impact was so severe that I was found upside down in the car afterwards. I’m so thankful to be alive! For days, after the accident I would wake up sobbing simply because I get to spend another day with my kids. Life is short. I’m thankful for my life.
3. My kids were not in the car. You guys, I can’t imagine the trauma, had my small kids been in the car. I don’t want to even go there. I’m thankful.
4. Even though we’re without a car right now, we know it won’t be a forever situation. We’ve been so blessed by friends and family members who ride us around with pleasure! I know it can be a burden sometimes (try finding a ride to church when you’re a family of six) and it sucks to have to ask. But I do believe that God is stretching us and building character. I’m thankful that He allows things like this because He knows it’s going to grow us.
5. We’ve been Ubering around a lot and we often find ourselves striking up conversation with the Uber drivers. Some of them offer up their life stories freely and I’m always so amazed at how many broken lives there are out there… people who are desperate to make ends meet for their families, and those who feel that there is no hope and they’ll take what they can get. Without getting too “preachy” we offer them a word of encouragement and hopefully leave them in a better head space than what we found them. I’m thankful that when God wants to move, He isn’t limited to how many cars I have.6. We spend a lot more time indoors now (because, duh, no car to go anywhere). Hello family time! I love being at home a lot more than I love not being at home, so it’s a win for me, on all fronts. We believe that Chris’s back injury will be healed and he’ll be hopping around on stage again in the near future. He had to take leave from work to rest his back and although it troubled him to be away from his desk for so long, I actually think the break did him good. I’m thankful for rest and for our home.
7. I remember laying in the hospital bed, post-accident. Chris was taken to a different hospital. My phone was off and I was instructed to not move, until they were able to do a full body X-ray. I lay there for the longest time, every part of my spreadsheet brain screaming out that I needed to speak to my husband! I needed to phone my babysitter to find out if my kids are okay! I needed to hear my mother’s voice and check if our passengers are okay! Laying dead still, in a hospital bed, with no communication with the outside world drove me crazy! I guess I was pretty hysterical because I found myself pleading with God “please let me see my family again! I want to see my family again!” I don’t know, for some reason (probably the blow to my head) I felt that I would never see them again. In those moments I realized how much I love my crazy family and my even crazier husband. I realized how blessed I am and how I would do anything to have to clean my house again or change Jojo’s nappy again or wash Kyle’s socks again. Guys, I’m so thankful for my family.
The biggest lesson we’re learning, by accident, because of this accident, is that trusting on our own understanding is morbid. If we had to look at our current situation, with human eyes, it would probably depress us. But the beauty of leaning on God is that you don’t allow the physical circumstance to determine how you’re going to feel today or what you’re planning for tomorrow. His outcome for our lives is always for good. We’re so aware of His bigger plan and purpose. And that is the thing that I am most thankful for.
-
Single versus Married: the big regret
I have a beautiful, single friend who despises being single. She regrets not settling down sooner and often pines for a baby and is on that dating scene, hoping to meet her future husband and best friend. I’m the one sitting next to her, encouraging her to enjoy this season, saying things like, “Girl, you can literally do anything you want right now!” I mean, the last time I could do anything I wanted to, was maybe that half an hour before the kids wake up on a blue Monday morning. To a single person, being single feels like a burden. But to those of us who are followed around by a small army daily, it sounds like a dream, right?
Well, the other day, while staring at a pile of washing that needed to be folded (and by staring, I do mean glaring menacingly) I suddenly had a thought: where would I be today, if I had I not gotten married? I mean, before I met Chris, I had been rocking single motherhood (self proclaimed rocking) – doing life with my baby boy and crushing it.
If I had remained single, with Kyle finishing high school this year, the world would literally have been our oyster! But alas, I chose marriage and guys, with the addition of each child, life got a lot more messier, crazier and busier.
So I found myself staring into space like a Forester, and reminiscing on a time when life was easier, wondering if I would have been a super star by now if I had chosen to remain single. (We dream these dreams, let’s not even front.)
