Went for the second time (first last fall) and would like to review for all the wonderful women in my life.
One of my passions is 'Self Care for Caregivers', so taking time for yourself even when you think you don't have any time is super important. Trying out new things to see what feels really good to you and then knowing how you can charge your batteries is the key to staying healthy. If Momma Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy! The YMCA offers a Women's Weekend at Camp Colman. Taking the ferry over to Port Orchard is a nice treat in itself. The ride from the ferry dock to Camp Colman, close to Key Peninsula takes less than 40 minutes and is just gorgeous in fall. The weekend starts on Friday at 4 pm with check in. You will get your cabin assignment and a flyer with all the activities offered over the weekend. After a wonderful, healthy, wholesome dinner (vegetarian options), no ordinary camp food, the camp director greets and walks everyone through the offerings. Massage practitioners can be booked on site for a extra charge. I tried a Ashiatsu massage (yes, the one with the feet) for the first time. Last year I tried a group acupuncture session. There are different nature walks, wilderness training, self defense, foraging feast, meditation, a movie night with popcorn, organic gardening, lots of different crafts in the Art studio, some bead stringing, button making in the Lodge. For the more adventurous there are rope courses, a vertical playpen, cat walk and the giant swing (free fall!) on the menu. Definitely some things that will get your adrenaline going. Saturday afternoon is a wine tour where camp staff will drive you to a wine tasting at Claude's and Claudia's on the peninsula. In between there is fantastic food for breakfast, lunch and dinner and tea and coffee all day, so you can enjoy a book in the lodge or a chat with a new or old friend. There is something for everyone and the staff is just charming, very attentive to all needs and all the participants are just sweet, fun and cheerful folks. Needless to say I plan on going next year. If you want to join me, just go to the YMCA Seattle page and sign up 3 weeks before the next one, for fall around early September. If you can commit early the camp staff can offer more activities. There is also one in Spring and one at Camp Orkila, which I haven't tried yet. Btw, you don't have to be a YMCA member to go to camp. More pictures
0 Comments
Just made this as part of our Whole 30 plan. No grain, no sugar, no soy. I am very proud of myself as I am more of a 2-step food preparer and this was more a 5-7 step recipe (prepare spaghetti squash, make pancake, grill chicken, boil secret sauce, mix sunshine sauce and veggie cutting) - all in under 30 minutes.
http://theclothesmakethegirl.com/2011/05/08/paleo-pad-thai/ No idea why this did not cross my path earlier, but after reading up on this life changing nutrition plan, I wanted to give it a try. I gained multiple pounds this summer enjoying myself, but was also tired of my current diet. I already exclude gluten, diary, eggs, almonds, peanuts, so going a step further and taking out rice, corn and potato did not seem to far of a stretch for me.
I signed up for the daily newsletter ($14.95) and gently approached my husband with the idea to join me on this 30 day challenge. I spent 2 days sorting out our kitchen cabinets preparing for the upcoming weeks. The first week we were grouchy. Very grouchy some times. After about 8 days we had our food choices down, shopping was a lot of fun, the entire cart filled with produce only, and the recipes still had a lot of options, but felt really healthy and like soul food. Now we are on Day 14 and half way through. I lost some weight (you are not supposed to weigh during the 30 days) but feel I plateau'd a bit. I don't really care because I feel great. Very balanced, happy, clear thoughts, ready and energized. Do you need a change? Try it! Feel very inspired to really live my life to the fullest. You should, too, but why? Read this wonderfully written piece from Charlotte:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/charlotte-kitley/bowel-cancer-charlotte-kitley_b_5836238.html Started working with my life coach. One of my exercises was imagining a billboard in the middle of an 8 lane highway. Many, many pass it every day, every minute in rush hour. What would you like your sign to say and look like? Here is mine:
Looked at a half done tiny house today. So many ideas. So little time. If I would only know how to bring all my ideas to life. I'll need to think about it some more and make a plan and ask the rest of the family if what I have in mind is realistic.
Requirements: - warm in Winter - convertible interior (murphy/sliding bed) - cozy reading corners - different work spaces for 3 - dining area for 6 - functional kitchen, space for food prep - big enough bathroom/shower - private spaces for all 4 of us - porch - storage for most essential stuff - towable - livable It won't happen over night, but it might happen some time in the next 3-4 years. Very bitter sweet this year. For the first time since the kids where older than 3 we really spent most of our summer together. I put some effort in making my kids officially outdoorsy (compared to video gaming city kids), letting them roam, being bored, exploring, biking, travelling a ton, crafting, having some summer rituals going, like getting ice cream at the corner store, reading in my hammock, taking care of our new pet bunny, enjoying nature, sailing, biking, everything the small island of Vashon had to offer.
I wasn't really ready to trade all this in for getting up early in the morning, rushing through the morning routines, making sure everything is were it should be (homework, lunch box, hair, socks, work papers, phone). This summer was just too good. |
AuthorOptimistic, curious, human bee. CategoriesArchives
October 2023
Categories |