Confessions of Winter Blues

 ❆Good winter evening, blog friends 🤍

Let’s talk about how this season really makes us feel.

I don’t know about you, but the cold, gray heaviness of winter has me feeling a bit blah. My nose feels stuffy and dry, my head off and on as cloudy as the sky outside. Some days I feel like a seed buried deep beneath layers of ice-cold snow—alive, but waiting. Waiting for warmth. Waiting for light.

Some days I fantasize about being a bear and hibernating this entire season away. Other days, I seriously consider packing up all my things and moving south where it’s warm.

WAIT… I can’t do that.
Even the south was cold this week!

Well… not really. I have a friend in Florida who said it was 84 degrees and sunny. I was very tempted to go have a sleepover. I mean, it’s only 16 hours away… I could be there tomorrow, Destiny 😊

Honestly, the biggest thing stopping me from becoming a snowbird
(Snowbird: one who leaves everything up NORTH behind and travels SOUTH for winter)
is the fact that I don’t have a job that allows me to take six months off just so I don’t freeze to death—or slowly deplete my mental health.
Ugh. How rude.

MAYBE… if we all group together, start blogs, and support one another, we can all go south for winter?
Just a thought.
HAHA.

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I don’t know about you, but when the winter blues start rolling in, I start dreaming big. I dream hard. Loud. Sometimes so intensely it makes me emotional.

Winter has a way of doing that—making you question whether your dreams are achievable at all. A lot of it depends on how much serotonin you’re getting versus how much cortisol you’ve been swimming in. For me, it can go either way. I can feel completely hopeless… or wildly ambitious and anxious to start everything because suddenly I feel like I’ve figured out the entire world.

Funny how the seasons can play with our brains like that, isn’t it?

Today, I feel somewhere in the middle.

I know the dreams and goals I carry, but my mind wants everything to move faster than it should. I want to find the perfect property to build our Seasons of Life campground so I can finally meet all of you there. I want to start building our two-story straw bale cob house, feel the warmth of a wood stove radiating through the walls, and breathe air that feels gentle on my body.

I want to step outside in the morning to feed my chickens, steward the land beneath my feet, and watch the sun sink into the hills from a balcony—tea in hand—made from herbs grown right there at home. I imagine paths winding through trees, quiet moments where time slows, and a life that feels rooted, warm, and intentional.

Ahhh… the season of longing.

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Right now, we are in the season of winter—and I am in the mental season of longing.
I’m also in a very real life season of becoming a grandma.

My 18-year-old daughter is almost five months pregnant with my very first grandbaby. While I wish she had waited a bit longer, I’m incredibly excited to kiss that sweet little face, spoil them endlessly, and be fully present for my daughter and my soon-to-be son-in-law.

Still… I thought I would be farther along in life than I am right now.

Does anyone else ever feel this way?

That realization can make my “feel-good” chemicals dip pretty low some days. It can make me feel like a failure. I imagined welcoming my first grandbaby into my forever home—but I haven’t even found my forever property yet. That part of the dream still feels years away.

And some days, that’s hard.

---

So I want to ask you:
What helps you calm down and comfort yourself during seasons like this?

We all need a little extra self-care right now.

Lately, my comforts have been warm tea or coffee, reading, and staying home—away from crowds that are probably just as grouchy as I am this time of year. I’ve been reading The Brain Fog Fix and Think Big, and honestly, having the space to just be has helped more than I realized.

I’m grateful I only work four days a week—it gives me time to rest, reflect, and refill my cup.

Now it’s your turn 🤍
I’ve spilled my guts to you—what season of life are you in right now?

