Pedicures, Acupuncture, and Pineapple Sangria- HELLO HAPPINESS!

Some back story incase you are new here- DH has been out of work for about two months. You can read here about that big mess. 

So since DH has been out of work I have been pulling, not only over time at my full time job, but working about 24 hours a week at my part time job as well. I am a full time dispatcher and part time I work as an EMT. To say that I am overworked and stressed out is probably an understatement- and thats before you add infertility struggles into the recipe. 

I am currently in the midst of 7 days of work in a row. Today- hump day- is my only half shift- the rest are all twelve hour shifts or 18 hour shifts. The last two days at work have been absolutely beyond horrible. I have a hard time letting work go.. its difficult in this line to just leave yesterday where it belongs- the past. Instead I stressed about Tuesday's insanity while I should have been sleeping to prepare myself for Wednesday. Instead I went into work today sleep deprived and still fired up about yesterday's massive train wreck. So in a very rare half shift celebration I decided to dedicate today to decreasing my stress levels. --What a concept.. I tell ya!

Here is how I celebrated- Happiest Half Shift Wednesday EVER!

Happy zero stress hump-day <3

For starters I had my favorite lunch- grilled ham and cheese on rye with tomato soup. Really my friends- is there anything more wholesome than grilled cheese and soup? The melty velvety cheese and the creamy soup. Ahhhh a little peak at Heaven. 

Once I left work at one I decided to leave the last few days there. I'm on a boycott discussing the crazy and am working on moving past the circus that has been my job the last few days. instead I am focussing on clearing my mind and the fact that I have a 17 day stay-cation starting next Friday! (Can I get an AMEN!) 

I went to get a pedicure once I left work. I chose a bright-happy blue and sat back in the massaging chair and read my book while the pedicurist massaged my feet and legs. I actually could feel the tension in my calves releasing as she passed the warm stone over them. There is something about someone else massaging your legs and feet and painting your toes that is completely unrivaled. 

This is what my toes look like.. hello happy toes!

After my pedicure I headed to the liquor store. How can you not be happy with isle after isle of liquid happiness spread before you? I suppose the recovering alcoholics and sober ones in the crowd will disagree with me here- but this barren womb wanted pineapple sangria.. so thats what I made it. A giant container of beautiful pineapple sangria with pieces of mango, strawberries, and pineapples floating around.  Its a bit of liquid sunshine to brighten some otherwise torrential skies. 

Hello liquid happiness! 

Pineapple Sangria

Yield: Makes 8 servings

I doubled the ingredients listed below (and used a 3L bottle of wine) to serve a crowd. Please note if you want as much sangria as you see if my photo, you'll want to do the same. If you want to serve a smaller group of friends, the amounts listed below is what you'll need.

Ingredients:

3 cups pineapple juice
1 bottle dry white wine, such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
1 cup brandy (pear brandy or apricot brandy will work)
1 ripe pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks

1 cup pineapple soda

1 bunch fresh mint, roughly chopped
1 orange, sliced

Directions:

In a pitcher, combine the juice, wine, brandy, pineapple, and soda with ice and stir. Pour into large wineglasses and garnish with the mint and orange.

Once I finished making my liquid sunshine I headed off to my acupuncture appointment -also known as utter relaxation. I will pay $75 once a week to feel that level of relaxation any time. Today he placed two needles in each ear - he did say the reason for the ear is because of my stress. He also placed one needle in each wrist, one on top of each of my knees, two in each of my ankles and three in various areas on my feet. Then he placed an infrared lamp over my abdomen, placed a foam roll under my knees, turned down the lights, turned up the relaxing music and told me to work on deep breaths. I transcended to that special place between being awake and being asleep. You know that place right before you actually fall asleep, where your limbs feel heavy and your muscles are completely relaxed. I laid like that for 30 minutes and then Dr. D returned, removed the needles and ran a lotion over each spot. Heaven folks. Heaven on earth. 

Apparently help with your stress.. 

I received a full report on my AcuGraph which I will discuss in detail tomorrow.


I came home from my appointment to find all of my medications for my next cycle have arrived- which I'll also discuss at another time because there are some discrepancies between my conversation with my clinic and the pharmacy and what actually arrived on my door step today. 

I'm not going there today though- Im in a happy place and I don't plan on leaving for awhile! 

Cheers to finding your happy<3