Feel Good Friday 96
Hello and happy Friday! This week, the fall equinox rolled through which always feels like a great time to press refresh. For me, personally, that means taking better care of myself as we head into these cozying up kind of months. I’ve done OK, but with Chris traveling so much over the last two months, I haven’t gotten enough sleep and my eating habits haven’t been the best – too much snacking and too much cheese has hit me internally and externally. As I set my intentions for the rest of the year, my top two are to take better care of me and to work on my relationships with my kids, making more space for quality time with them individually. While I’d like to focus on my career and writing more, the timing feels off at the moment and I’m listening to the voice in my head – or perhaps it’s in my heart – telling me that there will be more time for that later, but there won’t be more time to spend with the teens. How about you? What is your focus for rest of 2021? While you ponder, let’s jump into the good stuff!
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My Simple Fall Porch
Last week I shared a little peek at my new fall mat, but I spent some QT with Wilder at the farmers market picking out pumpkins. I usually love to get heirlooms, but kept it simple this year with basic orange and white. I hung the DIY fall banner I painted last year. It’s all really underwhelming to be honest, but pumpkins make me extremely happy. Every time I walk in the door now, I can’t help but smile.
Fall Mantel and Lazy Dogs
Last weekend, I decorated the mantel for fall with some simple (my MO lately) warm wand earthy decorations – vintage amber glasses with feathers, wooden beads and candles. I took this photo as I was busting my rear on the Peloton and the dogs were practically mocking me by laying there resting. Look at the smirk on Catcher’s face! How can they rest when I am close to dying!?
Aaaaw, Baby Kale is so cute!
I had no idea baby kale was a thing, but the farmer had some last week at the market and I bought it because it was “baby” and sounded so cute. Look at its squishy little cheeks! I came home and immediately took to Pinterest to figure out what to do with it, besides rock it and sing to it. I came across this ridiculously simple (that word again!) salad for which we already had the ingredients. As you can see, I didn’t have shaved parmesan and used shredded – vegan at that because my forehead doesn’t like cheese. Anyhow, I loved it! Fresh, light and easy, and oh so cute. I will say, it called for a lot of pine nuts and cheese and next time we’ll cut it back a bit.
Dough-n’t ya know?
My kids are insanely picky and when I make homemade pizza with a crust they used to love, they snub their noses. I decided it was time for a new pizza crust recipe and googled “the best homemade pizza crust.” This one had over 11k reviews and 5 stars, so I went for it. We all agreed it tasted great but I need to make it even thinner before baking it. We’ll definitely use this one again next time we do homemade pizza!
Check out my muffin top
I’ve shared this paleo pumpkin quick bread before, but we make it all the time once fall hits (or slightly before, as we did this time). Emmy likes to take it to school in her lunch, so we’ve decided to make it into muffins for easier traveling. They don’t quite have the same rise as regular muffins, but they taste amazing and Emmy’s happy. Wilder also loves them and I will do anything I can to sneak veggies into my kids.
Through the grapevine
At the end of August, we worked on revamping Emmy’s room for her high school years ahead. Unfortunately, the bedding we ordered mid-August won’t be here until November. But I wanted to share a little peek of it. We’re also working on Wilder’s room because he’s not a baby anymore. I’m not crying. As soon as we have Emmy’s bedding, I’ll be sharing a full room reveal with all of the details!
Dino-mite sheets
Wilder’s bedroom makeover hasn’t started, but we’ve got wallpaper samples coming and I’ve been rug and bed shopping. I showed him a couple of beds and his response was, “No, I just want my bed,” meaning his crib that’s currently acting as a toddler bed. Emmy and I were in Target and spied these dinosaur sheets which I’m hoping can convince him to get into a bed because they don’t come in toddler size. The color is perfect for the wallpaper we’re considering. 😉
Thrifting with my girl
Last weekend, the local farmers market had an event called “Curiosities at the Curb.” It was sort of a flea market type of thing and Emmy and I found a couple of great treasures. I scored the little painting above for just $5 and she found some jewelry. Plus a local coffee shop was there with pumpkin cupcakes, so total win! The best part of it was just spending time with Emmy in the car and walking around with her. That’s what I’m talking about when I say I need more of that in the months to come.
An Awaited Read
Did you ever read All the Light We Cannot See? I read it several years back and just loved the story. Anthony Doerr is masterful! I just received a copy of his newest book, Cloud Cuckoo Land and can’t wait to dive in. The idea behind it sounds so fascinating but also very humanistic. It comes out Tuesday, September 28!
An Event for Locals
If you are local, come out to Joymongers on Saturday for a day full of fun! I will be there from 5-9 (with Chris) as part of our O.Hey pop-up with an amazing Alphalit Triad photo opp, loads of awesome prizes and swag! Plus, Girls Gather Triad will be there from 2-7, featuring local female entrepreneurs slinging goods! And, of course, Joymongers has incredible beer and ambience. We actually went there last week pre-anniversary dinner.
Life’s Little Moments
Speaking of our anniversary, we celebrated 18 years this past Monday. Chris was out of town this week, so we went out over the weekend. We actually had plans to go to a Big Head Todd & the Monsters concert, having bought tickets in May when things were looking more hopeful. Well, we bailed on our tickets because it didn’t feel safe and instead went to Joymongers which is outdoors and a garage and followed it up with dinner at Machete, a favorite place! We booked a table at their open air counter. We ate, we drank and had a great night ringing it in.
Cheers!
Finally, my favorite moment of our actual anniversary day came when I was showing my kids some wedding photos the actual evening of our anniversary, when it was just me and them at home:
Wilder: Why did you become the white princess?
Me: Because sometimes people wear white dresses when they get married.
Wilder: No, I’m gonna wear a dinosaur costume.
And now, my friend, although I can wait and do not want my littlest to grow up too soon on me, I also cannot wait for that wedding day to see him get hitched dressed as a T.Rex. Ha!