Gratitude Challenge 8/30: Nature

 I have NEVER been able to keep houseplants alive. Seriously. I killed a 50 year old Jade plant. I killed ivy from my wedding, at a house literally surrounded by invasive ivy. I killed spider plants and cacti. If it was green, I was killing it. I kind of figured that I was already keeping so many other life forms alive that I should just accept my limitations and move on. 

But then! I planted this funny little succulent from Trader Joes in a pot in the front yard and before I knew it, the thing had blown up. Then a friend gifted me a Jade plant for a housewarming gift and it didn't die. Then a rubber tree impulse buy, then a nerve plant that dramatically wilts when it's thirsty, and so on and so forth. And now I'm a person with plants in my house. Lots of them! (Maybe even too many. Who knows?) For my birthday C took me to a nursery and I asked the guy working there "Will I kill this one?" and when he asked how I do with other houseplants I sheepishly admitted that I'd been keeping several alive for enough time to discount luck as the reason. 

It's a funny little hobby and I love it. I exclaim genuinely when I notice new growth and even texted a picture of a baby leaf to a friend. Plus it makes my house feel cozy :) 

Plant gifts (all still alive!) 

Baby leaf! 

Gratitude challenge 7/30: Love

I don’t know about you, but starting November 1 I am fully in holiday shopping mode, and I LOVE gift guides. These are some of the things that I have absolutely loved, and that if I ever get around to hosting a Favorite Things party will be at the top of my list. 

These clips for the car. They will 100% change your life and I promise that you need them. I hang my water bottle and my purse from them and when I hit the brakes nothing falls onto the floor! 

This travel mug/coffee press. It’s sturdy AND fancy! 

This fanny pack was the MVP of our Disney trip. This one from Lululemon was my first pick, but it didn’t get delivered in time. Now I have both because I guess I’m a two fanny pack person now? 

Vinyl sticker packs. I'm obsessed with these and you get SO many for so cheap. Who doesn't love stickers? 

Silicone Baking Mat. I am NOT a fancy baker. What I am though, is a lazy kitchen cleaner and these mats make it so much easier to clean up. 

Help me out. What little things do you love that would make awesome gifts (for a Favorite Things party or otherwise)? 

Gratitude Challenge 6/30: Courage

 We went to San Francisco! To a concert! With people! AND I wore a crop top. 

Last time we went to a hip hop concert I got really sick because I’m so square that I’m literally allergic to marijuana. Turns out the masks are doubly awesome now. No COVID and I didn’t puke. 

It’s weird to start doing normal things again, with strangers, but everyone had to show vaccine cards which made me feel a bit better. And it was so fun to date my husband for a night :)

Gratitude Challenge 5/30: Health (alternative title: "Another Fucking Post About CrossFit?")

 A vegan, an Atheist, and a CrossFitter walk into a bar. How do you know? Because they won't shut up about it. 

Over the last six months or so, I've lost nearly 20 pounds, averaged 5 workouts/week, and stopped drinking sodas. It's the first time in my life that my focus has been on being stronger/healthier rather than on being smaller, and it's probably connected that it's the first time that my efforts haven't felt like self-flagellation. 

I've been tracking my food, which in the past has been a bit of a minefield for me. Last night I plugged in the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (full-size, both cups) without a second thought. I'm sleeping better. I'm sore a lot of the time (in a good way) but my body feels strong and effective. My anxiety is so much less impactful and I feel overall more balanced and centered. I'm a huge nerd and sometimes will video myself in the gym. I was watching my latest tape this week and fleetingly noticed that my belly was...not shown in the most flattering light. I noticed it, and then moved on. I didn't obsess over it. I didn't get rid of that shirt or lament that my efforts weren't working or even let that stop me from sharing the video with a friend. I just...noticed. 

