Iām a summer girl. I like fall but like Erin said, I hate that it is a precursor to winter. Besides the holidays, winter just feels so gloomy and cold and gray and blah.
Even with good things in my life, I still am sad and grieving over the loss of my cousins which also brings back all I felt with losing my mom. I mean, of course, because thatās grief. Iām still struggling a bit with prayer and does it really matter and what is God really doing? Iām trying to appreciate all we do have and lean back on hope, knowing my comfort and strength comes from Jesus even when things donāt turn out like I want them to.
āļøLike Erin, we are in our new house! We have a beautiful view over a small lake and we are living getting settled. I have been frantically unpacking and organizing which I love, though it is also exhausting. I was a little envious of Erinās House Peace gift, but I am pretty decent at the organizing. Yesterday I tackled the pantry and master closet and I am thrilled with how they look. Iām sure I could still use some tips and fun organizational items though. I am also anxious to buy all the things when mostly what we have works for right now.
āļøMy son had really good friends on our old street. Two nights ago, we could hear people out, so he and I took a walk and met some neighbors. He and a boy a year older played frisbie and made plans to ride their bikes to school together the next day and they did. Then he went to his new friendās house to play after school!
āļøFall TV has begun and though Knox and Jamie would make fun, I watch a lot of network TV shows stillā¦Chicago shows, 911, Greyās, etc. (I also watch much better TV too)!
āļøSpeaking of, Ted Lasso had another great episode this week.
Even with all the busyness, I have been reading but find myself having a hard time finishing One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel. I loved This Is How It Always Is but this one is not as captivating I guess. So it came due at the library and I was able to renew but turns out none of the others on my shelf are really calling to me either. I have a couple I need to pick and some coming available soon so maybe theyāll be good. Otherwise, any suggestions on some good fiction. I read a lot and track on Goodreads which I always thought was a good enough tracker but now I wonder about Trello after hearing it talked about.
I think this is my first time commenting, so hi, Iām Becky from Texas.
Two treasures: Friday was homecoming for the school I teach at, and I got to wear cowboy boots and talk to my students about their massive mums, and my sweet student won homecoming king, and he cried because he was so excited, which was sweet. Also, I live in Texas if you canāt tell.
Second treasure: I woke up before my children so Iām drinking my coffee while itās still hot.
Texas has actually paid attention to a calendar for the first time in its life and the weather turned on a dime on the first day of fall. I have decided 30 is the time to really lean into basic white girl fall. My body is made for fall clothes. I love October - cooling off but not too cold, doesn't get dark too early, etc. I'm ready for PG Halloween media - spooky, maybe a little witchy, but not actually scary.
I've informed the place I've been interviewing with that I'm interested in joining them, which was met with enthusiasm but they haven't gotten back with me about an actual offer. I was going to call them today and then remembered they're closed on Fridays, but as we live in a capitalist society I'm gonna need some numbers.
I just finished reading Southernmost by Silas House and it's a stunner. Highly recommend. He was in a documentary I saw a few months ago (Hillbilly on Hulu - also very good) and I've been meaning to pick up one of his books since and I'm so glad I did.
I'm going to my first big kid CE conference tomorrow, which means an early start and a day full of lectures, so I think I'd better call it a night.
It has been the hardest of hard weeks. Both of my parents are sick with Covid, and unvaccinated, so itās just been watching everything Iāve feared for the last year+ come true.
At the same time, I have felt so very loved and supported by my friends and church framily. It is odd to feel so blessed when it feels like everything is falling apart, but such was this week for me.
Also wanted to share my signature Fall Sangria, because it feels like a ādrink a pitcher of cider sangriaā kind of weekend. Hope others enjoy it as much as we do!
Friends, I am glad it is Grand Theft Autumn time. I feel like I've been clinging to an anchor in rough swells this month, with some high highs (that NYC trip and SARA *LANGUAGE* BAREILLES was amazing) and some painful lows. it has been so good to keep up with you, even when I've had a tough time jumping in and sharing, so thank you for being you! Today, you get both from me :)
Treasures
š„° am dogsitting for my friend who watches Brinkley, and this is including new golden puppy snugs. Will be posting the puppy content on IG if you want 2nd hand snugs #goldengirlgang
š had a very restrained pumpkinpalooza trip at TJ's this week. Forgot to mention my faves of the frozen pumpkin waffles, the pumpkin cranberry flatbread crisps, and pumpkin hold the cones.