Would I have been less tired? More in shape? Maybe. On a different career path? Probably. Heck, maybe this blog would not have been in existence. And I definitely wouldn’t be folding copious amounts of laundry each week, that’s for sure.
But would a life of simplicity and freedom have been enough for me?
Now, yes, I am aware that these thoughts were merrily a distraction to avoid the actual folding of the laundry. (Same like when I sit on the couch and plan what I’ll do with my millions one day, when I’m suppose to be cleaning the kitchen). But it was a great moment to sit and reflect on the seasons of life.The thing about choosing marriage and all that comes with it is that you kinda have to accept the sacrifice of parenthood and the unselfishness of being married and staying married. Maybe things would have been a lot easier if I had just said no to all the responsibility and sacrifice that came with the ring when Chris popped the question.
But my single friend, and her deep regret, reminded me of this thing about seasons and how there is beauty and necessity in every season of our lives.
Life is ever changing, ever evolving. And as we grow, our needs and desires shift and change. For some of us, that may mean that we rock our singledom for a longer period (or indefinitely) and have a whole bunch of other things to focus our time on. And that’s okay.
And for others, like me, it may mean that we’ve had our taste of being single (and “free”, as the term may imply) and that we don’t regret a thing. I mean, I wouldn’t trade my new life for that freedom if it means going without tiny arms wrapped around my legs, as I try to cook. Maybe freedom looks a little bit different to me now?
So, in retrospect, if you had to ask me which one is better, being single or being married, I guess I can’t really choose which one of these is the best thing.
My couch sitting and laundry glaring brought me to the conclusion that none of it is… well, none of it is the best thing, I mean. Because, I guess you’re only ever happy when you embrace the moment you’re in right now, instead of pining away for something else.
So I guess embracing your season, is the best thing.
-
10 ways to be lekker in life
Since it’s about a month away from my birthday, and I am, you know, turning a whole year older and all of that, I find myself contemplating life and growth and how to be a better person without having to stop binge watching The Voice UK. And a few things came to mind … you know, things that some would call common sense. I call the list “10 ways to be lekker”… because being a crappy person is so out of season and no one wants to walk around feeling like you’re invincible when everyone else is wondering why you look like you need a hug and a Coke. Here’s a list of things I remind myself everyday:
1. Don’t be that person who tries to debate with someone on a Facebook post or in a Whatsapp chat. Like, seriously, the other person is not sitting there with bated breathe, hoping you’re going to say something that will change their minds. They can’t hear your tone or context. They cannot see your facial expression. In some cases they probably don’t even read your extra long essays. (I know I don’t.) So the debate usually ends up being a waste of time and brain power. Arguing with someone on Facebook is such a time suck because people are usually in it for the long haul! They are rife for the debate and they WILL NOT STOP until you do. Be lekker, don’t be a troll.
2. If people have ish going on, and you know about it, you don’t have to do anything because guess what, Winona Rider, their information is not yours to steal and share without their permission! I’m sure we’re all pretty over the village gossip who finds joy in sharing about other people’s challenges and pains. And yes, telling your mother/sister/family member under the guise of “ag shame” still makes it gossip. Be lekker man, Winona, don’t be a gossip.
3. How about let’s not take our issues to social media, and make subliminal status updates about it. Well, this is something I remind myself often. Stay classy. Don’t air your arguments where the world can see them. It’s the year of the mature adult conversation. You know, saying things like “I feel this way when you do that” face to face, instead of posting something putrid about someone, without really naming them. Be lekker, don’t be a subliminal update poster.
4. And while we’re on the topic, you don’t have to like everything that everyone says. I often remind myself that everyone has their own opinions and different ways of doing things and hey, Martha Stewart, guess what, THAT’S OKAY. If we all had to be a carbon copy of you, this world would be very bland. No offense. Be lekker, don’t be a robot.
5. Stop re-sharing fake news in your Whatsapp groups and on social media. It’s not kwaai man! I mean, you’re spreading mass hysteria, and you can’t even prove that it’s right. Can we leave that type of news sharing to, you know, the actual newspaper? Be lekker, don’t be dramatic.