FREE LIST: FOOD YOU EAT MATTERS - Consume Color

                                                    SICK OF BEING SICK

     I am putting together a list of the foods we need, based on all the health benefits they offer to our bodies. As we are going through the season of winter, everyone around us is getting sick. I have been trying to avoid it all winter, and thankfully have managed to (knock on wood) I was putting together my shopping list last night (with 3 kiddos, you have to shop regularly unless you do bulk) I came across something about we should eat the rainbow! That intriqued me, i am a gardener, so i know that our food comes in all different colors. But did you know that the colors actually matter, and they interact with our bodies to help all of our different systems? I kind of knew this.. but after doing some research, i found out just how important it is to make sure that we have all the colors in our diet, at least once a month, i want to aim for once a week though! 

    Personally, my diet has been SO BLAND lately. With work, kids, and taking care of the house and animals.. it has ben hard to think about HEALTH!! Something that i am so worried about and i havent even been considering what i have been giving our bodies to work with!! That seemed so crazy to me that i completely missed that important step! I mean, oh course when i shop, i check the ingredient lables of everything we have and if i cant pronounce it, i dont usually buy it. But.. when i put meals together, i havent thought about consuming the right amount of nutrients!! Just last night, all i made was cucumber salad and turkey sandwhiches. Which sure.. that sounds great, but in the grand scheme of things.. i realized, that is all i had eaten ALL DAY!! i had so many wasted hours go by (thanks to working in the mental health field and being super busy helping other) I forgot about myself!! We cant do that Yall!! We have to worry about ourselves as well!! So, i am taking it upon myself to ensure that me and my family are at least giving it a huge A in Effort to get some COLOR into our diets!! The kids go to school for breakfast and lunch, so i mainly just get to be in charge of supper. For me, i need to get my breakfast and lunch more colorful, and i need to teach my kids to stay away from the sugary breakfast choices (like that will happen LOL) I am going to paste a KEY down below, of the research i have been doing. Its a list of the colors we should be consuming! I have taken it upon myself to do all this work.. and then create some colorful pages i can add to my refrigerator, as a constant reminder of what i need to shop for, and prepare for dinner! I will have these available on ETSY, soon as I get around to completing them! :) Here is my list.. it's free and it's yours!! Lets get healthy! Shopping list included!!! 

                                      “Color on my plate= nourishment in my body”

                                                                RED FOODS

                                   Heart, blood, Immune, Circulation, Inflammation

Why does RED Matter?

Red foods contain (Lycopene & anthocyanins. They:

Support heart health, improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, support immune defense.

Vegetables:

Tomatoes, red bell peppers, beets, radishes, red cabbage

Fruits:

Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, cranberries, red apples

Starches/legumes:

Red potatoes, kidney beans

BEST: Beets (Blood flow, liver support. Red cabbage (gut +antioxidants)

Don’t overdue: Tomatoes (can worsen reflux) Fruits (Can spike blood sugar)

BALANCE TIP: Always pair with a protein or a healthy fat 

 

ORANGE FOODS

Vision, skin, Immunity, cellular/tissue repair

Why does ORANGE matter?

Orange foods are rich in beta-carotene and carotenoids they:

Convert to vitamin A, support eye health, strengthen immunity, support skin and tissue repair.

Vegetables:

Carrots, butternut squash, pumpkin, orange bell peppers

Fruits:

Oranges, tangerines, mango, papaya, apricots

Starches:

Sweet potatoes

BEST: Carrots (easy, versatile, gentle) Sweet potatoes (nutrient-dense, grounding)

Don’t Overdue: Sweet potatoes daily in large amounts- can spike blood sugar, Fruit only meals= hard crash later on.

Its all about BALANCE: Add healthy fat (REAL butter and olive oil)

 

                                                            YELLOW FOODS

Digestion, Liver, Nervous system

Why does YELLOW matter?

Yellow food supports:

Digestion, detox pathways (especially liver), nervous system signaling

Vegetables:

Yellow squash, yellow bell peppers, corn

Fruits:

Bananas, pineapple, lemons, yellow apples

Starches:

Corn, millet, polenta

BEST: Yellow squash (light, hydrating) Lemons (support digestion when used moderately)

DON’T overdue: Corn (low fiber, inflammatory for some) Bananas (Can cause constipation if eaten too much)

BALANCE TIP: combine with greens.

