let's be frank

Alright friends (whom I'm thinking are mostly women, but to those men out there, you can stop reading about now ;-), it's time that I just came out with it and declare the war I wage with PMS. As my friend Kristin has noted, it's really not the best thing to blog when we women are unstable, and I'm pretty good at keeping my little secret under wraps.  I'll save you the drama, except to say that it's been one of those weeks (months), and more than a few people who may have previously thought I was pretty great, are now deliberately staying out of my way.

SO, to feel better I've spent this evening laughing my way through some pretty funny quotes pinned on pinterest.  It's nice to feel somewhat normal and realize that hormones are just women's hell on earth and hopefully we all understand enough to support one another without judgment or becoming offended when one of us loses it temporarily.  The good news is that this time my family made it through unscathed . . . I only offended everyone else I see on a daily basis.  Sigh.

That said, let's have some fun:

me (said in your best Bill Murray "Groundhog Day" voice) . . .

me . . .

me . . .

me . . . 

This ad campaign is too funny (our poor husbands) . . .

The cure??  No cure until menopause, but this is what I try to do to offset those insane hormones:

Evening Primrose WORKS, and my fault for not being consistent - I downed two pills tonight

This looked interesting, might give it a try

I absolutely refuse to try any medication to curb the effects of PMS and it's my own fault I've let it get a little out of control (always happens around holidays w/treats I can't resist).  This is my formula which is tried and true (straight from my most wonderful GYN who believes wholeheartedly on healing our body/mind naturally):

• Exercise, Exercise, Exercise - "mountain therapy" ALWAYS works for me (should have skied on Friday until waiting for the fresh snow Monday - sigh).  Choose what you love and make a point to get out and sweat, or even just walk around the block a few times.
• No caffeine, chocolate, excess salt or sugar (um, ya, fries, pizza, valentine's cookies . . . and what was I thinking purchasing TWO boxes of "Sweet's" orange sticks - sigh).  Loading up on a Diet Coke and chocolate is one of the worst things you can do - keep away from both, and even better if you can stay off soda and caffeine the rest of the month too.
• Evening Primrose, Vitamin B complex, and Vitamin D (in winter) . . . um, ya, been lazy and forgot.  When I am consistent with these vitamins it really helps and I can feel a difference.

and if all else fails . . .

Best of luck to all my PMSing friends.
May the force be with you (or at least some primrose oil and a glass of milk ;-).