6. Don’t assume that everything is always about you. Man, the way I’m tired of people reading something and thinking that it’s shade thrown at them. And I’m not immune, yo! I do this too! Its so not lekker. Like, what if your friend Maggie simply felt like posting a mullet hairstyle meme. What if Maggie did not even think about you and your mullet, while posting the meme. What if, and let this one sink in, the world did not revolve around you?! Be lekker, don’t be a narcissist.7. Stop being the friend/family member who encourages someone else to player hate. If your friend is out of line or being unreasonable, say the thing! I mean, we’ve all been there – we know exactly how hurt and anger can turn a mole hill into a mountain. True friendship does not mean agreeing with everything your friend believes. I want my friends to lovingly correct me if I’m wrong. Why would you willingly want your friend to make wrong decisions?! Be lekker, don’t be a bad friend.
8. If you see someone else doing really well in their field of interest, tell them they are doing a good job man. I mean, congratulate them instead of talking them down to your family and your friends at the office and your neighbours uncle. I get it, maybe selling bicycles online is not your thing. That’s okay. But if Patricia is doing well with her online bicycle sales, then more power to her and her success! You don’t understand online bicycle sales, that’s why you’re selling carpets. Be lekker, don’t be a hater.
9. Perception is a BIG word (and I’m not just saying so because I struggled to spell it for a minute). I mean, your perception of someone else can totally influence how you respond to them. Sometimes you need to take a minute to remember that (que John Legend) “we’re just ordinary people!” We’re all on a journey and we respond to things differently. I cannot control the next person. I am only in control of myself and my responses. So just be lekker, don’t be unreasonable.
10. And lastly (this one is for free), if you ever find yourself offended for some absurd reason, justifying your silly offense with silly reasoning, instead of name calling and insulting someone else, rather take a selah moment. Say a prayer. Stay classy. Look yourself in the mirror and say: Hey, be lekker man, don’t be offended for stupid things. Life is too short and there are way better things to be concerned about!
So these are the sweet, sweeet reminders when I feel like I need to remember the point of it all (especially now, in my old age, right?) At the end of the day, being lekker is the opposite of being miserable, difficult to get along with, and bitter. And we all know which one we’d rather be.
-
Stay At Home Mom For What?!
I don’t know about the rest of you, but the past few days of “back to school” has me shooketh. It seems especially treacherous this time around- and this is coming from a mother who has lived through 12 “back to school” January’s.
Mornings are a hectic affair, with a whole bunch of kids and a husband to herd out the door, so that we can make drop off on time. I’m exhausted by the time I get to work… and then I have to remove my mommy hat, for my account manager hat… and actually focus on the work at hand. It’s not always that easy, you guys. Sometimes it’s so hard to keep all those balls in the air (when you’re not even in the mood to juggle, in the first place!).
Home time comprises of a very tired mommy loving on the kids, helping with homework, hearing endless stories of what everyone did for the day, combined with cooking, tidying up, bath time, doing dishes, bla bla bla (and the beat goes on.) Fall into bed at 10pm, wake up, repeat.
How do we do it ladies?
I’ve been reflecting on the beauty of yesteryear. My granny and her mom, and her mom (probably), were stay at home mothers. And while the idea of women staying home, to clean and cook, may seem like a terribly flawed way to live (because career and what not), I can’t help but secretly admire how those ladies managed to pull it off.
Being a “stay at home mother” is no small job. And they did it with joy (for the most part) and so effortlessly. And, more than that, they actually got it right to run a whole household on one salary! How the heck? I can’t even imagine how we would pull that off.
So it got me thinking, you guys: are we living super elaborate lives? I mean, how did those moms get it right to provide for their family, without a second income? Are the schools we’re choosing too expensive? Is our lifestyle too extravagant? Or is the cost of living just too high?
Next thought: we put so much value on our careers and, you know, climbing the corporate ladder and all of that. What if all I want to do is make sure my kids are healthy and happy, without being so drained at 8pm, that I can’t even spend five minutes with my husband, before falling asleep in mid-sentence.
