Back to Blogging

I have to admit that when we stopped writing the blog nearly a year ago, I knew we would be back. I knew, at least, I would be back. I didn't say that because I didn't know if I would be back to blogging here on C&C or if maybe I would start another blog, with a different title, on a different platform.

I have reservations about coming back because I know the blog isn't fancy. It's not on the most user friendly platform. The graphics are outdated. The layout is terrible. I could go on and on... C&C was created 8.5 years ago, back when Blogger was one of the only platforms, when blogging wasn't really a profession and when there weren't thousands of bloggers talking about many of the same things. So why bring this up? Despite all the perceived short comings of this blog, I know we have a unique voice that resonates with people. I know we have a solid group of loyal followers, and I'd like to hope that many of you have been positively impacted by our posts. I'd like to think you don't care about all the shortcomings, and that you will continue reading and loving the blog just as it is.

So, here we are, nearly a year later, and we're back to blogging. Don't expect posts five days a week, that's just not realistic for our lives right now, but I can promise we will post at least once a week. Katie can't commit to a regular blogging schedule, but she will definitely be dropping in.

For my first post back I thought I would give you a quick list of some of the things I'm "loving lately"...food, podcasts, kids clothes...think of this as making up for all our lost time in one post!

Loving Lately
1. Rockets of Awesome- This kids subscription clothing box is AWESOME! If you haven't tried it, you must!

2. How to Raise an Adult- One of the best "parenting" books I've ever read. If you have children in your life, as a coach, teacher, aunt, uncle or as a parent...you should check this book out. 

3. Thai Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup- This recipe is on repeat in our house. It's easy and delicious. 

4. Podcasts- I've become obsessed with podcasts. I listen while cleaning the house, driving and exercising. Here are a few of my favorites. 

- How I Built This 

- The Feel Good Effect- the podcast by Robyn Conley Downs of the blog, Real Food Whole Life. 

- Hidden Brain

- Brains On and Wow in the World- both for kids

5. Beauty Counter Shampoo and Conditioner- I've been using Beauty Counter products for nearly 3, and I now use their products almost exclusively (I can't quit my Blinc Mascara). Recently I added the shampoo and conditioner to my arsenal, and I LOVE it. A small amount goes a LONG way so it lasts a long time and somewhat justifies the high price point. 

6. Icarus- This is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. When filmmaker Bryan Fogel sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller. Dirty urine, unexplained death and Olympic gold are all part of the exposure of the biggest scandal in sports history.

Creating an Adult Bedtime

I have been on a podcast kick lately. I've never listened to podcasts with any regularity until a few weeks ago, and I think it is something I definitely plan to continue. It's a great way to pass the time in the car, on a walk, waiting in a doctor's office, etc.

One of the podcasts I have been listening to is "Happier with Gretchen Ruben". Gretchen is the author of the book The Happiness Project which I blogged about back in 2012 (post here). In Episode  2: All-or Nothing, Gretchen recommended setting a bedtime alarm.

Gretchen and her fellow podcast host, her sister Elizabeth

I find that I often stay up beyond my initial onset of "tired" to work, blog, watch TV, etc, and by the time I am ready to go to bed I am too "wired and tired" to actually fall asleep. Gretchen recommends setting your alarm for bedtime just like you do for when you wake up in the morning.

We set "bedtimes" for our children yet we don't set them for ourselves. So, I've decided to implement the bedtime alarm but in a slightly different way. I am going to implement a 9:00 shutdown time. That means at 9:00 p.m. I will close down my phone and my computer for the night. This will leave me time to read, stretch, use the foam roller or go to sleep all by my 10:00 bedtime.

Given that we are currently traveling in Europe, I will most likely try to implement this when we get home.

Has anyone ever tried something like this? Do you have a bedtime?