 

                        GREEN FOODS

The most important

                         Detox, Minerals, Hormones, gut health

 

Why GREEN matters?

GREEN food is rich in: Magnesium, iron, chlorophyll, fiber... What does that do?  That feeds the microbiome (in our gut) Supports our liver Detox, regulates our hormones and reduces Inflammation – which most other food causes.

Leafy greens:

Spinach, Kale, Swiss chard, collards, arugula

Other vegetables:

Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, green beans, asparagus, zucchini, cucumbers

Fruits:

Avocado, green apples, kiwi,

Starches/ legumes:

Peas, lentils

# If you are low- energy, anxious, constipated or inflamed- greens are usually missing.

BEST DAILY: Broccoli (fiber + detox), Spinach (magnesium + Iron), Zucchini (easy digestion), Green beans (Gentle fiber)

Don’t Overdue: Raw Greens too much= Bloating. Too much kale daily=thyroid stress (rotate them)

BALANCE TIP: mix raw + cooked greens!

 

                                                       PURPLE / BLUE FOODS

                                            Brain, aging, cellular protection

Why Do PURPLE and BLUE matter?

The are rich in Antioxidants that help:

Protect brain cells, slow cellular aging, support memory, reduce oxidative stress

Vegetables:

Purple cabbage, eggplant, purple carrots,

Fruits:

Blueberries, blackberries, plums, grapes (purple/red)

Starch:

Purple potatoes

BEST: Blueberries (low sugar, high benefit) Purple cabbage (gut + Longevity)

DON’T Overdue: Fruit- only intake = sugar load, Eggplant in excess = inflammatory for some.

BALANCE TIP: Use as sides, not the main course.

 

 

                                                            WHITE/ BROWN FOODS

                                             Gut, Immunity, Antimicrobial defense

Why white/brown matters?

These foods contain compounds that:

Fight harmful bacteria, support gut balance, strengthen immune response.

Vegetables:

Garlic, onions, leeks, cauliflower, turnips

Mushrooms (very important):

White button, cremini, portobello, shiitake

Starches:

Potatoes, parsnips

BEST: Garlic (small daily amounts), Mushrooms (immune + gut)

DON’T Overdue: Lareg amounts of onion/garlic= gas/bloating, white potatoes alone =blood sugar spike.

BALANCE TIP: pair with protein + healthy fat.

 

                                                                          BROWN FOODS

Energy, blood sugar stability, gut health fuel, grounding

Why BROWN matters?

Brown foods tend to be:

Fiber rich, grounding, stabilizing

 

Whole grains (If tolerated):

Brown rice, oats, quinoa, buckwheat

Legumes:

Lentils, pinto beans, black beans

BEST: Lentils (fiber + protein), Buckwheat (gluten-free, Mineral-rich)

DON’T Overdue: Grain-heavy meals = inflammation, Beans without soaking = gut distress

BALANCE TIP: Soak beans/ Grains before cooking

 

                                                              THE GOLDEN RULE

·       ROTATE FOODS- (kale for spinach, cooked for raw ETC)

·       FAVOR GREENS (The POWERHOUSE)

·       BALANCE STARCHES

·       Always pair plants with protein & Fats

 

SHOP FOR THE RAINBOW OF HEALTH

 

How to use this shopping list:

You do NOT need everything, every shopping trip.