I must admit, guys, I always wondered how on earth you could give up your career (and a steady income, yo) to stay at home whole day. But I get it now. Choosing to be a stay at home mom has nothing to do with copping out of work life. It’s more than just a having the ability to sleep in till 10am and wear pajamas whole day, while binge watching Greys Anatomy. (As delightful as that sounds.)
For me, right now, it’s about being able to make sure that I can sufficiently be all that my family needs me to be – without losing my mind! I so desperately want to make sure that I’m doing this #momlife thing right, and sometimes it’s difficult to be all things to everyone, while still making sure that I am healthy myself.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on being a stay at home mother. Do you feel that there are better ways to spend your time? Are you a stay at home mom? How do you manage to run a whole household on one salary? Do you regret giving up your job, to be home with the kids?
-
5 easy ways to be healthier
This year I vowed to take my health seriously – seriouslier? more seriously? – I want to be healthier, okay? But I knew that I needed a “5 easy ways to be healthier … without really trying very hard …” kind of list, because, let’s face it, another fad diet was not going to cut it for me.
I’m just going to say it: I’m not the healthiest person on the planet. I mean, I’m not proud of it. Don’t look at me like that Dr Phil, I know that I have problems. I love food, okay? Geeez give a woman a break!
So yes, If I have to force myself into a eating routine of sorts, I would fail immediately. Immediately.
Instead of trying to guilt myself into eating better, I decided to work on making little changes, over longer period of time. I mean, the key word is consistency. I figured that if I change small things, over a longer period, I will see results.
So here are my five easy ways to be healthier. You can applaud me for my “geniosity” at the end of the post.
1. Substitute my favorite drink for waterI’m a coffee fiend. I love me some java! But I knew that going cold turkey on it would basically cause my body to point and laugh at me. So, instead of deciding to not have coffee anymore, I resolved to rather have a whole glass of water before my coffee.
This means: if I usually have six cups of coffee per day, I would now also have six whole glasses of water, that I would consume before the coffee. You could literally do this with whatever drink you consume the most of.
The pay off is that usually, after the glass of water, I’m not really in the mood for the cup of coffee anymore. Am I not a genius?! Somebody call Kris Jenner, I think I need a manager!
2. Take the stairs
I’m a lifts and elevator kind of girl.
Whaaat, don’t look at me like that Jessica. I don’t like to physically exert myself. But the thing is this, guys, your body needs you to do some sort of movement, in order for it to stay in prime condition.
I knew that waking up at 5am to go to the gym is not “my thing” for many reasons (main reason: children, second reason: lazy). So, instead, I am now walking around more, taking the stairs when I can and basically trying to get as many steps in, per day. You can actually download an app on your phone, that helps to monitor how many steps you take per day. This is a cool way to motivate you to reach that daily goal.
3. I don’t do bread
I love bread, you guys. Like, A LOT. Like, if I were a teenager, bread would be my secret crush that I just can’t stop thinking about. Yes, it’s that bad.
But I realized that a lot of my bloatedness is due to my heavy consumption of bread. My body is just not happy when I’ve consumed copious amounts of carbs.
So, instead of telling myself that I cant eat all the carbohydrates in the world ever again, I’m just not eating bread anymore. So that means I might still have a little pasta now and then, and you’ll probably find me dunking my chip in your tomato sauce here and there. But I draw the line when it comes to actual breads. They are not my friend.
4. More fruits and veggiesVeggies are boring, right? But I feel like this is one of those duh moments, because (duhhh) everyone knows that consuming more fruits and veggies is what one does when you want to be healthy.
Well, guys don’t be shocked, but I’m not a fan of either. I wouldn’t normally go out of my way to pack fruits or veggies into my lunchbox. So, instead of forcing myself to do this, I try to keep some fruit in my draw at work, so that it’s on hand and readily available when I want to snack. I’m more likely to consume fruits and veggies when it’s easily accessible. I’m also learning how to make more yummy, veggie-laden foods, because who said that veggies are boring? (Me, I literally said that a minute ago).
5. Batch cooking
Okay so batch cooking is another clever way to prep healthy food, for the week ahead. The many perks include not having to cook during the week AND you get to pre-plan healthier meals.
