My husband surprised me with a new bike. It has been over fifteen years since I’ve actually owned a bike, and I have to admit, although I really wanted to ride (hence him surprising me with it!), I was kind of scared to actually get on the road.

Would I fall off? Would I be able to break? turn? avoid parked cars? Would a car not see me? Would I be able to go down hill? up hill?

I took a few minutes to introduce myself to the bike; road it gingerly up and down my block ON THE SIDEWALK. My neighbor saw me and smiled. I felt like I was 8 years old again, on my bike for the very first time- cautious, slow, using my feet to slow down.

The next morning I woke up ready to really face my fears and ride that bike on the road. Little man just woke up, Michael was drinking his morning coffee, Lulu was still asleep.

“I’ll be right back, hon. I’m just going to ride up and down the street for five minutes. I want to get my bearings.”

My husband laughed. Just the day before he road up and down along the beach for almost 2 hours. “Ok, babe,” he said. “Have fun!”

Onto the street. Hmmm. It wasn’t so bad. I picked up speed – kind of exhilarating. I biked around my neighborhood, wind in my hair, sun on my face, “Woo hoo!” I actually shouted OUT LOUD. A lady was walking her dog, and she laughed out loud. I waved – one hand even off the wheel!

A few blocks away from us homes are set on the water. It’s just beautiful, very little traffic, serene. I biked up and down, back and forth, smiling the entire time. It was over 40 minutes, and I could have gone longer, but figured my Lulu would be waking up soon and wanted to give her a good morning kiss.

I walked in the door singing.

Little “You” Moments are the best moments, and the easiest to fit seamlessly into your life! By taking advantage of Little “You” Moments, you are practicing self-care at a proactive, preventative level.

You may be thinking- What is this crazy girl talking about?

I know it may sound like mumbo-jumbo at first!

Self-care on a preventative level means that you’ll just feel great most of the time, and you won’t have a total meltdown where you suddenly book a two-week yoga retreat and blow thousands of dollars to fly back home and get no “you-time” for months just to make up for the last minute getaway. That would be self-care on a reactionary level. Hey, I’m not knocking it! Sometimes things happen and we react! But, the more you take advantage of the Little “You” Moments, the less likely you are to have a big “You” blowup!!

Little “You” Moments include the way your space is designed, the music you listen to in the car, the lotions you use, the face wash you choose, the shampoo scent in the shower, the weekly at-home exfoliation made from raw sugar and soap. Little “You” Moments make up the way you live your life. Most of the time, it’s just being aware of all of the opportunities you have to take care of you- remember it’s not selfish, it’s necessary to be the best version of yourself when you are taking care of everyone else.

So, look, even the busiest of women have to bathe, so make your shower your spa retreat!! Do simple, nice things for yourself regularly, use your senses to begin identifying Little “You” Moments, and you’ll start to feel pampered for pennies!

Here are 5 of my favorite Little “You” Moments:

1. Applying an at-home facial mask (I like to pretend I am at Bliss Spa and wear a white robe and head-band while doing this)

2. Drinking morning coffee (TGFAB- Thank God for the Auto-Brew, ready and waiting!!)

3. Using coconut-scented shampoo and conditioner (can you say Island-Retreat?)

4. Singing songs loudly while driving (in my next life I will be a Broadway singer, in this one I am totally off-pitch, but I love to belt it anyway!!)

5. Soft sheets, just out of the dryer (Bonus points for high thread count, matching to comforter)

What are some of your favorite “Little You” moments? I’d love to hear!

I am a beach kind of girl. Not a “bake-in-the-sun” beach girl, more of a “walk-in-the-breeze, stare-into-the-ocean, imagine-in-the-sand” kind of beach girl. We live by the beach, we got engaged on the beach, our home is filled with shells and starfish. So, when I saw this necklace on Etsy, I had to share with you!!

Hand-stamped on the silver plate, it says “the sea inspires me”, and at just $36, this is a lovely, unique gift for a friend, loved one, or even yourself. After all, we should treat ourselves every now and then, and a little inspiration is the perfect gift!

What Inspires You?

