Thoughts on Self Care

Hello, friends!

Let’s talk about self care…

Everyone and their mother seems to be talking about self care nowadays. I’m always seeing YouTube videos about the best practices for taking care of yourself, whether that be through taking a bath in the morning, doing yoga, what have you.

Being a busy college student, I don’t always feel like I have the time or resources to indulge in acts of self care that are recommended to me. I don’t have access to a bath and some days, I have way too much work to set aside time to take care of myself. If you’re busy like me (which I’m sure you are), you probably find it selfish to spend time on yourself when there’s so much to be done. I totally get this, and finding the relationship between being a good friend/daughter/sister/student and being good to myself is very tricky. I have found, though, that I am so much more productive if I take care of myself first.

I’m not always indulging in myself.  I definitely place priority on work that’s due for the next day or any meetings I need to go to. However, I do make an effort to find little ways to practice self love, so that my “happy tank” is filled up.  I do this through little things, like making sure I get at least eight hours of sleep a night, filling my body with foods that are good for me, and having thirty minutes or so of relaxation before I get into homework. When I’m really feeling indulgent, I’ll put on a face mask before bed and watch TV with a glass of wine in hand. I look like I should be in “13 Going on 30” when I do this, but you know how it is. When I feel like I have a million things to do, it’s important that I approach these tasks feeling my best.

Even though I’ve listed self care activities that I do on my own, you can also take care of yourself by spending time with people you love. When I know I’m about to have a busy week, I try to again “fill up my happy tank” by spending time with friends. For me, there’s nothing that soothes the soul more than good conversation.  I’m all for coffee dates, making dinner with friends, or just chatting with people on the phone. My recommendation is to find something that works for you and ultimately brings you joy.

You may be thinking, “Leah, you’re saying all these things about self care, but I really don’t feel like there are enough hours in the day”. I completely understand. I’m constantly running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I have to make an active effort to schedule in down time during my day. Scheduling out my commitments through Google Calendar has helped me so much and lets me see when I am busy and when there are pockets of free time. And man, do I relish those moments of free time.

I hope you enjoyed this post, my lovelies! Feel free to let me know any thoughts you have about self care in the comments. I would love to know the things that you do to take care of yourself. Be on the look out for more blog posts soon!

-Love Ling

 

What’s In My Nanny Bag

Hello, friends!

I hope your summer is going well so far. I’m spending this weekend feeling a little under the weather, but I’m enjoying lounging in my pajamas and marathoning Friends. However, when I’m not lounging on the couch, I am spending my week days working as a nanny for a family friend. They have a three year old son that I look after during the day. Our days are filled with trips to the pool, the trampoline park, and any place where he can run around and play with other kids.

Being a nanny has been a great experience so far and has helped me develop skills in patience, creativity, and planning. A big part of making sure the day goes smoothly is being adequately equipped with anything that I or the child I look after needs. Here are some of the things that I keep in my nanny bag. I hope you enjoy this post!

The bag: I have had this Longchamp bag for a good while now and it has served in many capacities. I enjoy using it as my nanny bag, because it’s sturdy, fashionable, and fits absolutely everything that I need.

• Emergency pack: I have a little striped bag that keeps items that I may need in case of an emergency. I keep hand sanitizer wipes for easy clean ups, bandaids, as well as tissues for runny noses. I also keep a tide pen for any spills and stains and feminine products for, well, you know. In addition to this, I keep a tiny tube of sunscreen for sunny days.
• Wallet: This is a must have!
• Phone Charger: I use my phone a lot throughout the day, especially for music and navigation when I’m driving places. It’s really helpful to be able to charge my phone throughout the day, so I know I’ll have a functioning phone.
• Book/Notepad & Pen: In the rare occasion that I have down time, I like to have something to read. I’m currently reading a play called a number. I also keep a notepad and pen on hand, in case I need to write any phone numbers, WiFi passwords, etc. down.
• Hand sanitizer: I really don’t like germs and being nanny definitely exposes me to a lot of them. This really helps in a pinch.
• Sunglasses: These are an obvious pick, but they really come in handy with how much time we spend outside.
• Chapstick/Lipstick: Another obvious pick.
• Deodorant: Running around all day and spending lots of time outside in the hot summer heat make deodorant and essential. You’ve gotta keep it fresh, y’all.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Being a nanny has been great so far and has taught me a lot about children and myself. What a great summer job!

Have an awesome rest of your summer!

-Love Ling

Best Date Spots in Austin, TX

Hello, friends! In my two years of living in Texas, Austin has quickly become one of my favorite cities. Something about its innate quirkiness, friendly people, and Austinian pride charms me every time I visit. I often visit with my boyfriend and we have found that a trip to Austin makes for a great date night. Here are some great date spots for your next trip to Austin, Texas.

**If you want the ultimate Austin date, go to these spots in sequence–I have!

Stroll Down South Congress Street

Find somewhere (hopefully) cheap to park and just take a nice stroll down SoCo. South Congress street is filled with weird little shops, delicious coffee shops, and live music. It’s a great place to just walk around and window shop. Believe me, you will find plenty of conversations points with all the scenery.

Be sure to check out the “I Love You So Much” mural, located outside Jo’s Coffee on South Congress. It’s an Austin icon and must-do when visiting. When I was there, there was a short line of people wanting to take pictures in front of the wall. However, there are plenty of friendly people around who are willing to take a picture for you.

Dinner at El Alma

I have been to this restaurant twice and it is one of my favorite date spots in Austin. It’s located right across Butler Metro Park, so while you are waiting on your table, you can take a walk around the park. This restaurant is trendy, has a great vibe, and delivers delicious Mexican food. I recommend their tacos and enchiladas, but I’m looking forward to trying more of their menu! Eating here will make you feel like a cool Austinian. Indoor and outside seating is a plus.

**Tip: Make sure to look up busy times at El Alma. Depending on the day and time of day, it can get a little busy.

Visit Butler Metro Park

Like I mentioned before, Butler Metro Park is located right across from El Alma. It’s a great place to visit if you are waiting for your table or if you want to digest a bit after your meal. The park is filled with families, dogs, and visitors–a very relaxing spot.

The park also features a view of the downtown skyline. Walk a little bit further into the park and you’ll find a small summit that gives an even better view of the skyline. This park is definitely one of my favorite romantic spots in Austin.

Dessert at Gourdough’s

After your walk through the park, you’ll probably feel digested enough to indulge in some dessert. I recommend going to Gourdough’s, a food truck with the most buttery, mouthwatering donuts you have ever had. They have a ton of different donuts on their menu. I have tried that maple bacon donut and the honey butter donut–both are delicious. The donuts here are rather large, so I would recommend sharing it. There are picnic tables for you to sit at and free parking on sight.

Travel Tips

When exploring Austin, make sure to be conscientious of busy times of day, as traffic can be a bit brutal at times. In addition to this, restaurants can get busy, so either make a reservation, have a plan of action, or prepare to practice some patience. I would also recommend taking a minute to just take in the city, look out the window, and enjoy all that this beautiful city has to offer.

I hope you enjoyed this travel post and found some inspiration for cool places to visit in Austin. Even though this post is labeled as “date spots”, you can certainly visit these places just to visit them! You’ll still have a great time and have a great Austin experience. Thank you for reading!

-Love Ling