Fun and festive study breaks

Posted on December 13, 2011 by ZenLizzie

Management, evaluation and environment - I guess flashcards aren't a very advanced studying technique, but until someone gets me and iPad, these are the best way for me to study while waiting in line at the post office or doing cardio at the gym.

This may sound crazy, but studying for exams has been surprisingly relaxing. Not the actual studying or exam taking, since ya know.. grad school ain’t cheap and I’d like to graduate sometime this decade, but being able to clear my calendar for designated “Study Time” and “Break Time.”

I’ve also had the opportunity to spend a lot more quality time with my friends and family in the last two weeks, and that really means a lot. I guess it is the season of gatherings, out of town visitors and commiserating study groups.

This week, my semester exams are done and now I’m reviewing for my OMG-Big Mama-Comprehensive Exam. Tomorrow, I’ll sit in an icy computer lab for hours, cranking out essays about public health program planning, theory and evaluation. And then? I’ll wait to see if I get to graduate in May. I’m happy to report that I’m almost finished wrapping up the loose ends for my field placement next semester. I can’t say much about it, but I’m excited to do something new and to work on a program addressing health disparities, which is one of my main areas of interest.

But, Ok, enough about school…

Last week I baked my mom's oatmeal-coconut Christmas cookie recipe for Kat's cookie swap. It is hard to explain why these are so good, but really they are so. good.

It isn't the holiday season without cookies and festive booze.

Yesterday, my friend from my FloMo days, Michael came to visit. We went to the Body Worlds Vital Exhibit at the SC State Museum. I know this is going to sound either nerdy or disturbing depending on how well you know me, but..It was really interesting to see what disease looks like inside the body.

Photography wasn't allowed in the exhibit, but lucky for you, we have these other charming photos of our day.

I’ve also being trying to get in the holiday spirit as much as possible by surrounding myself with glittery things lit by twinkle lights. It helps!

Sparkly trees fight S.A.D.! Try it.

And I’m really excited to announce that I was chosen as a grand prize winner for the “Lee Brother Your Holiday Recipe” contest from the Lee Brothers and the SC Department of Agriculture. They wanted recipes that used local ingredients, so I submitted my vegetarian collard recipe and won my category! My family is amused by this because growing up I hated collards, and now I’m spreading my love for greens all across the state.

And now.. I’m off to get in some movement and relaxation (cardio and yoga!) before I have to go back to studying!

When your holidays are more transitional than traditional

Posted on December 17, 2010 by ZenLizzie

Is this how Christmas makes you feel too?

Tuesday night during fitblog chat, one of the questions was “Now that we’re fully involved in the holidays, what is stressing you out and how are you working to stay healthy?”

pow! Fitblog wisdom!

So maybe it isn’t wisdom, but it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. And OK, this isn’t really my bright idea, but since my mom doesn’t have a blog I have no qualms about stealing her ideas and presenting them as my own.

Growing up, I was very attached to tradition. Holidays, birthdays, proms, vacations, piano recitals.. everything. Planning and anticipating was more fun than the actual events sometimes.

People get sick, divorced, married, have babies, die, move away, grow up, get jobs, have falling outs, meet new people and make new plans. I understand that now, but believe me when I say that Lil’ ZenLizzie was devastated by these things. In my mind, The Way It Was = The Way It Should Be.

About the time my parents got divorced, I was talking about holiday plans with ZenMama, who has dealt with my expectation and drama-queen disappointment for decades. She told me that she thought we should do new things every year, rather than just being sad that life was changing. You can make things special even if they aren’t the same as they were before. By embracing transition, you remove the element of expectation of tradition.

Not getting the same kind of tree you had as a kid, not getting your grandma’s cake she makes every year, and even not being able to be physically close to your loved ones should not ruin your holidays. A good day, holiday or not, doesn’t need to meet certain requirements. I’m not saying you can’t look forward to all those things that you like, but being bummed because one element doesn’t fall into place shouldn’t ruin your time.

If your life or family is like mine, constantly changing, then it is extra important to let go of expectations about what your plans should include. You can’t be with your family during the holidays? Find other people who are away from home and plan something fun with them. You lost your job or are drowning in student loans? Let your loved ones know that you can’t do presents this year and make them cookies or mix CDs or a handmade card. Missing someone you wanted to spend the holidays with? Enjoy your time with the people you can be with, because who knows where everyone will be next year. Dislike holidays but feel like you’re “supposed” to make a big fuss? Set boundaries, and don’t feel guilty if you are happier watching TV at home rather than caroling through the neighborhood.

If you frame your plans within the reality of your current resources and circumstances, rather than what you used to do, where you used to be, who you used to be with, then you won’t have to cry and mope and stomp your feet when things don’t follow your script. Oh, am I the only one who does that? Well, however you deal with disappointment, you won’t need to do that if you focus on what you have instead of what is missing.

Bottom Line: There is no rule book for a happy holiday and no check list that you need to complete. Let go of your expectations for how you, your holiday and your family should be, and embrace how things are.

How do you stay sane during the holidays? What is your least favorite Christmas tradition? Mine is holiday clothing! Boo for clothes you can only wear for two days!

Long weekends do a body good

Posted on November 29, 2010 by ZenLizzie

I’ve thought about doing a weekend wrap up, but my weekend started last Wednesday so… yeah. Lucky for you, I do not have Thanksgiving photos. Unlucky for you, I have pictures of everything else. Apparently, “What I did over Thanksgiving break” = taking pictures.

I took a garden tour. I have to figure out how to cook these collards now that they are grown.

I'm trying to find beauty in brown and gray of fall/winter.

But I prefer color. You can eat these but I think my Dad planted them for the birds or deer or whoever gets hungry in the winter.

I kind of hate roses. Not because they aren't pretty, but because I like pulling weeds and I hate getting a handful of thorns.

.. and then I made sweet potato and black bean empanadas! Recipe coming sometime this week..

Then there was Thanksgiving! Then I took Carlton some Thanksgiving food since he had to work and I wasted a lot of time enjoying my time off from school and work.

I went running for the first time in the cold (ok, about 50*) and I was surprised that my body felt pretty good, even for 2 miles after not running for a month, but my throat and lungs were on fire. I started looking for tips on cold weather running and kept finding stuff about snow! ice! subzero temperatures! Excuse me, I’m from South Carolina and if there are flurries the whole state shuts down. I think I just need to find a running scarf or something.

Then last night, Carlton and Charlotte came to keep me company.

The cats were not amused. Seriously, Mo lived with Charlotte when I was in Georgia so she can tolerate her, but my roommate's cat was on high alert, spitting and attacking the entire visit.

We watched a documentary about the Yes Men on my new Roku player! Well, actually it isn’t mine and it isn’t new, but my dad’s girlfriend gave it to me and it works. Yay streaming Netflix! I’m sure I won’t be using it much in the next two weeks, but after this semester I’m catching up on my super long queue.