Ashlei Coleman-Turner

This is usually right around the time when the hubs walks in the door and, ironically, instead of dropping everything and running away I’m filled with feelings of guilt. I tend to think there’ll come a moment when the to do list is done, the house is clean, there’s food on the table, the little one is happy, and in that moment THEN I can take a break. There’s an abundance of news articles discussing the need for people to take “mental health days” from work in order to decrease feelings of anxiety and stress, and continually put your best foot forward. Acknowledge that your mental health as a mom matters and be aware of the signs that you’re in need of a break.

I thought I’d share what I’m actually packing in terms of clothing, because we all know it’s all about the outfits when you’re on holiday. The foundation of my outfit is usually pretty basic – t-shirt and leggings, t-shirt and jeans, or in this case an all black midi t-shirt dress. The ship will be our home away from home for the next week, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be freely walking around in t-shirts and sweatpants (or no pants which is usually the case in my household). And though I’m not entirely sure I’ll dare to wear them, I’ve packed a couple of colourful swimsuits for when we’re spending time poolside.

And let me tell ya, every time a bag of unworn clothes or toys no longer in play leaves the house it feels like a weight has been lifted. If you’ve been feeling like you’ve been running on empty these past few months it may be a good idea to take a look at your sleep routine. It doesn’t have to be anything dramatic, something as simple as having a cutoff time at night (mine is at 9PM, sometimes 8PM because I’m an old lady) and giving yourself 20min – 1hr in the morning before logging back on can do wonders in helping you not feel like you’re a slave to your devices. However, avoiding or even entirely cutting out processed/packaged foods and instead focusing on adding more real, whole foods to your diet is a great way to get your body summer ready.

As I mentioned in last week’s post where I shared 8 things I’m glad I did in my twenties , today I’m sharing 8 things I hope to do before 40. Problem has been every time I’m ready to get a new one, I’m pregnant or breastfeeding and they say it’s a big no-no to get tattoos during those times. We’re just all about bringing together good people, good food, and having a good time.