š§š»āāļø we did a tie dye activity with our high school youth girls on Sunday. not only did we not make a mess with bleach and tie dye at the church office, the shirts turned out so cool! I am excited for us all to get a group pic in them this week, so stay tuned.
š„° received my fall galentine's gift this week, and like I told Shelby, it was an absolute joy and provision. I had JUST run out of coffee in a widow and jar of oil way, and in comes this great bag! She also included our favorite pup treats. A million thanks, Amanda F!
š¹ today's Ted Lasso ep was SUCH a gift to me in this season; I love this show so much. Adjacent, Brett Goldstein performing Muppet Christmas Carol in 6 minutes (i died) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhEpas0TXsA
Turds
š· counseling is great and terrible all at once. feeling deep hurts and acknowledging them honestly is so freaking painful. grateful for the work, but i am also sooooo tired of sitting in it #classic3
š¤¬ was in a work meeting yesterday in which a colleague friend made a joke that hit me at my absolute tenderest spot. Did I drop an "Fš£ that" in reaction? sure did š¤¦š¼āāļø have I ever done that? noooope. so, banner week.
š Tiktok brought me some joy again this week, so here's a lil round up :)
I'm so glad you mentioned The Book of Belonging! I've been following Marri on Instagram for a while now and she is such a thoughtful and intentional parent, I hope I can be like her someday as a mom. Anyway! Woohoo, I'm so excited for the kickstarter to preorder some books for my future family!
Each week I read through Erinās words and spend a little time soaking up your lives vicariously, but I always feel so uninteresting when thereās just nothing I have to contribute to the joys and the treasures. š I know my life āis what it isā, and this season is transient ā one day my momās struggles will no longer be my own challenge ā but it *is* sobering to not have anything of interest for the rest of the world. Even in a circle of trust that this community has become. Thatās not to be a downer or to beg assurances, because truly Iām in a great emotional space with a very cushy life (thanks, Mom and Dad). Itās just an interesting observation Iāve had in the past month. What a strange thing to be completely ācomfortableā as a result of one parentās death and another parentās decline. š¤·š»āāļø God works in the most unusual ways. Believe me, Iām fully aware of the beauty heās making out of ashes in my life. But itās still the most bizarre place to live.
In a few comments already Iāve mentioned my love of these dormant seasons (which was already true before my current phase of life), and I do hope yāall can find some brightness in them, too. I get my funks in the hot seasons; when most others are celebrating the sun and talking about energy, Iām sweating from a single walk into another air-conditioned room and lying beside a fan in various stages of undress. Texas summer sun sucks my soul. So when the weather changed this week and I could open the windows at dawn and close them at bedtime, you better believe my spirit has been revived!
In the second week of September I came down with an illness that suspiciously acted like COVID, causing me to isolate in a single bedroom for 5 days and wear masks in the house (Mom, too) whenever I emerged. We experienced our first nasopharyngeal swabs to get tested, worried through 2 more days until the results, and were SO RELIEVED when it was negative. The week was the most bored Iāve felt in ages (thereās only so much āScandalā one can binge at a time! š„“), and made me appreciate the human contact of even just my housemate/mother. It was a very enlightening experience for this resolute introvert! I think Iām getting to an age of understanding the need for human touch, even when I donāt really care for it.
The recovery afterward ā it was just a horrific sinus infection, we think ā has been slow and exhausting (my energy is barely returned), and then this week I spent 2 days with the most excruciating throbbing in my *knees*. š¤Æ My mom said, āWelcome to getting old. Get used to it. Any time the weather changes.ā š² Itās given me a new purpose: itās time to lose all my extra weight. For real. And without excuse. Iām not looking forward to it, and I know myself well so that typical āprogramsā donāt work for me, but I think I have proper motivation finally. Seriously, getting old sucks when youāre barely 50. š«
āļø Joys this month have been creating with paper and celebrating Fall Vibes with the Liāl Swipes gift exchange ā Jacki (who has the most incredible birth name of Jacquetta! Did yāall know that?) brightened my whole month with her very personalized package to me!
š Iāve gotten back into my reading groove, which happens twice a year when the weather gets cool in the fall and first-warm in the spring. In the past weeks Iāve read The Plot, Crying in H Mart, The Midnight Library, The Other Black Girl, Malibu Rising, Gold Diggers, and A Winterās Promise; all very good, though Malibu Rising irked me in the middle section. My fave was A Winterās Promise, and it totally shocked me because Iād never heard of it two months ago and didnāt realize it would be so atmospherically striking! It gave me the same vibes as The Night Circus, my top 3 fave book of all time. Who knew?!?
