Under Pressure

Posted by Yoga Bynum

I’m scattered. I haven’t been on top of things the way I’d like to be. I wish I could say that I haven’t been on top of things the way I usually am, but let’s be honest. Organized Me is a constant work in progress.

Hubby is traveling again for work, so we begin the “two weeks on, two weeks off” dance anew. He was home for six months, so I’d forgotten what solo parenting duty was like. Getting three ladies dressed and out the door every morning is much easier with a little help.

Our daycare closed unexpectedly a few months back, and we couldn’t find a single place that could take both the girls. Lil Ma is at a daycare not too far from home, and Mini Me is in her school’s aftercare program. Both close at 6 p.m., and both have dollar-a-minute late fees. I work 35 minutes away and can’t get out the door before 5:15. A fortune in late fees seems inevitable.

Work is ramping up too. New projects are coming in daily, which is a great problem to have, unless, of course, there aren’t enough people to get them all done. I’m flitting from task to task with little time to give my best self to any one project. I squeezed in two business trips last week, and I nearly missed a family event because of it.

And then, there are the gnats. I have been over every inch of this house, and I can’t figure out where those little pests are coming from. Vinegar, you say? I’ve caught nothing more than a few specks of dust.

My shoulders are up to my earlobes (again). My jaw aches. I’ve had a few moments where I felt my heart racing. My doctor put me on a 24-hour monitor to check for issues. Thankfully, he found none.

Something I heard at church this past Sunday reminded me to calm down. One of the deacons gave a short inspirational message that ended with this: “Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional.”

Deacon H is tall, lean, and quiet. He speaks just above a whisper, and I’ve never seen him be anything less than jovial. Even when his family was in the midst of tragedy, he remained unchanged. His message Sunday was a glimpse into the faith that calms his spirit.

Allowing the nits and gnats of life to wreck havoc on my body is totally unacceptable. I’m taking a lesson from Deacon H and placing faith and my focus where it matters. Plus, Hubby may be out of town, but that doesn’t mean I’m all alone. My dad and stepmom agreed to pick up Mini Me each afternoon, and they’ll get both girls once a week so I can go to yoga.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever meet the Organized Me of my dreams. The Walking-By-Faith Me? She sounds a lot more appealing, and I’m striving to meet her soon rather than later.

Five Minutes for Dinner: Fried Egg Sandwich

Posted by Yoga Bynum

Happy Friday!

I won’t spend a lot of time talking about my past relationship with eggs. Let’s just say we’re in a much better place now. When I need a quick meal for myself or hubby, my latest go-to is a fried egg sandwich. (The kids have yet to get on board, but I haven’t given up hope.)

My favorite rendition is a toasted English muffin with strawberry jam and spinach. I know this is weird, but I love it anyway. Hubby puts his egg atop a pile of bacon and cheese.

I recently learned how to fry an egg without it getting rubbery. These tips made the difference.

Buy a good skillet. This is the first step in pretty much any recipe I talk about, but I can’t stress enough the importance of quality cookware. It’s means you get a whole egg on your plate instead of leaving half of it stuck to the pan.
Use medium-high heat. When the burner is too high, the edges get crispy before the rest of the egg is done. I’m not a fan of crunchy eggs.
Oil, water and cover. You’ll need a little oil or butter, depending on the type of pan you use. I mist my skillet with olive oil. Once you drop in the egg, add a tablespoons of water and cover. The steam will cook the egg in just a couple of minutes.

Here’s a pic of my finished product. I’d love to hear about your quick and easy meals!

Like Mother, Like Daughter: Arm Candy

Posted by Yoga Bynum

I’ve created a monster.

Mini Me is an artist. She attacks every new project with a vigor I sometimes wish she’d use for cleaning her room. Her artistic endeavors can last for a few hours, or they can drag on for days. While she is in the midst of these spells, homework, chores and occasionally dinner, fall by the wayside.

Sound familiar? (See post on the fallout from my writing challenge.)

Her latest obsession is jewelry making. Sparkle and shine are close to my eight-year-old’s heart. So when I came with a bag full of colorful beads, I was prepared for her to be lost for a few days.