The word “inspire” means to stimulate an action, to elicit, to bring about, to motivate. But, if you dig a little deeper into the definition, “inspire” really means to “breathe life into” – so, let me rephrase my question, what breathes life into you? What fills you with passion, energy, contentment, peace?

There is no right or wrong answer, it’s just very interesting to hear what inspires each of us- it’s funny because although we are all different, we are all the same. And, I saw that even in the thousands of responses I received to this very question when I sent out a query on HARO.

So I picked some beautiful, authentic responses I received to share with you:

“I am inspired by beauty and kindness, flowers and people in bloom, and kisses from dogs and children.”

Michele McKeag Larsen has just put up 8 bright yellow billboards promoting joy through her non-profit, The Joy Team; and hopes to spread joy, optimism and inspiration to millions.

http://TheJoyTeam.org/ | http://ISpyJoy.com/ | http://www.365awesome.com/”

“It inspires me to inspire others. Dispensing hope, especially in the darkest of times, can be an antidote to the fear and emotional overwhelm that grips us when we face difficulty. Although we can’t solve people’s problems we can give them a lift, cheer them on, and constantly offer a more positive view of life. I am a big fan of inspirational quotes. I call them chocolate for the soul.”

Laurie Sue Brockway, Inspiration Editor, Beliefnet.com

http://www.beliefnet.com

“I am inspired and awed by the power of the human spirit to change, choose, create, and heal. Each of us is capable of creating miracles. One person working from her or his own truth can and does indeed make a huge difference.”

Kris Cahill is a professional clairvoyant reader and healer, teacher, and writer, based in Los Angeles.

http://www.KrisCahill.com

“Im inspired by people who are completely open about how difficult things can be–marriage, kids, business.”

Jennifer Zwiebel connects people to their joy and helps them activate limitless possibilities.

http://www.aplaceofjoy.com

“Dancing by myself up in my bedroom with my favorite music cranked as I offer gratitude and appreciation upward and outward is one of my personal, instant inspiration tools.”

Annie Burnside is the author of “Soul to Soul Parenting”.

http://www.soultosoulparenting.com

“I’m inspired by waking up and having another day with all of its surprises. As a nurse for the past 29 years, I know tomorrow is not guaranteed.”

Mary Pitman, Chief Creative Officer, Green Light Inspirations

http://www.MySpiritualAffirmations.com

“My children’s smiles ang hugs inpires me to be the best mom i can be!”.

Monique

Owner and Designer, Lil’ Sugarplum

http://www.Lilsugarplum.com

So, what inspires you?

This ‘inspiration junkie’ is INSPIRED by these Wish-Upon Curtains:

So, I made a wish I could get these curtains, but at $248 a panel, my inner frugalista told me to  “keep dreaming”!! Well, dreams do come true, because Anthropologie is having a SALE!! Just $99-$130 per panel…

~ Winston Churchill

What will you give today? A smile, an ear, a hand, a compliment?

I know there are days where we can be on “auto pilot” with our own to-do lists piling up, but when we step outside of ourselves, our lives open up to so much more. Problems seem smaller, stress disintegrates, shoulders loosen, happiness comes from the inside-out.

Make a choice today to be present, and ‘give something’ to every person you encounter. Heck if you’re really feeling generous, you can buy the coffee for the person in line behind you at Dunkin Donuts! 

I’d love to know how it changed your day!

Sunday brunch is my favorite meal of the week. Here’s an idea that just popped into my head since I love oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, why not oatmeal chocolate chip pancakes?  Think about it, this brunch inspires me, not only because it’s tasty, but also nourishes and nurtures the body:

- Flour : All-natural source of energy

- Oatmeal : Full of fiber, known to be a heart-protector

- Dark Chocolate : Anti-oxidants, not to mention tastes yummy

- Pure Vanilla : Great for stomach, adds natural sweetness

Just mix your buckwheat flour, oats, dark chocolate chips, baking soda, egg, drop of pure vanilla extract, water (amounts depend on how much you want to make) into a nice batter. Put in a hot pan and flip. Slice some fresh strawberries and you’ve got a simple, healthy, totally delicious Sunday brunch.