Quinoa Succotash
I've put myself on the back burner for a long time. I did it before I was a mother, and I certainly do it now that I am one. It just feels so much easier to take care of other people and other things instead of focusing inward, you know? It sounds noble, but it's actually not. I think the noblest of thing is having the courage and wisdom to say, "Hey, I need to take care of myself, too!" and actually doing it.
That's my issue-the follow through. In my big ole noggin (seriously, I can't find hats that fit me), I know that I have to take care of myself to take care of the people I love. I know that taking care of myself is the best way to show my family and friends that I love them. I know that it's actually selfish to not be selfish. I know all of this. But when it comes to putting it into action on a daily basis? Phew. I need some help. I make plans and lists and schedules, but when it comes to making the daily decision to take of myself, I seriously struggle.
It's been particularly rough during this first year of motherhood. I think it's only natural to be in a baby bubble when your kid is really young-and that's the way it should be. But as Juniper gains more independence, I'm finding that I'm slowly emerging from the baby fog. I'm starting to feel normal again. I'm starting to feel like she doesn't need me quite as exclusively as she did a few months back. And that freedom has opened up some time in my life to take care of me. What a crazy idea!
I'm actually really excited to start working on boosting my radiance. That's the way I'm thinking of it-radiance. It's not about overhauling my life, after all, I am happy and healthy! It's about buffing away a little bit of dullness. It's about so much more than eating better or working out more or drinking more water or giving myself some time to read a book every now and again. It's about getting my glow back. It's about polishing my wonderful self to a glorious shine. It's about taking the little daily steps to make me feel like the best version of me.
There are a few places I'm really focusing on in my newfound self-care initiative. First up, I'm giving myself permission to not be everything to everyone all the time. Raise your hand if you suffer from Superwoman Syndrome. My hand is raised sky high! I want to be everything to everyone. I want to be the best mother. The best blogger. The best wife. The best daughter. The best sister. The best aunt. The best friend. The best human. The best pet parent. The best farmer. The best cook. The best housekeeper. The best whatever! And it's totally and completely impossible. So I'm cutting myself some slack, and accepting that I'm not the best at some things, and that's totally okay. And I'm giving myself permission to ask for and accept help where I need it.
I'm also trying hard to make sure I give myself pampering and grooming time. Which, when I type it out in black and white, sounds like I'm Captain Dirty McGee, but trust me, I have been showering! It's more about taking the time to do the things that make me feel fresh, pretty, and put together-but have fallen to the wayside since becoming a mom. I'm talking about things like painting my nails, getting regular haircuts (from an actual stylist), and getting myself back into a skincare routine. I might even spring for a pedicure!
The last area I'm really focusing on is eating healthy. When I get busy, I stop putting good food high up on my priority list, and it means I end up eating dinners of tortilla chips and beer-which is fine every now and again, but a little lacking when it's a frequent occurrence. The irony of all of this is that I'm usually busy doing other food-related things-working in the garden, canning, recipe developing, etc.-I'm so busy working with healthy, fresh food, I'm forgetting to enjoy it! Silly, right? So that's my charge in the upcoming weeks and months-get back to my food roots. And I'm starting with simple, quick, seasonal recipes like this quinoa succotash. A few more meals like this one, and I'll have my radiance back in no time. Yay!
📖 Recipe
Quinoa Succotash
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cups corn kernels fresh or frozen
- 1 cup lima beans fresh or frozen
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 ⅔ cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Add in the garlic and onion and cook until just fragrant, about five minutes.
- Add in the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and let sit for five minutes, then fluff with a fork, check for seasoning, and serve.
Nutrition
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I eat well and try to get enough sleep
tweet- https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/628308640106070016
I eat healthy and take vitamins daily.
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/628307184615616512
I boost my radiance by exercising daily and maintaining a healthy diet. I love to eat fresh fruits and veggies from my garden.
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/628297814246699008
I boost my radiance, and I stay radiant during the day is that I eat well and get enough sleep, and make sure to exercise every day. I also primp by getting myself a nice hair style and a manicure! It always makes me feel better when I take care of myself.
I try to stay hydrated and take vitamins.
tweet--https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/628286899866746880
I take vitamins and moisturize my skin.
I'm working on getting to know myself again. In the past two months I've gotten married and moved in with my husband. Combined with greatly shifting responsibilities at work, I've been focused on one-step-at-a-time and I feel like I've become a little lost. I'm working on fixing that by getting to know myself in the context of my new roles 🙂
I see myself in so much of this! Ever since Nora was born, I've struggled with my own sleep. Last week she started sleeping through the night, and now that I know I my services won't be needed at night, it seems like my hyperaware insomnia is mostly gone! (Knock on wood.) Now that I'm feeling more rested, I think I have the energy to focus on some personal goals again. I stopped eating added sugar and have started running again - endorphin highs make me radiant for sure. 🙂
I find that drinking lots of water helps boost my radiance. It's not always easy, but I always feel better on days when I drink lots of water.
It sounds odd, but I play kickball in a women's league... the sweat, the blood pumping sprints between bases, kicking balls as hard as I can, a red dirt sock ring around the ankles, girlfriends cheering each other whether on same team or not... it's EXHILARATING & makes me feel so alive... not to mention the epsom salt bath & nap that follows to recover from playing in 100+ degree Texas heat!
Thanks for this simple recipe! I love that it's quick and easy and I could totally customize it! I'm going to try it tonight!
I also struggle with giving myself time to boost my radiance. For me, it's allowing myself to take some time away from my to do list. I don't always have to be productive. And giving myself permission to not feel guilty about laying on the couch for an hour or reading a book, is powerful.
I get this...i am also mom to a one year old. I began to gave these feelings at 4 months and sleep trained (not night weaned, she did that on her own at 9 months). It really helped me feel normal again! Check out RIE, it had been a blessing for our family. We are all rested and feeling healthy and that we have time to rake care of ourselves. I think you practice AP and, while they are very different, I think you can incorporate elements of both. Good luck-baby needs a healthy, happy rested mommy!
I totally get it about letting healthy eating fall to the side when you get busy! I'm studying to become a dietitian and even though I know exactly what I should be doing, after a cross country move and unpacking my diet is anything but perfect. 😉
Would absolutely put this gift card towards my grocery shopping and all the delicious whole foods I can fill my fridge with!!
I find that the days I shower, I feel better about myself. I do it often enough, but it's so easy to say, oh, we are just going to be around the house today, I'll just wear my hair in a pony tail. But when I make the effort to shower, and get ready for the day, I feel so much better.
My radiance habit is yoga. I realize what I am about to write sounds like an infomercial, but just 20 minutes a day (but preferably about an hour) keeps me tuned in to me. I have made a habit of spending time with my body daily where I constantly ask questions (How does this feel? What do I need? How can this feel better? How can I challenge myself here? Do I really need to push myself at all today?). This makes it a little easier to drop into that self-attention during the rest of my day. What do I really want to eat? When am I done? Would a nap feel good or would a walk feel better? How can I take better care of myself right in this moment?
Yoga has changed me. In a weird way that somehow holds total acceptance of who I am and a desire to be better all in the same moment.
I am so thrilled to share this gift with others ... and you on Saturday!