I also found a bunch of really great ways to add more veggies to your meals. Yep, a lot of them involve hiding the vegetables away because my kids will start an actual riot if I present them a dish with too much green stuff in it. Also, you could totally make your batches big enough to have a serving of last night’s leftovers for lunch the next day. This should totes make you a bit more intentional with what you put into your body (and that of your family, yo). Spreadsheet brain is loving it!
So those are my five (very clever, highly genius) ways that I plan to be more healthier this year. Do you have any similar (health) tricks up your sleeve? Share them with me in the comments section below.
-
A late recap of 2018 because I can
As the snotty title of this post implies, I’ve only now woken up and realized that I did not post my mandatory recap of the previous year yet. I blame this on the lazy holidays and my brains inability to function when I’m not wearing any make up. (Anyone else find it hard to focus when you’re not dressed for a work day?) Anyways, excuses aside, I’ve decided to do my 2018 recap, even though we’re one week deep into 2019 because I can and I want to and you can’t make me stop! (Childish tantrum, anyone?) Anyways, here’s a bit of a recap on the past year:
January
I had decided that my theme for 2018 would be “do the thing“. So eloquent, so powerful. Basically what this meant is that I would nail my goals, no matter what, no excuses allowed! A lekker holiday always makes you feel like you can conquer the world. I also chatted a bit about my faith and how I feel that people discriminate against me, because of it, sometimes. We also had all the Day Zero water saving tips making its rounds and I told you guys that my Hubstopher likes it when I give him the silent treatment. Pffft!February
The month of love brought on feelings of “argh why did I eat so much chocolate last year” and I ended up writing an emo post about my body issues. But hey, to balance that out, I also wrote an inspiring post about loving yourself (it’s all about balance, yo) and I told you guys the truth behind Valentines Day. Oh and in Feb we had our very first Purge Party, you guys!March
March 2018 was a difficult month for me, as I grieved the loss of a friend’s baby. It reminded me just how overwhelming Motherhood can be – overwhelming in the sense that you throw your whole entire heart and soul into loving this little person, before you even meet them, and you find your life completely changed by the very concept of them. I also told you guys that I want to adopt. Nothings changed – I still want another baby. Call me crazy. But not to my face.
April
I don’t know what on earth I was going through in April but I wrote a bunch of rant-posts. I mean, I wrote about how my husband MUST be cheating on me and also how to deal with people who don’t like you and I told you guys all about how I plan to get revenge. So dramatic. I also addressed the issue of the newborn baby that was found in a drain.May
May is Jojo’s birth month, so there was a lot of birthday party planning and I ended up going with a birthday play date instead. Best decision of my life! The birthday play date was so lekker! May was also the month of royal wedding you guys! We swooned over it for a wee bit (see what I did there?) and I confessed that I, too, married a prince. If you can recall, we spoke about making sure your kid is smartphone smart and I let you in on all our #ECMeetUp excitement and my hair drama.June
June was all about my new hair (well, in my mind it was hahaha). I also made my own chocolate at the Cadbury Factory and I told you guys all about how to be a blogger. Oh, don’t worry, I did get all emo (as I do) and wrote a post about how crappy it is to celebrate Father’s Day when you’re a single mom struggling to get your dead beat baby daddy to step up. You’re welcome.July
My kids a model. Seriously! Kari modeled for Lil Punk in July and we were blown away! My Jojo also got infront of the camera, for Cutepix Photographer, as a model for Michelle’s latest offering: Paint Smash Photo Sessions. How adorbs is this munchkin?! I also asked you guys to stop encouraging your man, when he calls his ex psycho. It’s rude. And also, I spoke about the many reasons why I probably shouldn’t have another baby. Hahahahhaha and look at me now, picking out imaginary baby names. Oh how the mighty has gotten broody.
