What a Year

Wow. This has been an incredible year or so. In just 15 months time I threw two Bar Mitzvahs (one for each of my darling boys), built a new house, and wrote another book Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry. I do not recommend grouping these projects together into just over one year’s time to anyone. It was amazing fun, and also incredibly exhausting.

First, the Bar Mitzvahs. Of course (as any Jewish mother would attest!) the boys were amazing at each of their Bar Mitzvahs, chanting Hebrew for more than 3 hours in front of over 100 people. What a feat. What mazel! For each of their Bar Mitzvahs we held multiple gluten-free events and get togethers over a fun-filled weekend for friends and family (no I did not  cook for the 100+ people that came to each one) and had an amazing time with our tribe of loved ones. I’m glad that those huge gatherings are behind us, as they were wonderful, yet at the same time somewhat stressful.

This amazing year, 2013 was also consumed by the building of a new home. We stripped a historic house, built in 1912, down to the studs, basically building a new green home inside an old one. Installing non-toxic recycled blue denim (sound-proof insulation) as well as geothermal energy, and many, many more green features, I was up to my ears in every detail of the project. I seemed to hold it all together until we moved in and I had a complete melt down (now I’m fine). Perhaps that was because my younger son’s Bar Mitzvah, the move to the new house, and the release of my latest book were all within 6 weeks of one another. Not by my planning of course –construction schedules can be very “flexible,” and we had intended to spread things out more, but in the end it was not to be, and I was up to my ears in stress.

It was good stress of course. But I view stress the way I view food. Too much of anything is generally not a good thing. Even if one is eating healthy food, it’s important to stop when one reaches one’s limit. But the wheels were already in motion and there was no stopping the train that was 2013.

Next on my plate was the release of my latest book, Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry. Sometimes I wonder, why did I do this book in the middle of two Bar Mitzvahs and a house renovation? Well, being a housewife is a mixed thing for me. I’m so happy that I get to be there everyday when the boys get home from school –this is very important to me. At the same time, if I’m not doing my own projects I can end up feeling like a kept woman or a Stepford wife, neither of which makes me happy. I need to work! I’ve been doing so since I started my first business at age eight, but that’s a story for another time. I just had to fit a little bit of me into this crazy year.

So you must be wondering if I’m ok. Yes, after some deep exhaustion, I’m fine. I’ve taken extra rest this fall and am bouncing back quite nicely. Along those lines, I’m planning on a quiet, health-focused 2014, with lots of reading, research and rest –three of my favorite things.

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In this new year I’ll be sharing a bunch of healthy dinner recipes, healthy lifestyle ideas and healthy exercise tips with you, my dearest online family. Happy New Year to you my lovely readers. I hope you had a wonderful 2013 and wish you the best in 2014! Here’s to an abundance of rest and relaxation.

What was your 2013 like? Please leave a comment and let me know, I’m all ears!