Currently Iām reading Dark Matter on audio, and slowly working through Essentialism and We Should All Be Millionaires (the last 2 because The Lazy Genius told me to read them. š) Itās been a great reading season! The 24-Hour Readathon comes again next month and Iām thinking I might tackle Lord of the Rings again in honor of the filmsā 20th anniversary. Perfect for this season.
Alright. Iāve been lounging in bed for 3 hours, enjoying the cool breeze through an open window and letting my heart soar with reconnection to you guys. My spirit loves these Friday boosts! Wishing you the best weekend available, of course. š Tomorrow we celebrate my grandnieceās 3rd birthday with a Care Bears party. Itās the first time sheās understanding what her birthday means, and she has so much joy and so much curiosity and so much ATTITUDE. I love everything about her. LOL
My gift to her is the Birthday Care Bear (lights! sounds! sparkle!) and this most incredible little book: https://youtu.be/McKHNjjwfts
I am not a fan of fall. I'm a summer person. In WV, our fall weather is extremely annoying (to me). We have 30 degree temp shifts from morning to afternoon to night, which makes it hard to get dressed and keep your house at a consistent temp. One day it's 60, the next it's 90. We have a lot of rain and lingering clouds, which makes me think of and dread the gray season - January through March - when the sun is nowhere to be found. To me, fall is the precursor to dreaded winter. I also feel extremely constricted in jeans, long sleeved shirts and close toed shoes. Please give me all the shorts and flip flops and sundresses. I do attempt to find some treasures in it, such as Halloween, fall beverages and treats, football and bonfires. I often feel like people legitimately get mad at me when I say I don't like or am not excited about fall! I'm not trying to yuck someone else's yum when it comes to fall. It's just not my time!
- We joined a marriage small group through church and I didn't think Jordan would be interested in it at all, but we had our 2nd meeting this week and he actually participated and really enjoyed it.
- We finally have fall-ish weather here. I wore a sweater to work yesterday and I was so cozy. I wore a sweater again today and the heat is on and they can't get it to turn off. It's 80 degrees in our office. I'm melting
That's it! I can't wait to catch up with y'all in the comments!!! <3
Erin I am so happy that you all are finally in your home - the bath mats look so cute and what a gift that House Peace came to unpack for you! I am jealous.
You asked what makes us hopeful, and I feel like I might have an answer that is truly opposite of how you feel about winter lol.
The changing of the season makes me hopeful. Even though I know we are soon to enter snow and cold and dark days, it is easy to feel like time has stopped and we are forever stuck in this pandemic/racial unrest/political unrest. The changing of the seasons reminds me that time truly has passed, and it has passed before and it will keep marching on in the future. And sometimes I wonder if people will ever change their hard hearts - the news certainly makes it seem like they canāt - but if seasons change, I can only hope that people will, too.
Anyway. On to treasures!
Been a pretty uneventful week here and I am just working on re-decorating our living room. It makes me really exciting to have a new space that we were so intentional about and that weāll love.
I got to put up fall decor this week! We keep seasonal decor pretty minimal but I think itās just enough to make me feel excited for the pumpkin picking and leaf-looking and cider drinking to come.
The biggest turd is that I somehow got stuck basically planning/hosting a party for my friend - she gets married next Friday and so her Maid of Honor needed help planning a bachelorette party. I offered to help, because I love to plan and I am a bridesmaid, but I was trying SO HARD to not let the Enneagram 2 take over and do everything myself. My time and my budget wonāt allow it. Well, I found out the other day that the MOH didnāt request work off and has to work during the party, so she canāt come. Wish me luck as I try to do everything! Thereās only 4 bridesmaids and one of them is her 14 year old sister and the other is so busy (but she has offered to help so I donāt want to discount that!)
Anyway - thanks for all your advice last week with my new boss. I was able to talk to some people who know him and get advice and I feel prepared for what to do next time!
Life often feels overwhelming but these things gave me hope this week:
-hearing my three year old warbling āoh danny boyā it is truly as cute as you are imaging.
-taking epsom salt baths (on my pt therapist recommendation following treatment). I am not a huge bath person but they have been a nice end to the day.
-a phone call with an old friend. It is fun to rail against how much we hate the phone but hearing her sweet voice in real time was such a treat.
-pumpkin pie season at costco is here again. This GF gal scoops out the filling and it is a totally acceptable breakfast item.
