That overwhelming feeling

Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed. I'm not sure why, but when it happens, it takes a toll on my body. Today I'm feeling under the weather. Something similar happened back in June when I was under some stress as well.

This time however, I feel like my 'stress' is more self-inflicted. I don't need to feel stressed, but I am. Here's why (I think):

• I've been fighting allergies for a while now. Despite my previous attempts to quell them, they are still sometimes there, it's getting really tiring. I'm now waiting to get in to see an allergist. However, my family doctor's 'favourite allergist' also happens to be the busiest one in town, she tells me. Great. I get to wait months. In the mean time, I'm loading up with lots of natural sources of antihistamines, including quercetin and vitamin C and hope that it quells the symptoms somewhat.

• School is back in session and despite my greatest efforts, I feel behind already. I know I'm really not, but I feel like I should be further ahead in my readings. 

• Weekends are too short. To get everything I want to do done has become an impossibility. Before I know it, it's always Sunday night. This weekend I've made a list of what I'd like to accomplish, but now I don't know where to start! 

I know I need order to stay stress-free. I feel my life is lacking some of that order right now and I find it hard to deal with. Or maybe I just need to find an organization project, because often that does the trick.

But I can't just sit here and write about how stressed I'm feeling without doing something about it. So, let's just git'er done! I know if I can get through most of my list I'll feel a lot better. I'm also taking on another challenge starting Monday. The ever fabulous Fab Detox, put on by the very lovely Meghan Telpner. The last time I took part in this detox, I felt the best I have in a while. I'm hoping to get similiar results this time around, but preparation is going to be key! I need to get my kitchen in order! My very top priority for Sunday -- groceries and meal prep! That's how to eat well and stay sane -- it's all about preparation. And I can do it.

So let's forget about feeling sorry for ourselves and get our bums moving -- because it's going to be great. Better if my nose would stop running... but conquering the list, will conquer the stress, and hopefully conquer the nasal leakage!

I feel better already.

Speaking of feeling better, my family was blessed with a beautiful addition this week. Evan William Perry entered the world at 9:30 p.m. in Edmonton on Sunday evening. He's a doll. I love him and I've not yet met him. His cute as a button face now occupies the home screen on my phone. And whenever I feel I need to smile, I reach for my phone and I look at his most perfect face: his bright blue eyes (who I see a lot of my brother and dad in), his little smirk, his wee ears and his hand in a fist looking ready for a punch and I can't help but smile. True love, I tell you, true love.

Detoxing, fabulously

I've been absent... Life took over. If I wasn't at work, I was at school, studying for school or sleeping. That's been my life for the last few weeks. Things are on the up and up now though. Some big assignments for school are behind me, so a bit more free time. Hurray!

As I mentioned in my last post (that seems oh so long ago), I made some major changes to my diet over the last few weeks. But the best news is, that I'm having great success! My allergies have piped down a lot and my digestion has never been better! I still have room for improvement, but things are heading in the right direction – so that makes me smile (a lot).

I've been getting some interesting reactions when people find out what I've eliminated from my diet: "so where do you get your protein? your calcium?" My response... uh... plants, some grains and some meat. There is still SO MUCH I can eat that I'm not finding it overly cumbersome. Eating out, on the other hand can be a bit of an issue sometimes... ah well, I'm likely saving way more money by eating mostly at home anyway.

Last weekend, amidst the craziness, I was in Toronto for the weekend visiting friends and relatives. But the real reason for going this particular weekend was to attend a couple of workshops with the lovely Meghan Telpner! One of the workshops I attended was based on her successful Fab Uplift Detox program. Included in the price was also registration into her coached Fab Uplift Detox program that started this past Monday.

This detox is so timely to what I'm going through right now with food allergies/sensitivities and I thought it would be a great "reboot" button for my body. And so far so good! The first four days weren't a big change from the way I currently eat -- just cutting out the meat (which there wasn't tonnes of to begin with), so I didn't see big changes, but Friday marked the start of the real deal leading up to a juice and smoothie fasting for a day, which from my calendar looks like it will fall on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to it and feeling great thus far.

I hope to post a few more times about some of the things I'm eating and how I'm feeling so you can follow along and maybe join in next time, but also for myself, so I can look back and see how far I've come.

Enjoy the ride. I know I will.

First Day of School, Part 2

Back in March I wrote here about my first day of school after enrolling at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition's Ottawa Branch. I was so pumped to get started learning about this wonderful world of holistic nutrition. And then I had to stop for a bit -- not my choice. It's a long story and completely uninteresting. But to summarize, I got to complete two courses (about 24 hours worth of class time) and since then I've been on a hiatus.

Until today, that is! Today I start back. And I'm as pumped as I was on the first day. In fact, possibly more excited as my feet got wet during the spring and I know with all my being that this is going to be the right field of work for me. I'm beyond passionate about it.

But you probably know that already too, because if you've been reading along with me here, here and here, oh and here and here too, you'll have realized my passion for yourselves.

P.S. I'm a crazy organizer, I spend a lot of time organizing my life. School, to me, is just as fun to organize. Staples is my friend. As is the coolest bright green laptop bag/brief case-y thing I found this summer. And so is Microsoft's One Note. I got a new computer earlier this year and once I found One Note as part of the Microsoft Office package, I fell in love. It's an organizing, school-going girl's dream come true!

