little changes...

this week has been a quiet week & i am so thankful. i've been able to make time to not do anything but relax, breathe, & focus. also, with that quiet time, i've been able to realize little changes that i've made in the last month or two that have really influenced the quality of my life.

for one, i've stopped wearing make-up... & it feels so good! my friend, {jessica}, really influenced my decision to do this. her natural beauty is something i have admired since meeting her. in addition, i have more time in the morning to knit, do a little journaling, write letters, and pray. i am no longer spending time in the mirror- it's great! also, my skin is thanking me for this change. i've always had "problem areas," but those areas are slowly clearing-up.

secondly, luke & i plan our meals ahead of time. we have a little chalkboard where we write what we will eat for lunch and dinner monday-sunday. while making our meal plan, we keep in mind what we already have, what's in season, and how we could use leftovers for the next meal. we also set aside one dinner to eat leftovers as a way to "clean out the fridge." it cuts down costs & we make a trip to the grocery store only once a week. {shari} made a little entry about her meal plan so check it out if you're interested...

thirdly, i've changed my diet. during the fall & winter months, i slowly fall into the habit of eating sweets- breads, cookies, pies, & cakes. i am not eliminating sweets; i am only changing the recipes of the sweets & the amount i eat. instead of sugar, i am adding natural sweetners such as honey & banana. instead of white flour, i am using peanut butter & whole wheat flour. also, my experience in becoming dairy-free has been a difficult one, but it is so nice to feel healthy and not search out the nearest bathroom before eating certain foods.

finally, i am taking walks. i usually carry along my camera to capture the changing seasons & it has been such a therepeutic experience. it is so important to get out and have a change of atmosphere. when i catch myself getting tired, i go for a walk & i feel refreshed. also, it has been a great way to manage my depression during the dark seasons of my life. while on my walks, i try to find atleast one thing that i appreciate & love about nature, and it usually makes me feel better.

i hope to continue to make these little changes. maybe i could start making a little change every week? we'll see...
but before i go, i'd like to know- have you made any changes lately?

love,
natalie