I love you all (and do not feel weird about saying it every week to strangers I've never met because y'all are just that amazing and weird and lovely.)
It was a tough homeschooling week at our house. We had quite a few moments of tears and butting heads, mostly due to my oldest having more work this year than in the past. What gave me hope, though, was that I was quicker to flex than I have been in the past; I realized quickly that I canāt make my children bend, but I can bend and that might help them be more flexible, too. And, it did help a little, so I am hopeful that, over time, weāll all become more flexible - but I had to go first.
Treasures:
š: Lectio 365 on my back deck with coffee in the crisp fall morning air. By the afternoons it gets into the 80s, but the cool mornings are brining me life before I start my day.
š: planning my oldestās birthday present - we are gifting him a family trip to KC where he gets to make a bunch of the decisions, and it has brought out my creative side. I wrote a whole poem for him, and I had so much fun writing it and researching options for him.
šŖ: Only Murders in the Building on Hulu. It really feels like a true crime podcast in that at the end of every episode, I want to know what is going to happen next. And the dialogue make me LOL regularly.
May your weekend be filled with hope and crisp fall breezes!
I'm sitting in a PD session for faculty and staff but checking in with y'all is far more interesting. I hope everyone is well. We are finally at the end of the back to school gauntlet and things are smoothing out 'round here which is v. welcome because I am freakin' TIRED. I even took the step this week of asking my boss for a work from home arrangement and/or going to part time. This is a bit of a risk as our school culture is NO BREAKS and more more more but they do respect advocating for our own wellness so I am hopeful. š¤š¼
Erin I was thinking about what you said about fall and winter and it's fascinating to me how differently people see things. For me, being neurodiverse and having some significant sensory issues, winter is a sacred time when the world is quieter, the views are more restful, and there are less people about in general. The cold and dark are a welcome respite from the glaring, relentless sun and an invitation to be wrapped in soft cozy layers, all of which are so soothing for folks like me. Even the food is nicer in winter: all warming and nourishing compared to the sharp acidic nature of summer foods. I'm convinced I was a mole in a previous life because the cold and dark are such a balm to me. Candles, twinkle lights, warm drinks... what's not to love? Anyway, if you dread winter, maybe this pov will help you appreciate its quieter gifts.
2. I started watching The X Files (on Hulu) from the beginning and now have a full blown crush on it. The sweet chemistry between Mulder & Scully, the nineties jewel tones, the government conspiracy story line that just seems quaint now.... perhaps I am just feeling nostalgic but something about watching 90s shows just soothes me. The world was so much simpler then.
3. My ex-Goth girl is thriving at her new job, making friends and being invited to fun things. She's getting more confident driving and has been so helpful running errands for me. She has also been getting more responsible at home with chores. All hail the maturation process! šš»
Ok, that's all for now friends. I wish for you an excellent weekend with crisp air that's a little chilly so you need a sweater (I can't really think of anything better than that.) Stay safe y'all! So glad to be part of your day today and you part of mine.š
Iām a summer girl. I like fall but like Erin said, I hate that it is a precursor to winter. Besides the holidays, winter just feels so gloomy and cold and gray and blah.
Even with good things in my life, I still am sad and grieving over the loss of my cousins which also brings back all I felt with losing my mom. I mean, of course, because thatās grief. Iām still struggling a bit with prayer and does it really matter and what is God really doing? Iām trying to appreciate all we do have and lean back on hope, knowing my comfort and strength comes from Jesus even when things donāt turn out like I want them to.
āļøLike Erin, we are in our new house! We have a beautiful view over a small lake and we are living getting settled. I have been frantically unpacking and organizing which I love, though it is also exhausting. I was a little envious of Erinās House Peace gift, but I am pretty decent at the organizing. Yesterday I tackled the pantry and master closet and I am thrilled with how they look. Iām sure I could still use some tips and fun organizational items though. I am also anxious to buy all the things when mostly what we have works for right now.
āļøMy son had really good friends on our old street. Two nights ago, we could hear people out, so he and I took a walk and met some neighbors. He and a boy a year older played frisbie and made plans to ride their bikes to school together the next day and they did. Then he went to his new friendās house to play after school!
āļøFall TV has begun and though Knox and Jamie would make fun, I watch a lot of network TV shows stillā¦Chicago shows, 911, Greyās, etc. (I also watch much better TV too)!
āļøSpeaking of, Ted Lasso had another great episode this week.
