#ADULTING

Remember as a kid wishing you were older so you could do all the "cool" stuff big kids get to do??  Well come to find out, fast forward your life and BAM! ...you're an adult now...and it's just as fun as they promised it'd be, right?!  ;)

 Ha....
 

Come to think of it, there are a few things about #adulting that aren't the greatest.  Like paying rent, bills, utilities, groceries, daycare....really anything that results in money exiting my bank account is considered a negative to me.  I mean, I'm in the process of trying to be a self-sufficient twenty-something, who wants to be smart with her money and save as much as she can, yet the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle never seems to end (and I PROMISE you all, we are not extravagant spenders)!  We are slowly paying off the debt we can, while living within our means...and paying a ridiculous amount in childcare, but that's another story...

 

Aside from pinching pennies, there are actually some interesting things in regards to being an "adult" I've come to find charming in their own right.  Below I've listed just a few:

 

1. CLEANING - My mother is going to be SO surprised when (or if) she reads this - not to mention every roommate I've ever had in college - but lately I've found a weird form of joy from cleaning around the house.  Whether it's sweeping/swiffering the linoleum floors, making a dent in the laundry, or just picking up after myself or Eli - there is a form of accomplishment in there somewhere.  Now mind you, I still HATE doing the dishes (leftover/stinky food at room temp. grosses me out) but I've been known recently to clean the toilets without batting an eye.  Now do I still leave things out and not put them back right away? Yes. Am I a clean freak by any means?  Absolutely not.  BUT, I'm starting to feel okay spending a weekend afternoon tidying up while Eli plays.

 

2. TAKING CARE OF MY SKIN - This is a HUGE step in the right direction for me.  I hate to admit it, but growing up I never washed my face.  Being on birth control for a majority of my teen years and my skin leaning more towards the drier side, I was lucky enough to rarely have breakouts.  And if I did happen to experience a pimple, I'd unfortunately use rubbing alcohol over my ENTIRE face to dry it out!! Ugh, I cringe at the thought of how much damage I caused my own skin this way.  Not to mention this was the time when tanning was a huge craze between me and my friends. 

 

No parenting group warned me of this, but after Eli was born, my hormones and skin have never been the same.  My face gets really oily around my cycle, and I'm definitely a 'picker' as Dee would call it.  I'll try to pop pimples and end up making them inflamed and scar.  For the past year I've actually become really self-conscious of my skin, and can empathize with all the pre-teens out there suffering as well.

 

To really blossom at this #ADULTING thing around my skincare regimen, I do a few things:

 

1.  As a proactive measure, I use a gentle cleanser every morning (right now Aveeno clear complexion has been working very nicely), followed by a face lotion with Salicylic acid to avoid breakouts. 

2.  At night I'll use a generic makeup wipe/cleanser, followed by Neutrogena's HydroBoost water gel overnight.  It's the first moisturizer I've found that doesn't clog my pores or feel heavy!!  You only need a tiny amount each use, so spending $16 on it actually goes a long way. 

 

Now, will my face-washing routine change as I get older?  Most likely, as my skin's needs will change with age.  But here are two other important things I plan to regularly keep up with to save my skin from this frigid MN weather:

 

1.  Lotion at MINIMUM once daily - Aveeno is apparently my go-to brand.

2.  Using chapstick with shea butter coconut oil, and/almond oil. 

 

I can't express enough how dry my skin gets (even without the help of these negative temperatures)!  But to avoid dry patches and cold sores on my lips, both of these things are a MUST.

 

3. TAKING CARE OF MY BODY WITH NUTRITION AND MINDFULLNESS - Obviously as a Dietitian I'm consuming a well-balanced diet to the best of my ability, but one thing I know I'm missing is Omega-3's.  Essential fatty acids are something our body cannot produce on its own, so we need to consume adequate amounts to get the benefit (and unfortunately, fatty fish are the best sources out there).  Because of this, the "grown up" in me recently took the plunge & started taking a Women's Multivitamin that includes DHA, ALA & EPA fatty acids.  Now, I'm not one to recommend specific brands, and I'll admit I succumbed to the gummy vitamin commercialism that Target advertised me; but I figured heck, it's a start.  To be honest, I'll most likely switch brands again - and not choose a gummy form - when I run out. 

**A little FYI: Omega-3's are not only heart healthy; deficiencies in essential fatty acids are linked to depression, anxiety, and even GI problems. So my heart needs them, my brain & gut need it; and since they are anti-inflammatory, my joints will thank me, too ;-)

Speaking of my internal health, I'm also meditating 10-15 minutes a day when I can, and/or doing a personal yoga practice at home a few times per week.  Many people roll their eyes at the idea of Mindfulness in relation to health, (we're very accustomed to Western society's "suck it up" mantra or "take a pill and get over it" philosophy) - but from my personal experience it has helped numerous areas in my own life, as well as my clients who've adopted a mindfulness practice.  For a more in-depth discussion on the magnitude mindfulness can play in your overall health and well-being, check out the following link from Positive Psychology:
https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/benefits-of-mindfulness/ 

 

4. PREPARING MORE HOME-COOKED MEALS - Let's just say Pinterest has become my best friend when it comes to meal planning - there are so many simple, yummy recipes that I've tried (I've also had my fair share of Pinterest FAILS)!  By planning meals and using leftovers, my family saves A LOT of money on groceries per week.  Below are a few links to some of my family's favorite meals we've tried:
Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
One Pot Cajun and Sausage Alfredo
One Skillet Cheesy Chili Mac
Sloppy Joes
 

5. SAVING MONEY - As I hinted earlier, managing my money is probably the most #ADULT thing I've incorporated into my life - I'm diligently following a budget and planning where my paycheck is going.  Does this mean I sit at home and do NOTHING? NO!  I'm lucky enough to live in such a large metropolis, that there are always free events going on.  Free yoga, free kids' days in Minneapolis or St. Paul locations, craft fairs, cultural events; you name it, the Twin Cities probably has it!  I'm also saving money by not going out/partying all the time, and having to be responsible for Eli's necessities.  In addition, I'm no stranger to coupons, utilizing grocery store ads, or apps that give me cash back for buying items I already use.  My mom would definitely be proud of the savvy shopper I've become :) 

Being an adult may not be as easy as I once thought, but I definitely wouldn't want to be a kid forever, either.  There's definitely still fun to be had, &  I'm learning to be grateful for all of my experiences (see previous Gratitude post).

Even if there are days where I tell myself "I JUST. CAN'T!" I know this lady below and many moms/adults out there can relate. :-)

 

-Abbie