One weekend afternoon, we each made three bracelets. Then I left Mini Me to her own devices. Over the next week, she made 10 more. I doubt she’s done.

In addition to being prolific, my eight year old is also proud. She has no problem wearing her entire collection at once and explaining the placement of each and every bead. I’ve had to remind her on several school mornings that “less is more.” I said this, of course, as I piled on my own array of arm candy.

What I was not prepared for was the note I received from Mini Me’s teacher, Mrs. J.

“[The jewelry] is quite a distraction to her, her classmates, and me. She is constantly playing with the jewelry. Peers have told her it is a distraction. I have taken jewelry from her, but nothing seems to be working.”

I looked down at my arm after I read the note. I had on this:

And this:

I couldn’t help but laugh. That night, I had to put the chuckles aside and talk with Mini Me about the note.

“Why are you playing with your bracelets in class?” I pointed to the pile of rainbow and sparkle on the kitchen table.

“I’m not playing,” she said. “I’m arranging them.”

“Arranging them how? And why?”

“They’re so pretty, and you can wear them in different patterns.” She picked up a few and started to demonstrate her point.

I thought back to a conference call I took earlier that day. While a group disagreed about a deadline, I twirled blue beads around my wrist. Perhaps maintaing focus was something we could both improve.

I explained that while fashion and jewelry are fun, there is a time and and place for it. That place is not the middle of class or on a conference call.

Mini Me nodded, but I don’t think she was convinced. For now, though, we’ll reserve arm candy for the weekend.

My Fashion Fear: Patterned Pants

Posted by Yoga Bynum

I’ve spent a good amount of time living in fear of colored and patterned pants. My phobia stems from the 90s, a time when bright baggy pants ruled the day. Sure, we thought we were fly back then, but the 20/20 vision of hindsight tells another story. I for one, looked like a clown.

I decided to give colored pants another try at the worst possible moment: when I was five months pregnant. Desperate to find a comfortable pair of pants while on a week-long business trip, I wandered into a J.Crew and met the Minnie. If you haven’t been introduced, you should make their acquaintance. The 21st-century version of colored pants focus on a slimming fit, which cuts the clown factor to nil.

I picked up a two pairs of Minnies, one in black, and the other in flame, a red-orange color that bordered on day glow. I took them back a week later. I wasn’t ready.

After Lil Ma was born, I found these lovely tone-on-tone florals at Target. The fit is great, and I can pair them with a jacket and tee to make them work appropriate.

Fear conquered. I now LOVE colored and patterned pants. They add a fun layer to my wardrobe. I even went back to J. Crew for the flame pants. You can see how that turned out here.

What is your fashion fear?

September Goal: Balance

Posted by Yoga Bynum

The first week of September is already in the rear-view mirror. A last-minute trip to Tennessee and an overloaded work schedule left me with little time to write.

Last month, my dedication to the #31writenow challenge took too much of my attention. Now I’m trying to avoid the other extreme by ignoring writing completely.

So, I thought it wise to jot down a few goals for this month. Sharing them will help me focus and keep me honest.

Post two-three times per week. Before #31writenow, I had trouble meeting this goal. But after writing something every day for a month, a couple of times a week doesn’t seem that bad.

Return to yoga. (again) Similar to my relationship with writing, Yoga and I are either all in or all out. Missing one day will have me off the wagon for months. I signed up for an after-work yoga class that starts Monday. Hopefully, it will get me back on track.

Be an early riser. My love of sleep and the coziness of my bed are the main reasons I often skip yoga. I know good and well that the morning (before the kids rise) is my best opportunity for practice. I also know I feel much more with-it and focused when I spent 15 minutes on yoga and meditation.

Plan tomorrow plus two. Time Management guru Julie Morgenstern recommends ending each day with a review of tomorrow’s agenda plus the two days beyond. When I heed this advice, I start the day feeling prepared. Plus, it helps curb missed appointments.

I’ll keep you updated as the month progresses, but feel free to offer up a swift kick in the rear if I fail to do so.

What tips do you have for maintaining balance?