Even with all the busyness, I have been reading but find myself having a hard time finishing One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel. I loved This Is How It Always Is but this one is not as captivating I guess. So it came due at the library and I was able to renew but turns out none of the others on my shelf are really calling to me either. I have a couple I need to pick and some coming available soon so maybe theyāll be good. Otherwise, any suggestions on some good fiction. I read a lot and track on Goodreads which I always thought was a good enough tracker but now I wonder about Trello after hearing it talked about.
I think this is my first time commenting, so hi, Iām Becky from Texas.
Two treasures: Friday was homecoming for the school I teach at, and I got to wear cowboy boots and talk to my students about their massive mums, and my sweet student won homecoming king, and he cried because he was so excited, which was sweet. Also, I live in Texas if you canāt tell.
Second treasure: I woke up before my children so Iām drinking my coffee while itās still hot.
Texas has actually paid attention to a calendar for the first time in its life and the weather turned on a dime on the first day of fall. I have decided 30 is the time to really lean into basic white girl fall. My body is made for fall clothes. I love October - cooling off but not too cold, doesn't get dark too early, etc. I'm ready for PG Halloween media - spooky, maybe a little witchy, but not actually scary.
I've informed the place I've been interviewing with that I'm interested in joining them, which was met with enthusiasm but they haven't gotten back with me about an actual offer. I was going to call them today and then remembered they're closed on Fridays, but as we live in a capitalist society I'm gonna need some numbers.
I just finished reading Southernmost by Silas House and it's a stunner. Highly recommend. He was in a documentary I saw a few months ago (Hillbilly on Hulu - also very good) and I've been meaning to pick up one of his books since and I'm so glad I did.
I'm going to my first big kid CE conference tomorrow, which means an early start and a day full of lectures, so I think I'd better call it a night.
It has been the hardest of hard weeks. Both of my parents are sick with Covid, and unvaccinated, so itās just been watching everything Iāve feared for the last year+ come true.
At the same time, I have felt so very loved and supported by my friends and church framily. It is odd to feel so blessed when it feels like everything is falling apart, but such was this week for me.
Also wanted to share my signature Fall Sangria, because it feels like a ādrink a pitcher of cider sangriaā kind of weekend. Hope others enjoy it as much as we do!
https://neighborfoodblog.com/autumn-sangria/
Took a quick sec and added all your recipes to this pinterest board- https://pin.it/4x7IwEW
Friends, I am glad it is Grand Theft Autumn time. I feel like I've been clinging to an anchor in rough swells this month, with some high highs (that NYC trip and SARA *LANGUAGE* BAREILLES was amazing) and some painful lows. it has been so good to keep up with you, even when I've had a tough time jumping in and sharing, so thank you for being you! Today, you get both from me :)
Treasures
š„° am dogsitting for my friend who watches Brinkley, and this is including new golden puppy snugs. Will be posting the puppy content on IG if you want 2nd hand snugs #goldengirlgang
š had a very restrained pumpkinpalooza trip at TJ's this week. Forgot to mention my faves of the frozen pumpkin waffles, the pumpkin cranberry flatbread crisps, and pumpkin hold the cones.
š§š»āāļø we did a tie dye activity with our high school youth girls on Sunday. not only did we not make a mess with bleach and tie dye at the church office, the shirts turned out so cool! I am excited for us all to get a group pic in them this week, so stay tuned.
š„° received my fall galentine's gift this week, and like I told Shelby, it was an absolute joy and provision. I had JUST run out of coffee in a widow and jar of oil way, and in comes this great bag! She also included our favorite pup treats. A million thanks, Amanda F!
š¹ today's Ted Lasso ep was SUCH a gift to me in this season; I love this show so much. Adjacent, Brett Goldstein performing Muppet Christmas Carol in 6 minutes (i died) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhEpas0TXsA
Turds
š· counseling is great and terrible all at once. feeling deep hurts and acknowledging them honestly is so freaking painful. grateful for the work, but i am also sooooo tired of sitting in it #classic3
š¤¬ was in a work meeting yesterday in which a colleague friend made a joke that hit me at my absolute tenderest spot. Did I drop an "Fš£ that" in reaction? sure did š¤¦š¼āāļø have I ever done that? noooope. so, banner week.
