30's-Something Ponderings

Today was a rare day.  For the first time in as long as either of us could remember, Chris left for the office and I stayed home.  On any normal Thursday, I would have a morning full of emails and to-dos and an afternoon of showings or playdates.   Today, however, I had very little work and zero appointments.  I found myself tackling projects around the house that hadn't been touched since my "stay at home" days: organizing the linen closet, deep cleaning the library, bleaching and ironing shower curtains.  Little tasks that so easily get thrown aside in a busy household but the same tasks that used to bring me simple joy.  As I neatly folded the towels and arranged them Ralph Lauren-style on the shelves, I was suddenly overwhelmed with so much grace and compassion for early 30's Ashley who so diligently kept her home as though any minute Martha Stewart's magazine journalists would be knocking on her door for an editorial.  Early 30's Ashley who managed to keep house, juggle preschool carpool, instruct a full piano studio, AND have the self-discipline and willpower to maintain a fit physique.  I have so much admiration for her and for all of her grit.  She fearlessly lead her household and, above all else, was a fantastic mother.  Always planning fun things for her beautiful children, always making sure they knew how much they were loved.   

As I round out my last year in my 30's, I wonder how much compassion the "Then-Ashley" would have for "Now-Ashley."  Would she have been able to stomach the fact that for the past THREE weeks, present-day-Ashley went back to bed every single time after morning carpool?  Would she have extended grace to the now-me mom who definitely allows too much screen time and too much junk food?  Or would she have agreed that after doing all-the-things for so long, it was OK to slow down, just a bit, and go back to bed after carpool without guilt?

Georgia has had the absolute pleasure of experiencing a true fall this year with chilly mornings and warm afternoons.  As we've heard many times, nature has a way of showing us that letting go can be beautiful.  In her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Maria Kondo talks about expressing gratitude towards things before letting them go.  As the last autumn of my 30's breezes in, I'm reminded that it's ok to fondly gaze on the incredible woman I was in my 30's while still having gratitude for where I currently am.

In Pursuit of a Gracious Homelife

Excitement of blooms.

The colors all fall to earth.

Carpet of petals.

Our Spring 2020 was ushered in with unprecedented uniqueness.  The whole world, it seems, had slammed on the breaks.  Chris celebrated his second week of working from home.  The children had completed their first week of Long-Term School Closure homeschooling assignments.  Likewise, I had successfully completed a week of virtual piano lessons in my studio. 

This break-but-not-a-break came at us somewhat unexpected (I mean, at some point, we all knew closures were inevitable, but really- did anyone expect to become their child's schoolwork implementors from mid-March through the end of the year?).  When the call finally came, I knew we needed to set some ground rules to not only help us survive but to set us up for success in thriving during our extended time together at home.

Photo by Kaboompics .com from Pexels

As many type-A parents shared on social media, I, too, created a schedule to help us make sure we maintained structure during our two-week-turned-three-month intermission from regularly scheduled programming.  Over the week, we adjusted and fell into a very gentle routine.  I wanted to share bits of our routine with my readers in hopes of bringing inspiration for thriving during this quiet time.

Photo by Burst from Pexels

8:00-9:00 We all appreciate sleeping in and leaving our alarm clocks set to off allow us time to naturally wake each morning.  We allow the children to have a slow morning as Chris and I make our French press coffee and go through the day's work commitments.  I'll journal in my gratitudes and affirmations journal, check email, balance our budget, and print out the children's many pages of work for the day.  

10:00-1:00  These are the times I've been holding my virtual piano lessons.  I've fought the virtual lesson model for quite a while and still do not believe it to be the most pedagogically sound means of instruction, but it works for the time being.  The fact that it's new to my students does make it exciting and it is fun to see them in their homes and see them playing their own instruments!  

This is also the time Fiona and Eliot watch their instructional videos (sent by their amazing teachers each morning) and complete their homework sheets.  It's so funny what resources you find you need more of each day and one we quickly realized we need to make sure was on hand was plenty of printing paper and ink!

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

1:00-4:00 Afternoons allow free time for myself and the children.  This is generally when I'll walk out to get the newspaper and complete the daily sudoku.  If I leave it out, Chris will sometimes squeeze in the crossword puzzle.  Our chickens have recently decided there are so many more interesting places to lay eggs other than their nesting box, so daily Easter egg hunts provide fresh air and entertainment!

Photo by VisionPic .net from Pexels

5:00 If the weather has let up at all (which surprisingly it does, most days) we'll take a family walk.  We have many options in our neighborhood and surrounding sidewalks for short and long walks and it provides much-desired exercise and fresh air.

6:00 We've been attempting to have earlier (for us) dinners and have continued to enjoy the various meal box subscription services we rotate through each month.  Our favorites have been Everyplate, HelloFresh, HomeChef, and Marley Spoon.  While these meal kits are generally not cheaper than going to the store and purchasing all of the ingredients yourself, they do a fabulous job of providing a variety of recipes that we wouldn't normally think of creating.  Additionally, all of the ingredients are appropriately portioned so that you're not purchasing a large amount of an ingredient you rarely use only to throw out the unused portion a week later.  