Aim to check 1-2 items per color

Frozen counts just as much as fresh

Raw= fresh | Frozen = Backup

 

🟢 HEALTHY FATS (ESSENTIAL – BUY EVERY WEEK)

Pantry / Fridge

• ⬜ Olive oil (extra virgin)
• ⬜ Butter (grass-fed if possible)
• ⬜ Avocados
• ⬜ Coconut oil
• ⬜ Nuts (almonds, walnuts)
• ⬜ Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, chia)

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🌈 RAINBOW VEGETABLES & FRUITS

🔴 RED (Heart & circulation)

Fresh / Raw

• ⬜ Tomatoes
• ⬜ Red bell peppers
• ⬜ Beets
• ⬜ Red cabbage
• ⬜ Strawberries or apples

 

Frozen

• ⬜ Strawberries
• ⬜ Cherries

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🟠 ORANGE (Immunity & vision)

Fresh / Raw

• ⬜ Carrots
• ⬜ Sweet potatoes
• ⬜ Butternut squash
• ⬜ Oranges or mango

Frozen

• ⬜ Carrots
• ⬜ Squash

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🟡 YELLOW (Digestion & nervous system)

Fresh / Raw

• ⬜ Yellow squash
• ⬜ Yellow bell peppers
• ⬜ Lemons
• ⬜ Bananas

Frozen

• ⬜ Pineapple
• ⬜ Corn (use occasionally)

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🟢 GREEN (TOP PRIORITY – buy every week)

Fresh / Raw

• ⬜ Spinach
• ⬜ Broccoli
• ⬜ Zucchini
• ⬜ Green beans
• ⬜ Cucumbers
• ⬜ Avocados

Frozen (VERY IMPORTANT BACKUP)

• ⬜ Frozen spinach
• ⬜ Frozen broccoli
• ⬜ Frozen green beans

👉 If nothing else: buy greens.

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🔵🟣 BLUE / PURPLE (Brain & aging)

Fresh / Raw

• ⬜ Blueberries
• ⬜ Blackberries
• ⬜ Purple cabbage
• ⬜ Eggplant

Frozen

• ⬜ Blueberries
• ⬜ Mixed berries

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⚪ WHITE / BROWN (Gut & immunity)

Fresh / Raw

• ⬜ Garlic
• ⬜ Onions
• ⬜ Cauliflower
• ⬜ Mushrooms
• ⬜ Potatoes

Frozen

• ⬜ Cauliflower florets

 

🟤 STARCHES & LEGUMES (ROTATE, DON’T OVERDO)

Pantry

• ⬜ Lentils
• ⬜ Black beans or pinto beans
• ⬜ Brown rice
• ⬜ Quinoa
• ⬜ Oats
• ⬜ Buckwheat

Frozen

• ⬜ Peas

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🧠 MICROBIOME SUPPORT (OPTIONAL BUT POWERFUL)

• ⬜ Sauerkraut or fermented veggies
• ⬜ Plain yogurt or kefir
• ⬜ Apple cider vinegar
• ⬜ Herbal teas (chamomile, peppermint, ginger)

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🥩 SIMPLE PROTEIN (TO PAIR WITH VEGGIES)

(You didn’t ask, but this helps balance blood sugar)

• ⬜ Eggs
• ⬜ Chicken
• ⬜ Turkey
• ⬜ Fish (salmon, sardines)
• ⬜ Beans / lentils (already listed)

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🧩 EASY WEEKLY RULE

✔ Greens every week
✔ 1–2 colors per meal
✔ Healthy fat with meals
✔ Frozen veggies = success, not failure

Your tired, no need to explain!

 

You Don’t Need to Explain Why You’re Tired

Somehow, being tired has become something we have to defend.

We’re expected to explain why we’re exhausted.
To prove it makes sense.
To list the reasons so our rest feels justified.

But exhaustion isn’t a courtroom case.

You don’t need to explain why you’re tired.

You don’t need a diagnosis.
You don’t need a dramatic story.
You don’t need to convince anyone that your fatigue is real.

Sometimes you’re tired because you’ve been doing your best for a long time.
Sometimes you’re tired because life hasn’t slowed down enough for you to catch your breath.
Sometimes you’re tired for reasons you can’t even put into words yet.

And that’s okay.

You don’t owe anyone productivity to earn rest.
You don’t owe anyone an explanation for needing space.
You don’t owe anyone access to your energy.