š Tiktok brought me some joy again this week, so here's a lil round up :)
šŗ An anthem for those who work -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsymcRg/
šŗ Slighty spicy caption, but *chefās kiss* -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyuhWe/
šŗ Beautiful Soul remix, for Jesse at 34 -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyWEra/
šŗ āObsessed with the raptureā autotune story -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyCFWX/
šŗ Best take on this -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsysrnt/
šŗ Explaining a TikTok trend to someone from 2014 -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyxpvT/
šŗ āJosh Groban doesnāt existā -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsygArr/
šŗ This Spotify playlist sent me -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyGcgW/
šŗ My favorite wildest dream -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyQUU6/
šŗ Bobās Burgers -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyQcUC/
šŗ This sound lives in my head rent-free -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyxQ1C/Ā / the reverse is equally good -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsyXWrB/
šŗ Hoedown Throwdown, in nature, as God intended-Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsy7uku/
šŗ And a lil cover for your weekend -Ā https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRsy3V9E/
I'm so glad you mentioned The Book of Belonging! I've been following Marri on Instagram for a while now and she is such a thoughtful and intentional parent, I hope I can be like her someday as a mom. Anyway! Woohoo, I'm so excited for the kickstarter to preorder some books for my future family!
Hello, friends!
Each week I read through Erinās words and spend a little time soaking up your lives vicariously, but I always feel so uninteresting when thereās just nothing I have to contribute to the joys and the treasures. š I know my life āis what it isā, and this season is transient ā one day my momās struggles will no longer be my own challenge ā but it *is* sobering to not have anything of interest for the rest of the world. Even in a circle of trust that this community has become. Thatās not to be a downer or to beg assurances, because truly Iām in a great emotional space with a very cushy life (thanks, Mom and Dad). Itās just an interesting observation Iāve had in the past month. What a strange thing to be completely ācomfortableā as a result of one parentās death and another parentās decline. š¤·š»āāļø God works in the most unusual ways. Believe me, Iām fully aware of the beauty heās making out of ashes in my life. But itās still the most bizarre place to live.
In a few comments already Iāve mentioned my love of these dormant seasons (which was already true before my current phase of life), and I do hope yāall can find some brightness in them, too. I get my funks in the hot seasons; when most others are celebrating the sun and talking about energy, Iām sweating from a single walk into another air-conditioned room and lying beside a fan in various stages of undress. Texas summer sun sucks my soul. So when the weather changed this week and I could open the windows at dawn and close them at bedtime, you better believe my spirit has been revived!
In the second week of September I came down with an illness that suspiciously acted like COVID, causing me to isolate in a single bedroom for 5 days and wear masks in the house (Mom, too) whenever I emerged. We experienced our first nasopharyngeal swabs to get tested, worried through 2 more days until the results, and were SO RELIEVED when it was negative. The week was the most bored Iāve felt in ages (thereās only so much āScandalā one can binge at a time! š„“), and made me appreciate the human contact of even just my housemate/mother. It was a very enlightening experience for this resolute introvert! I think Iām getting to an age of understanding the need for human touch, even when I donāt really care for it.
The recovery afterward ā it was just a horrific sinus infection, we think ā has been slow and exhausting (my energy is barely returned), and then this week I spent 2 days with the most excruciating throbbing in my *knees*. š¤Æ My mom said, āWelcome to getting old. Get used to it. Any time the weather changes.ā š² Itās given me a new purpose: itās time to lose all my extra weight. For real. And without excuse. Iām not looking forward to it, and I know myself well so that typical āprogramsā donāt work for me, but I think I have proper motivation finally. Seriously, getting old sucks when youāre barely 50. š«
āļø Joys this month have been creating with paper and celebrating Fall Vibes with the Liāl Swipes gift exchange ā Jacki (who has the most incredible birth name of Jacquetta! Did yāall know that?) brightened my whole month with her very personalized package to me!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CULCy9irBvJ
š©š»āš» I took inspiration from Anne Bogel to organize my far-flung TBR lists into a single spreadsheet with notes and library locations to help me make better decisions when Iām ready to choose my next book.
--> The podcast of inspiration: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/293-episode/
--> My spreadsheet in progress. Itās massive but makes my nerd-heart so happy. š
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iN81K43mYSMKzXgwt-UIk1dzT6cCGzYtIriNKOWD11c
š Iāve gotten back into my reading groove, which happens twice a year when the weather gets cool in the fall and first-warm in the spring. In the past weeks Iāve read The Plot, Crying in H Mart, The Midnight Library, The Other Black Girl, Malibu Rising, Gold Diggers, and A Winterās Promise; all very good, though Malibu Rising irked me in the middle section. My fave was A Winterās Promise, and it totally shocked me because Iād never heard of it two months ago and didnāt realize it would be so atmospherically striking! It gave me the same vibes as The Night Circus, my top 3 fave book of all time. Who knew?!?