August
August was all about the fashion and I showed you guys Kari’s photo shoots with KrulKop Society and The Little Closet. I also offered you a range of advice (because apparently I’m Oprah now) such as: How to ignore people who think you’re annoying, How to be as dramatic of a wife as possible, How to not fall for fake news, How to keep your kids safe from abduction and how to spot if someone is being abused.September
In September I was very sick. I told you guys about it in two whole posts. Thank you for reading. I also eventually got around to sharing about human trafficking and what the experts are saying about whether you should share your kids pics online.October
In October I introduced my #dateyourspouse concept to you guys and you loved it! I also asked you to please stop thinking that your Facebook is hacked – for the love of all that is good, staaap! Oh and I reminded you that your kids watch your every move.November
In November, you guys rallied behind me, after I shared a post about some bullies who had made fun out of my limp. THANK YOU again, friends! Your support was amazing! We also got festive up on the blog and I shared a bunch of lekker things to do during the silly season, including: My top five Christmas party games, our Christmas Tree Night traditions and some fun end of year party themes.
December
December, oh oh, December! Since it was December and all (and all) I shared some cool tips for hosting a family game night. We had our final #ECMeetUp for the year and it was so lekker! We ended off the year with the 10 things I learnt in 2018.And what did I learn in 2018? Well, I learnt that those who matter won’t mind (when you do you) and those who mind don’t matter! I learnt that the pie IS big enough for all of us and I also learnt that what you put into relationships is what you’ll get out! Looking forward to a year of abundance in 2019… it’s time for new things!
What are some of your highlights of 2018? What are you looking forward to for 2019?
-
Nailing those New Year’s resolutions with Uber Eats
If you’re anything like me, you probably have a host of unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions under your belt. You know, the ones that you are not proud of. Like “get into shape” or “get out of debt” or, let’s be honest, “get out of that toxic relationship.” Resolutions are a fickle thing. We make ‘em, we break ‘em, we allow ourselves to feel like a failure because of ‘em. Who came up with this concept?! I need to speak to his manager!
The truth is this: reaching your goals is a journey… not a destination. Rushing to get there won’t help you to fulfill them, you guys. With this in mind, I decided to break down my 2019 resolutions, into easy steps, so that I don’t end up feeling like I want to drown in a bag of Niknaks when December hits. Here are my resolutions for 2019:
Healthy Mind
In 2019, I want to be less stressed and more focused on the important things. But instead of just hoping that I’m all of a sudden going to “feel less stressed”, I’ve decided to make monthly goals for myself, that include things like going for a full body massage and eliminating unnecessary commitments. It gets easier when you break it down into bite sized chunks, I promise. I also want to try to minimalize my daily to do lists… so that means less frantic cleaning of the house and more chill time on the couch and ordering meals via Uber Eats! The Uber Eats app has 100s of restaurants listed… so there’s something for everyone! Winning already.
Healthy Relationships
I really want to focus on establishing a deeper bond with my kids and my Hubstopher this year. As you guys may know, hubby and I do regular #dateyourspouse updates and I have so enjoyed getting to know him again, through our monthly date nights. I was thinking of doing the same for my kids. I mean, there are four of them, so it can get a bit difficult to keep track of who is going through what. Regular quality time dates, with each of our kids could help with that. And it all starts with being intentional every month! I’m talking about an after work rendezvous while the rest of the family orders in via Uber Eats. The cool thing is that I can schedule their orders and pay beforehand, or get them to pay cash. So everyone feels loved and taken care of. I’ve got this mom thing waxed.
Healthy BodyI’ve let go of the “be as skinny as possible” dream because it makes me break out into hives. Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to have rock hard abs?! Instead, I’ve decided to focus on being healthy. This includes fitting some form of physical activity into my weekly routine and yep, eating better. Thankfully, Uber Eats has partnered with Kauai… I mean, how amazing is that? Freshly prepared, healthy meals, delivered to my office. It kinda takes the pressure of it all off my back. Uber Eats also allows you to save your home or work address, for quick and easy food deliveries. You can also stay in contact with your Uber Eats driver, via the chat function, on the app. So no “food getting lost” scenarios. Super helpful when you’re starving at the office!
Do you have any resolutions for 2019? Have you tried out Uber Eats yet? Let me know in the comments section below.
Disclaimer: This post was written in collaboration with Uber Eats
