January can be bleak. The holidays and Christmas trees are gone; it’s cold, sometimes really cold, especially in the morning as it has been these last couple of weeks, and the short days turn to nights way too early. Dark mornings don’t help; if you’re up at 6 a.m., you’re up before the birds are even out. (Sunrise today was 7:17, and it was 3 degrees.)
Yet I try to remember to be grateful for each day. Waking up in the morning is not guaranteed, and these months of Covid should have taught us that lesson. Every day counts, even if your calendar is empty. So even though January tries to darken my mood with its cold, gray days, when I wake up, I make a defined effort to focus on a positive thought as I do some morning stretches in bed (part of my approach to yoga, and a blog for another day). And then a quick foot massage (podiatrist recommended) to keep the plantar fasciitis under control. These are simple things, but help me feel more physically limber and a partner in my own health.
Another simple habit. At night, before bed, I set a glass of water and half a lemon on the counter, so it’s right there for me to have before coffee. Just a squeeze of lemon juice in water. Very simple. This is all the rage lately, but I’ve been doing it a long time. Just feels good and makes me realize I am actually thirsty. Using a Waterford crystal glass makes it feel special.
As an aside, lemon and water is hardly new. Lemon zest and hot water is actually an Italian drink, a canarino, a good alternative to coffee or tea. I personally think it helps to quiet my appetite, though in Italy, it’s more an after-dinner thing. Organic lemons are best. Two or three pieces of longish zest in a cup, followed by water that has been brought to a boil and a few minutes later, you have a pretty, calorie-free and tasty drink. (I admit I add a drop of honey.) Subtle, and good.
Altogether, mine is not much of a morning routine, but every little bit of self-care helps to keep things positive. And then there’s food, which always makes me happy.
Here’s an easy, warm recipe for those days when you are wondering what to do next. My daughter reminded me about this recipe when I visited her recently and she made it for breakfast. It often happens that I’ll cook something repeatedly and then forget all about it, so it was really sweet for her to remind me of this one from home: oatmeal and apples. (Hers is less sweet than mine, just as good.)
It’s a happy kind of food that’s much more heart-warming than cold cereal on any kind of day. Good for you and if you’re doing WW, I think it’s good on points, too. I credit my friend, D, of diaper cake fame (see shower blog) for this, though as with any recipe, my version has evolved.
I use a vintage one-quart Crockpot just because it’s my tradition with this one. (I wish Rival was still making this Crockette size, would be such a nice gift, but you can find on ebay. Perfect when cooking for two.) Combine one cup toasted old-fashioned oats (any oats you like will do), one cup chopped apple, two cups water and one cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk in the pot. Add a dash of salt, and then flavor and sweeten any way you like. I like a dash of vanilla extract, tablespoon of cinnamon, tablespoon (or more) honey or maple syrup. I mix and then grate a little nutmeg on top. Once the apples are soft, I have a creamy, delicious and healthy breakfast. It takes a couple of hours in the slow cooker, and you get the same result a lot faster with higher heat on a stovetop.
It’s a nice way to start the day and keep the blues at bay.
P.S. Hair update. As I write this, long story short, I think my hair is much improved since I started with this process in October. I had a salon treatment that used Olaplex 1 and 2; have been using Olaplex 3 at home once a week, and also use the shampoo and conditioner, 4 and 5. My hair is shiny and soft, and recently a friend said it looked healthy. And Olaplex is not paying me to say this. If you try it, I hope your results are good, too.