Currently Iām reading Dark Matter on audio, and slowly working through Essentialism and We Should All Be Millionaires (the last 2 because The Lazy Genius told me to read them. š) Itās been a great reading season! The 24-Hour Readathon comes again next month and Iām thinking I might tackle Lord of the Rings again in honor of the filmsā 20th anniversary. Perfect for this season.
Alright. Iāve been lounging in bed for 3 hours, enjoying the cool breeze through an open window and letting my heart soar with reconnection to you guys. My spirit loves these Friday boosts! Wishing you the best weekend available, of course. š Tomorrow we celebrate my grandnieceās 3rd birthday with a Care Bears party. Itās the first time sheās understanding what her birthday means, and she has so much joy and so much curiosity and so much ATTITUDE. I love everything about her. LOL
My gift to her is the Birthday Care Bear (lights! sounds! sparkle!) and this most incredible little book: https://youtu.be/McKHNjjwfts
I canāt wait to read it to her. š
I am not a fan of fall. I'm a summer person. In WV, our fall weather is extremely annoying (to me). We have 30 degree temp shifts from morning to afternoon to night, which makes it hard to get dressed and keep your house at a consistent temp. One day it's 60, the next it's 90. We have a lot of rain and lingering clouds, which makes me think of and dread the gray season - January through March - when the sun is nowhere to be found. To me, fall is the precursor to dreaded winter. I also feel extremely constricted in jeans, long sleeved shirts and close toed shoes. Please give me all the shorts and flip flops and sundresses. I do attempt to find some treasures in it, such as Halloween, fall beverages and treats, football and bonfires. I often feel like people legitimately get mad at me when I say I don't like or am not excited about fall! I'm not trying to yuck someone else's yum when it comes to fall. It's just not my time!
Good morning, all!!!
I just love this time of year!!!
Treasures:
- Cooler weather
- We joined a marriage small group through church and I didn't think Jordan would be interested in it at all, but we had our 2nd meeting this week and he actually participated and really enjoyed it.
- This weekend I made this Butternut Squash Pasta Carbonara from Half-baked Harvest and it was amazing! So yummy and seasonal: https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/butternut-squash-pasta-carbonara/
- I think I'm going to make this 4 Cheese Roasted Garlic Alfredo Stuffed Spaghetti Squash this weekend: https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/alfredo-stuffed-spaghetti-squash/
- I love this video of influencers in the wild in memory of 9/11: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CTr6VCTjMgn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Turds:
- We finally have fall-ish weather here. I wore a sweater to work yesterday and I was so cozy. I wore a sweater again today and the heat is on and they can't get it to turn off. It's 80 degrees in our office. I'm melting
That's it! I can't wait to catch up with y'all in the comments!!! <3
Erin I am so happy that you all are finally in your home - the bath mats look so cute and what a gift that House Peace came to unpack for you! I am jealous.
You asked what makes us hopeful, and I feel like I might have an answer that is truly opposite of how you feel about winter lol.
The changing of the season makes me hopeful. Even though I know we are soon to enter snow and cold and dark days, it is easy to feel like time has stopped and we are forever stuck in this pandemic/racial unrest/political unrest. The changing of the seasons reminds me that time truly has passed, and it has passed before and it will keep marching on in the future. And sometimes I wonder if people will ever change their hard hearts - the news certainly makes it seem like they canāt - but if seasons change, I can only hope that people will, too.
Anyway. On to treasures!
Been a pretty uneventful week here and I am just working on re-decorating our living room. It makes me really exciting to have a new space that we were so intentional about and that weāll love.
I got to put up fall decor this week! We keep seasonal decor pretty minimal but I think itās just enough to make me feel excited for the pumpkin picking and leaf-looking and cider drinking to come.
The biggest turd is that I somehow got stuck basically planning/hosting a party for my friend - she gets married next Friday and so her Maid of Honor needed help planning a bachelorette party. I offered to help, because I love to plan and I am a bridesmaid, but I was trying SO HARD to not let the Enneagram 2 take over and do everything myself. My time and my budget wonāt allow it. Well, I found out the other day that the MOH didnāt request work off and has to work during the party, so she canāt come. Wish me luck as I try to do everything! Thereās only 4 bridesmaids and one of them is her 14 year old sister and the other is so busy (but she has offered to help so I donāt want to discount that!)
