A Day in the Life of Shannon Marie
Unlike Dhru, I usually set an annoying alarm clock, although I use it mainly as a back up. Since going raw, I tend to rely on my body’s own internal clock to tell me when to wake (usually around 6 a.m.). Then, I lay there peacefully, waiting for the alarm to signal that it’s time to actually get my butt out of bed (I set it for 6:15 a.m. during the week; there’s no need for it on the weekends, although I still get up at the same time naturally).
6:15 am: I pop out of bed and head downstairs to start my day. But first, I hit up the bathroom to pee, of course (I know; TMI, but who doesn’t?).
Then, I turn on the computer and pour myself a tall glass of H2O. I drink about two of them (I also take some MSM) while I check my e-mail, visit the Give It To Me Raw community, check out other raw food blogs and whatever else I have time for before starting my morning workout.
6:45 am: I no longer have time to go to the gym, so rather than make excuses, I exercise at home. Most of the time, I workout to one of the various fitness videos or DVDs I’ve collected over the years (I have quite an extensive collection). However, I’ve recently discovered the Exercise TV section On Demand (part of our cable service). It’s given me the opportunity to switch things up a bit and try new routines for free, most recently, “The Girls Next Door Workout” (don’t be so quick to judge; it actually does a great job of rounding out your lower body).
7:15 or 7:30 am: Time to get myself clean. I hop in the shower to quickly wash/condition my hair, scrub my body and shave my legs, etc. As fast as I got in, I’m back out again to dry of and apply whatever my favorite natural body lotion, cream or massage bar is at the time. I gave up the skin brushing routine years ago; since becoming a mom, I’ve had to forgo some of life’s little luxuries (but I’m not complaining; I wouldn’t trade the little man for the world).
Speaking of being a mom, then, I gently wake my son, and give him his morning bath, get him dressed (oops, I forgot to mention that I got dressed, too. I’m not still running around naked, although I might not be fully clothed yet – sometimes the pants have to wait to avoid wrinkling, spills, splatters and other mommy stuff) and fed, etc.
During this time, I also whip up a green smoothie, which I sip as I continue to get ready, putting on my favorite skin cream (Bee Yummy), applying a semi-natural touch of mineral makeup and quickly running the curling iron along the ends of my hair (I’ve got to do something with it).
Then, my son and I watch the end of “Camp Lazlo” together until it is time to send him to school. We also brush our teeth side-by-side (sometimes it takes a role model to get him to practice good dental hygiene) before walking out the door.
8:30 am: We are out the door. On Monday through Thursday, I have to drop my son off at school by 8:45 a.m. Then, I head to my job at a local pediatrician’s office (it’s quite possibly the busiest one in our area) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (my son goes directly to my mom’s house on Friday; she also takes care of him after school on my other workdays).
I’m there most of the day, taking back patients, recording their symptoms and assisting the doctors whenever possible. I’m on my feet all day, giving me little time to do much else (that’s probably why my least exciting posts are on these days, if I even post at all).
On Tuesday and Thursday, I have some free time (if you can call it that) while my son is at school. It goes pretty fast, but I usually try to get all my errands in, whether it be going to the gas station, post office, grocery store or even my mom’s house (occasionally I stop by to run off with her cake decorating supplies or just to say hi).
I also use this time to get some housework done, laundry and/or blogging.
11:30 am: It’s already time to go pick up the boy. I need to be at his school by 11:45 a.m.
12 noon: My son and I are home again, and it’s time for lunch. It’s not always easy to find something he’ll eat. He’s very picky. I, on the other hand, usually have some raw veggies and whatever I have leftover in the fridge or freezer (I’ve been known to eat cookies for lunch).
Then, I sometimes still need to finish a blog post or tend to some unfinished business around the house (like switching the laundry; I live such a glamorous life). I also need to get started on dinner (I bring something to my in-law’s on Tuesday night and prepare something for an evening meal at home as part of our Thursday Night Raw, when my hubby tests out the raw lifestyle).
Also during this time, I find myself playing Legos with my son or whatever other game he can imagine. He makes up all the rules, which somehow keep changing as we go along.
When the weather is warmer, we make time to go down to the boardwalk, play at the park or hang out with my sister and her kids. We go swimming with them during the summer months.
4:00 pm: My loving husband comes home and takes his turn fighting off Sith Lords, building forts and playing video games with our son, while I get things laid out for the next day (gotta do it all over again) and put the finishing touches on dinner.
6 or 6:30 pm: We eat dinner around this time; although it can vary from day to day (sometimes it is later). I’m the only raw member of the family, so we rarely eat the same thing. However, we try to eat together whenever possible.
After dinner, we relax, watch a movie or something on television, my husband and I help Jacob with his homework, and I might get on the computer just one more time to check a few e-mails. We use the rest of this time to just wind down before bedtime.
10 or 10:30 pm (okay, maybe even 11:00 pm): - I try to go to bed around this time so I can get adequate rest. Unfortunately, I have a very busy mind, so I don’t always fall asleep right away. I really need to start writing things down before turning in for the night. But then, what would I think about?
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This week we're celebrating Get Fresh! Magazine's 50th issue. Keep a look out for "A day in the life of..." Philip and Anthony later this week. You can pickup your copy of Get Fresh! at your local Whole Foods Market.
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