It's really nice to fit into my clothes in a new way that I think is more visually appealing. What's even nicer is FEELING cute. It's awesome to break 100 lbs on a lift that I've been working on. It's even nicer to FEEL strong. Someone made one of those obnoxious "29?" jokes when they heard it was my birthday (BTW, that's obnoxious and patronizing and I wish people wouldn't do it) and while I did the stupid polite laugh, inside I wanted to say that I feel better now than I did for most of my 30s. 

I am so grateful to finally be in a place of feeling good about my body and my health choices and even more-so, I'm grateful that my kids are in a house right now where they see their parents prioritizing wellness and health. 

C says, "Hey! You! You're doing a great job!" 

Gratitude Challenge 4/30: Laughter

 As I was thinking about this prompt yesterday, I knew that I wanted to feature Sydney's laugh. I searched and searched for a video so that you all could hear her giggle and understand how magical it is. Her giggle is the unicorn covered in magical stardust and it's rare and fleeting but oh man. When you get it, it's pretty awesome. 

It's so awesome that it made me decide NOT to storm into the bathroom at 9:30 last night when I heard the hair clippers buzzing and had no idea what was happening, despite knowing that I have already paid the deposit and bought the outfits for family pictures in ten days. I waited anxiously, even after hearing Sydney say, "I think I can fix it." I figured once they were in it, better to let them finish whatever was happening than to interrupt it half-way. Also I was tired and didn't want to yell. 

Gratitude Challenge 3/30: Color

 

I snapped this picture on the way out the door this morning (hence the fog and skeletal dog). This is one of my favorite little corners of the house. I absolutely love the orange chairs, and now with the green plants it's the most delightful little happy when I walk down the stairs first thing in the morning. 

My decorating style has always been a little "give me the big box of crayons with the built-in sharpener" but when it comes together like this it really makes my heart sing. If you want to play along tell me what colors you're grateful for today! 

Halloween/Birthday Photo Dump (also, turns out I wore three different costumes?)

I work in an office now where people dress up for Halloween AND I can wear denim. So of course I had to channel Rosie. Averson declared this the perfect office costume since it's not offensive, not distracting, AND I can sit in it. Agreed on all fronts. 

Because I'm a grown-up, I don't get a lot of birthday presents anymore which made it that much more exciting when a package from a friend showed up with these delightful shower steamer things (even better since I'm not a bath person) and a Crossfit keychain

And speaking of CrossFit. I got up at 7:00 on a Saturday to work out as Snow White and it was SO FUN. Even if the workout had wall walks which are... not great in a running skirt. But how cute is this outfit?!  

Birthday donuts are the best donuts 

Weeks ago I told C that I wanted to go out to breakfast and then to a local plant shop/vintage mall for my birthday. Then on Saturday night the shop announced on their IG that they were going to be closed for the holiday. I maybe pouted a little (or a lot) but C rallied and found another shop to go to. Eli joined us and it was the BEST morning. 

They 100% bought these hats

My pretties! 

I don't know who I've become, but I like her and she keeps things alive with more frequency than not. 

After plant shopping shenanigans, I cleaned my house and got everyone ready for Halloween. Usually I don't like school night Halloween, but this one was totally lovely and everyone was done by 9:00. 

The first year that my three aren't in the same picture. I only cried a tiny bit :( 

Sydney and her friend were matching Peppa Pigs, Averson was Mulan, and Eli was some rando thing that his friends put together and is likely just an excuse to flex. 

My mom handout out candy and was super spooky, and also kind of looked like an animatronic decoration. Also also, I bought this shawl at the nursery and it's my new favorite thing. 

Once the crowd was done trick-or-treating, Sydney asked if she and I could hit another couple of streets. Then we came home and sorted her haul while we watched Gilmore Girls. She giggled and was delightful and used hashmarks to count everything because she's a giant neurotic nerd and I love her. 

I also love this red sweat suit more than is reasonable and put it back on last night. So that's another thing I do now is wear matching sweats in ridiculous colors unironically.