Hello, Stefanie here with another All About Me post.

A few weeks ago I got an early morning phone call from my mother, her speech was all slurred and she told me three times within about a 2 minute window that she had fallen at 1.45am. I knew that something was very wrong and made immediate plans to drive through to her and to take her to my doctor. She was very weak and needed help getting up etc. We thought she had had a few minor strokes. I knew that she was no longer able to live on her own, and brought her to our house. Having older children about to embark on their end of year exams and a mother that needs TLC made for a stressful time. At first I coped, because I had to, modelling behaviour for the children that family comes first. However as the weeks went on, the little things started getting on my nerves, like my mother’s need to watch the cooking channel 24/7 and her just always being around. Hubby and I started making plans to get our quality time as dates times instead of chilling in the lounge watching tv and chatting.

I was reminded of the admonition by the air hostesses to first see to you own oxygen mask and then help others. I started making a list of things I could do to relieve stress and then made a plan to implement them. If I am grumpy and miserable I make everyone else feel unhappy – best to take care of myself first and then I will have extra care and love to go around.

1. Take photos
2. Take a drive
3. Digi Scrapbook
4. Read
5. Walk
6. Indulge in beauty treatments, pedicure and luxury scented showers
7. Pilates classes
8. Afternoon naps
9. Make time for my friends
10. Catch a movie
11. Watch my favourite series
12. Play Township on my phone
13. Troll Facebook for funny cat videos
14. Relax in the garden watching our cats
15. Shop regularly so suppers and lunches were planned and prepared

Hubby and I went to one of my favourite restaurants, a little way out of town, the scenery is spectacular, the food is always fresh and tasty, the service impeccable. There is just something there that restores my soul. We watched the horses and geese after lunch and just enjoyed the sunshine and peace and quiet.

Template is by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs: Build a Background. Kit is A taste of Summer by Digital Scrapbook Ingredients and Studio Basic Designs.

I added more art journaling splatters and paints into my background layer than I would usually to signify the stress and turmoil within my heart. This is overlaid by calm and clean paper layers that represent the structure and control I need to exert, the topmost layer with the photos and flowers include things that I enjoy. Pink is one of my favourite colours and I adore flowers. I trust that working through my process even slightly helps you come to terms with something you might be facing and gives you a handle on taking care of yourself too.