spa time

At what point are you an enabler because you can't stand conflict? Do you allow your partner to want for nothing at your expense? Do you cancel your own free time to pick up the slack around the house? How would your life be different if you weren't running on constant burnout? What if your body battery was charged to 80% or 100% instead of hovering around 5%? What would it feel like to put your own rest and recovery as the family's #1 priority? Welcome to spa time!

I've had a great time showing my boy what spa time means to me. We do a nice, relaxing foot bath, followed by compression boots, and then a moisturizing leg and foot massage. Sometimes we take a relaxing bath, which involves bubble bath, aromatherapy, epsom salt, soothing music, or ocean sounds, and low light.

• Epsom Salt (3 lbs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXTS6L35 $3
• Glo Pals Bath Cube Lights https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG793KCV $27
• Colorful Bath Bombs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08149KZ68 $7
• Compression Boots https://www.costco.com/p/-/sharper-image-air-compression-boots-flex-leg-recovery-system/4000392515 $159
• Sea Dreams Soother https://www.target.com/p/baby-einstein-sea-dreams-soother-musical-crib-toy-and-sound-machine/-/A-94691831 $36
• Aroma Diffuser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRSYBY56 $30
• Flameless Candles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8NBFZTY $10
• Princess Tumbler Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BZCPD9W $18
• Star Projector / Sound Machine https://www.kids2.com/products/6940-000-swaddleme-slumber-buddies-elephant $30
• See more about our aromatherapy oils https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/01/mom-rage.html 

These I gave away because I didn't like the musk smell

• Polynesian: sun-lit palms, calypso citrus, wild hibiscus, teakwood, island fruit, warm musk, and white sands
• Sea Salt + H2O: sea salt, water, lotus, wild rose, sea moss, warm musk, teakwood
• Orleans Resort: jasmine, violet, gardenia, lemon zest, dry down of vanilla

I've been incorporating more Naughty Girl fitness into my training program. I did yoga twice in the last week, and it's been nice. I feel like my body has been crying out for escape, spending money, travel, and distraction. So in response, I've been doing things to calm my nerves. Sometimes it's not about running away from your problems; it's about doing something right here at home to take care of yourself so that your problems don't seem so bad. On Mar 30, I wrote, "Running is just one part of a balanced diet. Other types of movement are good too."

I planned three dance-related events:

• Thursday, Apr 30, Party Like a Mother, Woodland Hills
• Saturday, May 2, Naughty Girl IRL, Burbank
• Saturday, May 9, Dance your way to health, Tarzana

I guess I didn't post much in late March or early April. It shows how underwater I have been feeling. I was kind of drowning. I got sick right after the marathon, and I haven't been 100% well since. Yes, my wounds have healed, but I've had a runny nose that hasn't stopped. Like when I run, I'm blowing my nose all the time. Snot rockets! Maybe that's why I am craving spa time and self-care activities now. And we're heading into Month of Mama 2026.

Finally, I can share that I've been planning and hosting a series of events for professors on using AI productively in ways that positively impact students. So far, I have completed 6 out of 8. It is taking up all of my free time and then some. On Mar 31, I wrote, "I have not worked this hard in 10 years. I haven't felt this stressed about money in 10 years. AND I haven't felt this happy and satisfied with my family life and household members in 10 years." So it's been a weird school year. To feel like I am working my fingers to the bone, yet have so little spending power, and feel so happy being a mom.

• Feb 9 - Study Skills - 0 attendees
• Feb 23 - Letters of Recommendation - 2 attendees
• Mar 9 - Active Learning - 5 attendees
• Mar 23 - Accessibility - 3 attendees
• Mar 30 - Anonymous Feedback - 3 attendees
• Apr 6 - Transparent Assignments - 2 attendees
• Apr 20 - Early Alerts
• May 4 - Student AI Panel

It's been wild planning this workshop series for the College of Science and Math. It's an interdisciplinary audience, to a certain extent, within a narrow window. I'm not sure whether the topics have resonated with the departments I'm trying to serve. I'm not sure these slides will be reusable learning objects. I know I have two participants with three-peat attendance. The content was worthwhile enough to bring them back again. I've been working nights and weekends to create it. And there hasn't been one female attendee yet.