If you’re the kind of person who:

• Pushes through even when you’re depleted

• Feels guilty for saying no

• Minimizes your own needs

• Tries to stay “strong” so others don’t worry

Then this message is for you.

Being tired doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you’re human.

And it’s allowed to be enough.

You are allowed to rest without defending yourself.
You are allowed to be quiet without needing to apologize.
You are allowed to take care of yourself without explaining why.

Let this be your permission slip.

You have a safe space here — and an understanding friend with me.

You're Not Lazy!

 

               You’re Not Lazy — You’re Carrying Too Much

    If you’ve been calling yourself lazy lately, pause for a moment.

Lazy doesn’t feel like this.

Lazy doesn’t feel like wanting to do things but having no energy left.

Lazy doesn’t feel like your brain never shuts off, even when your body does.

Lazy doesn’t feel like guilt for resting.

What you’re feeling is weight.

You’ve been carrying responsibilities, emotions, expectations, memories, and survival instincts for a long time. Some of it is visible. Most of it isn’t.

You still show up.
You still care.
You still try.

That alone tells me you’re not lazy.

You’re overloaded.

When your nervous system has been in “keep going” mode for too long, your body eventually pulls the emergency brake. Motivation drops. Focus disappears. Simple tasks feel impossible. And instead of asking, “What am I carrying?” you ask, “What’s wrong with me?”

Nothing is wrong with you.

Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like scrolling instead of starting. Sitting instead of moving. Needing more rest than you think you’re allowed to have.

Especially if you’re the kind of person who:

• Was strong at a young age

• Had to grow up fast

• Learned to put your needs last

• Became the dependable one

Your exhaustion makes sense.

You weren’t built to carry everything forever.

And here’s the part no one says out loud:
Rest isn’t a reward for productivity. It’s a requirement for being human.

You don’t need to “get it together.”
You don’t need more discipline.
You don’t need to shame yourself into motion.

You need gentleness.
You need space to set something down.
You need permission to stop treating exhaustion like a personal failure.

If today all you can do is breathe and be, that’s enough.
If your pace looks slower than it used to, that doesn’t mean you’re falling behind — it means you’re healing.

You are not lazy.
You are carrying too much.

And here, you don’t have to carry it alone.

 Stay a while.

Do you have Emotional Exhaustion?

 

This Is What Emotional Exhaustion Actually Feels Like

Emotional exhaustion doesn’t always announce itself.

It doesn’t always look like crying on the floor or falling apart in public. Most of the time, it’s much quieter than that.

It feels like needing rest but not knowing what kind.
It feels like wanting space but missing people at the same time.
It feels like caring deeply — and also feeling strangely numb.

You might still be functioning.
You might still be responsible.
You might still be doing what needs to be done.

But inside, something feels… thin.

Conversations take more effort than they used to.
Small decisions feel overwhelming.
Noise, questions, and expectations feel heavier than normal.

You’re not dramatic.
You’re not weak.
You’re not “too sensitive.”

You’re emotionally tired.

Emotional exhaustion often shows up when you’ve been:

• Holding things together for a long time

• Supporting others while neglecting yourself

• Suppressing feelings so you can keep functioning

• Living in survival mode without realizing it

At some point, your nervous system runs out of spare capacity.

So instead of big emotions, you feel flat.
Instead of motivation, you feel resistance.
Instead of sadness, you feel fog.

And the hardest part? You might not feel “bad enough” to justify rest — so you keep pushing.

But emotional exhaustion isn’t a failure.
It’s a signal.

A signal that you’ve been strong longer than was fair.
A signal that your inner world needs care, not criticism.
A signal that something inside you is asking to slow down.

You don’t need to hit rock bottom to deserve gentleness.
You don’t need to explain why you’re tired.
You don’t need permission to take emotional space.

If this feels familiar, let this be your reminder:

What you’re feeling makes sense.
You are not imagining it.
And you are not alone in it.