P.P.S. I know I'm crazy and a big nerd. I've come to terms with it. You should too. ;)

Easter weekend round-up

Happy belated Easter weekend to all! We spent the better part of the weekend in Georgetown, Guelph and Acton, Ontario visiting great friends and family. What a better way to spend the holiday! I got to spend lots of time with my newest little cousin, Kaden, who is now a whopping 9 months old and so much fun. Thanks to all who made my weekend spectacular. Love to all xoxo.

We also made a little side trip to Oakville because I wanted to visit their Whole Foods Market. What a beautiful store. We're getting on here in Ottawa in a few years. My review: Gorgeous and delicious food. The prepared food was so unbelievably appetizing it was hard to pick. Their cheese selection was superb as well. Lots of taste testing of products. However, you can find just about everything they sell already in Ottawa, you just may have to visit several stores to get it! Their dry goods could be mostly found at Loblaws in their Natural Value section. Good organic meats can be found at Farm Boy or Sasloves. And all the rest, including supplements, health and body care, and other dry goods can be found at great natural foods stores including Rainbow Foods and Natural Food Pantry. I will also note that their prices were more expensive than Loblaws pricing for the items that are carried there. Still a fun trip!

Today back to studying as my first course in my holistic nutrition program is wrapping up this week and I have two tests to study for. Back at it...

P.S. sorry for the lack of photos. I've got to get better at taking them. I've never been much of a photographer, but blogs without photos are boring, I know...

First day of school!

Well, yesterday was my first day of school. And it's been a long time since I've said that! So as many of you know as I alluded to it in previous posts, I made a decision back in January/February to enroll at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition to pursue getting the Registered Holistic Nutritionist designation.

 Three words: I LOVED IT!

There's no doubt, it's going to take work, it's not going to be an easy ride. But excited, that I am. I have to take 17 courses, pretty much back to back for the next two years. In addition, I have to fulfill at least 50 practicum hours, complete 12 case studies, and of course, pass the final exam. Oh and last but certainly not least, all the while keeping a minimum of an 80% average.

I have to read a little more into the case studies, but from what I understand I have to find 12 people to be my guinea pigs!If you're interested let me know! But alas, I can't start any of my case studies until I finish certain courses, so that means not until at least July, but probably more like September.

Stay tuned folks, it's going to be a fun ride.

Weekend recap

We've all had weekends where we felt productive, right? This weekend was one of those for me.

On Saturday I had a great day of catching up with a couple friends that I haven't seen in a while. Lunch with B was lovely and dinner and movie with R was equally great. In a city where I have no family it is beyond comforting to know that I have such a great family of friends.

Today was a great day and I barely left the house. For me, stress, or what my brains notes as chaos, presents itself when things aren't in order. I love and feel comforted when everything in my home is in its place. During the week, chaos generally ensues and sometimes I don't always have the time on the weekend to tidy up, but this weekend I did -- I had an entire day (and a bit of time on Saturday too), I accomplished a lot!

• Filed my taxes
• Paid all my outstanding bills
• Cleaned up every room in the house and removed and put away everything that didn't belong or that was out of place
• Ironed a pile of clothes that might have been hanging around and slowly growing for literally weeks (i.e., more than a month)
• Tidied and cleaned the kitchen - the most chaos reducing part of it all! The only thing I could have done more would have been to remove everything from the pantry cupboard and reorganize it
• Cleaned the bathrooms
• Vacuumed the entire house
• Cleaned the hard-surfaced floors
• Did 7 loads of laundry! Clothes, bed sheets, and some other odd and ends that needed a run through the washer
• Bought groceries for the week

Ahhhh... chaos reduced! All it took was a whole day (and a bit) of work. Granted this isn't possible every weekend, but it always feels good when I do have the time.

On the agenda for next weekend: school supplies shopping! Woohoo! I'm starting my 2-year part-time program for Registered Holistic Nutrition on Wednesday, March 23rd. So excited!!! Also next weekend is the BF's birthday, so will have to make some plans for that as well! Good times ahead. Now just to get through these next 5 days in between...

Happy week, all!

Finding passions

So for the last few weeks, but really for the last few years, I've been thinking that I'm working in a field that doesn't energize and excite me. I wrote a little more about how I got to this point last week. But after some serious thinking and talking to a few people I trust completely, my plan is to enroll in the Registered Holistic Nutrition program at the Canada School for Natural Nutrition.

I know what you're thinking. What? Holy crap Raeanne, that seems totally out of left-field. But, actually if you know me well enough, it isn't so out in left-field and actually much closer to my heart. It actually fits quite well with my personality traits where I would be best-suited to be an educator or help people in some way. Over the last ten years I've become increasingly interested in holistic health practices to prevent and cure long term disease and food allergies/intolerance. Recently I've read stories about people who have cured themselves of digestive disorders through what they put into their mouths. I find this incredibly fascinating.

So with some Google searches and some testimonials from recent grads, I found the Canada School of Natural Nutrition which has schools all across the country, including one in Ottawa. However, they also offer distance education. The program is either one year or two depending on how much time you have, I suppose. So now the only decision I have to make is whether to do distance ed (which I've heard good reviews) or whether I'd want to go to school in person one evening per week. I guess I have to decide what learning style best fits me. If all goes as planned I hope to begin my studies in March, part-time while continuing to work at my full-time job.

I can't express how pumped I am about all this. I hope that I have found my passion.