Hi!

So it’s summer break, I love summer break with my kids. I can turn off at least 5-6 alarms on my phone for a few brief weeks before summer band starts. It’s a joyous few weeks! 

Normally, I am working very hard at work, but this summer I have taken a few months off to help my Mom recover from surgery. When this all started back in April, in my head I was thinking, I will take May off and then hit June with full-force gusto from the much-needed break. Whomp-whomp. It’s now early July, and I am still not back at work full time. Now, the goal is to be back at work by July 15th full-time.  

So, how did I spend my May and June, you ask? Oh, do ask! I wish I had a wild story. I miss having wild stories. Sadly, I did nothing I should have for work, that’s for sure! Whoever does anyway on an extended holiday?

When my mom told us in April what was coming up, I thought ok, this is the break I have been wanting. I could spend time working on work projects, but I had zero time to do so when I was with clients. I was going to redo my existing systems and add new ones in. Oh, how I did promise to improve my thriving small business! That would have been productive and helpful. Instead decided to let my inner ADHDer come out unapologetically. 

After my first shift at the hospital, I quickly realized I could not work from there. It was constant interruptions and zero sleep. In the ICU, patients are cared for by many doctors, nurses, techs, radiology came by twice a day for X-rays, blood draws were every 3-4 hours, and it was endless. My poor mom spent 10 days in the hospital. I would do 24 hours, then my sister would trade with me, and back I went the following day. My brother even did a shift on his off days from work. But it took 24 hours to recover from one shift, so it was all a blur. I did read some, started many small projects, and I played a LOT of mindless games on my phone, and man, did I go down some deep rabbit holes on Instagram, Facebook, Google, and Pinterest. 

Once we got my mom home, it has been a little easier to rest. But we are still doing 2 or 3-day shifts at her house. She required 24/7 care once she was home for another 6 weeks. It was lots of doctors’ appointments, runs to the ER for clogged drains, drain checks with radiology, regular doctor visits for follow-up, etc. Never mind all of the home health people coming in, I swear, for 3 weeks we had a doctor’s appt, therapy, or nurse visit every single day. My sister and I did most of the stuff at the beginning. Now that our mom can shower by herself, my brother has been so helpful! He is always very helpful! I want to publicly state, my brother proves sons can care for their parents just as well as daughters. (Can you tell I love my big brother and sister?)

Instead of building/evolving my work systems, I decided to contemplate where my life was heading. Don’t get me wrong, I will still do my regular job, I love what I do. But as my girls are getting older, I need something for myself. I’ve always had a business Pinterest Account named Steph’s Favs. It started as an affiliate marketing account (yes, I love rabbit holes). Now I plan to turn that thought into a blog. I know, how early 2000s of me! Let’s face it, I am old, so really this is going to be more like a 1989-1993 Doogie Howser blog than an early 2000s “Julia Child’s cook book recipe making” blog that becomes a hit movie.  

So now I can confidently say I did not waste my downtime, and I can still let my ADHD self be free. My brain is so happy right now! I probably still won’t finish a single project, but it feels good to be free to explore more. 

Does anyone else struggle with ADHD? For the most part, I can hyper focus on work *if* I am at the office because that’s what office time is for, actual working. But I work remotely 50% of the time, and sitting down to work is hard. I do it because I have to; otherwise, I won’t be paid. But it uses all of my brain power. So by 7 pm, I am wiped out mentally. So this past few weeks have been blissful, letting my mind wander and daydream. 

So some decisions were made to make space in my life so you can explore with me! Let’s start with… my family’s favorite banana bread recipe. Who doesn’t like banana bread? I know there are a MILLION or more (not exaggerating) recipes. But every family has their favorite version. This one is ours, and when I make it, it does not last long. We don’t even wait for it to cool down! 

This recipe is not my own. I have adapted it from a recipe my mom received years and years ago from my Aunt in Florida. I wish I knew whom I could give credit to, but alas, I don’t. 

Did I mention my family eats gluten-free? I have a wheat allergy, so my family eats 85% gluten-free. I am 100%. But we do allow it in the house because they are growing kids, and why should my kids and sweet husband suffer?  I have found some great recipes that I will share in this blog. I share these yummy treats with friends, and they all love them too.

Ok, banana bread should be light, crumbly, flavorful, and the word I hate but don’t know how else to describe it – moist. Banana bread should not be dry! Most gluten-free baked items are dry, and this is not at all dry. It’s not mushy either! 

Happy Baking! I will be making this today too.