Stay here as long as you need.

You can have a safe space and an understanding friend with me!

Live a long healthy life!!!

11 RULES for Living a Long, Healthy, Young Life

Follow these daily (or as much as possible), and you’ll add YEARS to your life.

# 1️⃣ Never stop managing stress — stress is the #1 ager

Chronic stress destroys collagen, hormones, and vital organs.

Your healing journey? Your boundaries? The peace you’re choosing?

**This is what adds YEARS to your life.**

Daily stress reducers:

* 10 min quiet alone in the morning

* slow breathing

* warm tea

* journaling

* saying “no” without guilt

* stepping away from drama

* nature walks

# 2️⃣ Walk 30–60 minutes a day (THE LONGEVITY SECRET)

People in long-life areas walk EVERY DAY.

Not hard workouts — *walking*.

Walking lowers inflammation, belly fat, disease, AND aging speed.

Do this:

✔ 30 min walk daily OR

✔ 10 min after meals

# 3️⃣ Eat like a Blue Zone queen

These are the longest-living people in the world.

Eat more:

* beans (black, pinto, lentils)

* veggies

* berries

* nuts & seeds

* olive oil

* sweet potatoes

* whole grains

* herbal teas

* fish (2–3x/week)

Eat less:

* fried food

* red meat

* processed food

* sugar

* alcohol

* soda

Your new motto:

**“Mostly plants, sometimes treats.”**

# 4️⃣ Sleep like your life depends on it (because it does)

7–9 hours.

Deep sleep heals your brain, skin, metabolism, emotions, and organs.

Night routine:

* low lights

* no screens 30 minutes before bed

* magnesium (this helps so much)

* warm shower

* soft music

* cool room

* comfortable bedding

# 5️⃣ Keep your body at a stable weight

We’re not talking about being thin.

We’re talking about **stable**.

Weight that goes way up & down = inflammation.

Even being 10–20 lbs above ideal is fine IF you're stable.

# 6️⃣ Drink water all day — not soda

Water keeps your organs clean, brain sharp, and skin youthful.

Soda, energy drinks, and sugary coffee age the body faster.

Aim for 70–90 oz/day.

# 7️⃣ Lift something twice a week

Muscle = longevity.

Women lose muscle after 30 → leads to weakness, brittle bones, wrinkles, and metabolism crash.

Quick routine (2 days/week):

* 10 squats

* 10 lunges

* 10 glute bridges

* 10 push-ups (or wall pushups)

* 15 min total

That's it.

# 8️⃣ Stay emotionally healthy + connected

People with good relationships live longer.

But also:

* let go of toxic people

* seek peace over chaos

* choose love over stress

* maintain purpose

* talk about feelings

* build meaning

# 9️⃣ Minimal alcohol

Alcohol = faster aging, gut issues, sleep issues.

You don’t have to cut it out, but limit to:

* 1 drink occasionally

* never more than 2 per setting

* hydrate before & after

# 🔟 Keep dopamine healthy

Slow-aging brains require *balanced* dopamine.

Do more:

* reading

* nature

* creating

* building goals

* helping people

* laughing

* love/connection

Do less:

* doom scrolling

* TikTok overstimulation

* getting pulled into drama

11. Take longevity supplements (the right ones)

Do your research!!! Natural, no fillers!! I'll go over this more in detail in future blogs!

 BONUS: Beauty + Anti-Aging Rules

You’ll love these because they work:

✔ Never sleep on your face

✔ Use silk pillowcases

✔ Use sunscreen on face, neck, chest daily

✔ Hydrate your skin nightly

✔ Take collagen

✔ Reduce sugar (collagen killer)

✔ Avoid tanning & sunburns

✔ Try to stay happy — it shows in your skin

✔ Moisturize your neck even more than your face

✔ Stay in love (love increases healthy hormones)

LIVE A LONGGGGG HEALTHY LIFE!!!