This has been an absolutely exhausting last month and a half or so for me. It started mid-April with the boyfriend’s birthday, Stagecoach the next weekend, his school banquet/farewell party….a halt in the celebrations by Señor Bronchitis…several Going Away parties last weekend…phew! And it’s only continuing this weekend! I’ve had a great time celebrating him and all of his accomplishments. But I. Am. Pooped!!! And, despite all the fun, all that celebrating can really lead to some serious over-indulgence, in the form of one (or two) too many cocktails, some extra heavy (and cheesy, in my case) treats, that “I’ll work out tomorrow” mentality, and a serious lack of sleep, to name a few.

And with all the celebrations going on this time of year (think Graduation parties, end of the year parties, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, going away parties, etc.), it’s easy to get carried away. So, with all the celebrating I’ve been doing over the past month and a half, I’ve come up with a few ways to keep the indulgences its bitsy, without cutting back on the fun and celebration!

1. If hosting a party, aim for light appetizers/entrees. I’ve always thought that a variety of light options outweighs one or two heavy options. Think leaner meats and tasty salads. Try this Panzanella Salad, these Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts, and these Black Bean Fudgy Brownies!

2. Keep the cocktails simple and low-cal. Easier said than done, right? Wrong! For example: tequila + fresh-squeezed lime juice, vodka + light cranberry juice + club soda. Remember: fresh squeezed juice is ALWAY better than store bought (when available). Added benefit: less chance of a nasty hangover! Try this Homemade Strawberry-Basil Martini…it’s a fave!

3. When going to a party, park farther away than normal. It may seem small, but are we turning down extra burned calories? I think not! Give yourself a bit of a walk, and if you’re less than a mile from your destination, take the opportunity to burn off those appetizers/cocktails!

4. Save money by making your food/drinks from fresh ingredients. For example: a few fresh oranges you juice yourself are cheaper than a carton of orange juice, and they taste much better. Also, you’ll spend more money on frozen, pre-cooked food items than you will making them from scratch.

5. Light on calories does NOT equal light on flavor. Use spices to spruce up your appetizers/entrees! Some of my favorites: Himalayan (or Hawaiian) Sea Salt, anything Lawrys, etc. Check out your local farmers markets for some super fresh, unique, and flavorful spices too. bonus points for low sodium spices!

6. Set some boundaries. I struggle the most with this one. I aim to please, and my boyfriend loves staying up late. So guess who wakes up tired? In order to wake up functional and productive at work, I’ve needed to set some sort of boundaries, such as “if we arrive at this time, we should leave at this time.” Something that allows us to stay long enough to spend time with everyone, but also leaves time for ample sleep. Find ways to set boundaries so you don’t get burned out.

7. Don’t neglect your workouts: Whether it means getting up a little earlier, walking during lunch breaks, creating mini home workouts for home, etc., keep it up! The minute I neglected the exercise for a week or so I felt totally sluggish and even more tired than I would have if I had kept up with it. Plus, with all the celebratory business, the exercise is an excellent way to recharge and enjoy some quiet/alone time.

8. Do something for you: Take a break! Despite how fun it can be, this time of year can be totally exhausting! Don’t forget to take care of yourself, whether it’s a nap, some retail therapy (guilty!), or a walk…whatever it may be!

9. Hydrate: I’ve been having some pretty intense headaches lately. When I assessed why, I noticed that I had been completely excluding water from my diet. Especially when drinking, it’s EXTRA important to make this part of the celebration. It’s so simple, but maybe that’s why I forget about it?

10. Make it easier on yourself: Are you the one hosting the party? Ask for ideas, preferences, and allergies, and ask guests to bring items. Or even host a potluck! Taking the guess work out of it all will make your job easier, and you’ll have an increased certainty that your guests will have a good time.

Celebrations are the best part of life, and I’m a firm believer that we should all take time to celebrate the small things in life….but since we’re all about balance living, I’m an its bits indulgence celebrator!