Board #2: Insomnia Cure

Today was my first day back at work after more than 2 weeks of break.  During the break I was staying up all night and sleeping till 1.  Today I had to get up at my usual 6:15am work time...and last night I was feeling the pressure to make sure I got a good night's sleep.  I went to bed at 11...but sleep was just not happening for me.  I was tossing and turning, looking at the clock every half hour, etc etc.  Basti was so sweet and got the computer so we could watch Fantasia in bed, in hopes that this would help me.  Still nothing.  Basically the last time I remember looking at the clock it said 5am.  Next thing I knew my alarm was ringing.

I know how you're supposed to make to-do lists and do something calm before going to sleep so your mind isn't racing with a million thoughts all night.  And how you should do like 45 min of exercise at one point during the day.  But none of that mattered after my 2 week stint of being on "spring break time."  And I was so worried about sleeping, that I just couldn't sleep.

Anyways, it's now 9pm and my eyes are burning and I'm preparing to try to pass out.  I was just googling the things I should have (and very easily could have) done last night to remedy my situation.  I had a perfectly willing-to-help husband who didn't have to work today, and he could have drawn me a lavender bath and made me a cup of chamomile tea to drink while relaxing and listening to Enya, and then given me a lavender oil massage.  Ahhh that sounds like heaven.  Why didn't I think of any of this last night??  I think those things could have definitely helped.  Oh well...I made another board to help me remember this for next time I get the insomnia bug.  Just looking at these images is making me sleepy now...

Board #1: Kiwi

Every week my husband and I try to pick a different "fruit of the week" in order to get a little variety in our grocery shopping.  This week we bought kiwis...and I decided to do inspiration boards to get pumped up about food...so here's my first one for kiwi.

Kiwi is extra special because I actually just started eating kiwi for the first time about 3 months ago.  Yep, I went 28 years without eating a kiwi.  Why? Because I didn't like the way kiwi flavored candy tasted, so I assumed the real fruit was gross too.  Then, 3 months ago I felt a UTI coming on so I went to my husband's shop to see if I could get some cranberry juice.  One of the girls who works there suggested kiwis since they are also a good food to eat when you have a UTI.  I was never aware of this!  Well, the girl had already cut up some kiwi and put it on a plate for me and I didn't want to look like an asshole so I stuck a little teaspoon into the soft, furry fruit, scooped out a little green chunk, and was totally....shocked. It was so delicious!  I really just couldn't believe how sweet and tasty it was.  I was so pissed at myself for avoiding these for so long.  What an idiot.  Needless to say, since then I have been buying a lot of kiwis (we also like to put them in the green smoothies!) Kiwis have become one of my favorite fruits actually.  Who would have guessed.  And after the kiwi, 100% pure cranberry juice (blargh) and different teas, I prevented a UTI! The very next day I felt better again.  Insane.

Top row from left: chocolate covered kiwi pops, kiwi fruit cupcakes
Row 2: kiwi and hazelnut spread crepes, kiwi coladas
Row 3: kiwis, kiwi sorbet