Anyway - thanks for all your advice last week with my new boss. I was able to talk to some people who know him and get advice and I feel prepared for what to do next time!
Cant wait to read about your weeks!
Life often feels overwhelming but these things gave me hope this week:
-hearing my three year old warbling āoh danny boyā it is truly as cute as you are imaging.
-taking epsom salt baths (on my pt therapist recommendation following treatment). I am not a huge bath person but they have been a nice end to the day.
-a phone call with an old friend. It is fun to rail against how much we hate the phone but hearing her sweet voice in real time was such a treat.
-pumpkin pie season at costco is here again. This GF gal scoops out the filling and it is a totally acceptable breakfast item.
Happy fall!
Treasures are quick today cause...work bleh. But I'm so grateful for Erin and this group every week making me laugh and reminding me I'm not alone.
- This girl with the kind of pep talk I can actually handle right now https://www.instagram.com/p/CTw-EMxjhtT/
- These words that I will be returning to often https://www.instagram.com/p/CUKrLZBLhKd/
I love you all (and do not feel weird about saying it every week to strangers I've never met because y'all are just that amazing and weird and lovely.)
(((BIG PRE-2020 HUG)))
It was a tough homeschooling week at our house. We had quite a few moments of tears and butting heads, mostly due to my oldest having more work this year than in the past. What gave me hope, though, was that I was quicker to flex than I have been in the past; I realized quickly that I canāt make my children bend, but I can bend and that might help them be more flexible, too. And, it did help a little, so I am hopeful that, over time, weāll all become more flexible - but I had to go first.
Treasures:
š: Lectio 365 on my back deck with coffee in the crisp fall morning air. By the afternoons it gets into the 80s, but the cool mornings are brining me life before I start my day.
š: planning my oldestās birthday present - we are gifting him a family trip to KC where he gets to make a bunch of the decisions, and it has brought out my creative side. I wrote a whole poem for him, and I had so much fun writing it and researching options for him.
šŖ: Only Murders in the Building on Hulu. It really feels like a true crime podcast in that at the end of every episode, I want to know what is going to happen next. And the dialogue make me LOL regularly.
May your weekend be filled with hope and crisp fall breezes!
Good Morning Lil' Swipes!!!
I'm sitting in a PD session for faculty and staff but checking in with y'all is far more interesting. I hope everyone is well. We are finally at the end of the back to school gauntlet and things are smoothing out 'round here which is v. welcome because I am freakin' TIRED. I even took the step this week of asking my boss for a work from home arrangement and/or going to part time. This is a bit of a risk as our school culture is NO BREAKS and more more more but they do respect advocating for our own wellness so I am hopeful. š¤š¼
Erin I was thinking about what you said about fall and winter and it's fascinating to me how differently people see things. For me, being neurodiverse and having some significant sensory issues, winter is a sacred time when the world is quieter, the views are more restful, and there are less people about in general. The cold and dark are a welcome respite from the glaring, relentless sun and an invitation to be wrapped in soft cozy layers, all of which are so soothing for folks like me. Even the food is nicer in winter: all warming and nourishing compared to the sharp acidic nature of summer foods. I'm convinced I was a mole in a previous life because the cold and dark are such a balm to me. Candles, twinkle lights, warm drinks... what's not to love? Anyway, if you dread winter, maybe this pov will help you appreciate its quieter gifts.
A few treasures to share:
1. I am reading this book and it is wonderful if you are like me and freakin' adore post apocalyptic fiction: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40698027-a-boy-and-his-dog-at-the-end-of-the-world
2. I started watching The X Files (on Hulu) from the beginning and now have a full blown crush on it. The sweet chemistry between Mulder & Scully, the nineties jewel tones, the government conspiracy story line that just seems quaint now.... perhaps I am just feeling nostalgic but something about watching 90s shows just soothes me. The world was so much simpler then.
3. My ex-Goth girl is thriving at her new job, making friends and being invited to fun things. She's getting more confident driving and has been so helpful running errands for me. She has also been getting more responsible at home with chores. All hail the maturation process! šš»
Ok, that's all for now friends. I wish for you an excellent weekend with crisp air that's a little chilly so you need a sweater (I can't really think of anything better than that.) Stay safe y'all! So glad to be part of your day today and you part of mine.š
I made this last night and it's ALREADY GONE! https://www.butterbeready.com/easy-apple-crisp/