7:30 Early dinners normally allow for a family movie night.  So far we've watched Pitch Perfect 1, 2, & 3, Starwars IV, and Mean Girls.  My daughter is now slightly obsessed with acapella versions of pop songs.  We finally started a trial of Disney + and look forward to exploring its programming over the next few weeks.

Photo by Elizaveta Dushechkina from Pexels

9:00 We've attempted to keep bedtime relatively early and because of that I still have time for my nightly bathtime ritual which helps in keeping a sense of normal to my days.  I've been reading a whole lot at night and recently finished Death at Chateau Bremont and just started Where the Crawdads Sing which I'm absolutely loving.  I've noticed that many of the books I read take a few chapters (sometimes up to half-way through) to really catch my attention and keep me wanting to read.  Delia Owen's best seller immediately captured my interest and I've been reading multiple chapters a day.

While this peculiar time is still somewhat of a novelty, my hope is that we can graciously continue in this slow, steady rhythm, and are able to look back to this time fondly.

FTC: This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.  Links may be affiliate.

In Pursuit of Local Fare... Citizen Soul of Alpharetta

This post was originally going to be an addition to a "Linger Moments" post, but after writing it, I decided it deserved its own place.  So, get cozy and prepare to get hungry as you read about Alpharetta's new offering, Citizen Soul.

Just when you thought Alpharetta didn't need another restaurant, along comes one that makes you realize what's been missing all along.  Citizen Soul is situated on South Main Street, Alpharetta, directly in front of the new Alpharetta City Hall.

Don't let their Northern Californian pub-style fare conjure up images of dark, seedy pubs.  Instead, think refined comfort food with a cozy yet bright atmosphere.

Unique furnishings include a glass-case meat cooler and wine cellar.  Their menu changes seasonally to spotlight in-season produce, and even boasts a gluten-free fried chicken.  Their charcuterie and fromage plates are an absolute must, and their remarkable wine list has something for everyone.

Executive Chef, Asheville native Sean Clark (former executive chef of Aspens Steakhouse and mentor to head chefs at multiple Alpharetta restaurants) brings it home by giving us one more reason to skip the downtown traffic and stay in Alpharetta.

Our Visit to Laurel, Mississippi

This past March we made Diaz Family history when we traveled with our (two children) by car from Georgia to Texas for a long weekend.  Having prepared ourselves for the worst, we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived and realized we had beaten our anticipated 14 hours by 30 minutes.  Our children were rock-stars and we completed at least one full Harry Potter on Audible during our drive.

Fast forward to this past week, when we were on another adventure to Texas.  We decided to split our trip out to Dallas in two by stopping in Laurel Mississippi for a day to visit the HGTV's town of Home Town.  I was a little apprehensive about splitting the drive into two days.  Were we tempting fate by having our children spend not one day, but two (in a row!) in an uncomfortable car seat?

We arrived in Laurel on a Sunday evening and after checking into our Airbnb, we decided to explore the historic town.  The ride to the downtown area was like stepping back in time!  The homes were like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting; a piece of the past frozen in time.

Once we arrived in the city, we were greeted by proverbial tumbleweeds as it was COMPLETELY shut down on this Sunday evening.  It did provide some amazing photo opportunities since we didn't have to share the landmarks, sidewalks, or streets with anyone.  We did run into Pearl's (of The Pearl Diner) son, who graciously offered us some water before we went on our way.  We made a list of the stores we would visit the next morning and headed back to the developed part of town to introduce the children to Hibachi (very un-southern, I know).

The next morning we started our adventure with gooey sticky and cinnamon buns from Sweet Somethings Bakery.  The buns were about as large as the children's heads and the entire place smelled heavenly.

From there we made our way down the street per Chris' request to the Southern Antiques store.  The main floor featured plenty of non-antique farmhouse decor but the upstairs bosted a whole floor of antique dealers' booths.  I know I'm not alone when I say I love picking up pieces and dreaming of their stories.

After the antique store, we stopped in at Loblolly Boutique + Crescent Line Toys where it was the children's turn to dream of all of the fun they would have with all of the many toys they were mentally adding to their Christmas wish-list.

Finally, we made our way to Laurel Mercantile Co.  The painted building and vintage Chevy told us we had arrived!

It was fun pouring through the kitchen goods, flannels, and vintage plates and quilts.  Every area of the shop had descriptions and notes from Erin Napier, the founder of the store and star of the HGTV series, Home Town.  The first sign I read explained their mission to manufacture as many of the products in the USA as possible.

Our half-way-to-Texas-Laurel-trip was rounded out by a visit to Phillips Drive-In, where we were sent on our way to Texas with one of the best chili-cheese hot dogs washed down with a rootbeer float.

My prediction on the two days in the car for the kids being a bit much was completely correct (please show me a 4-7-year-old who can feel the difference between a 7-hour and 13-hour car ride), but well worth the detour.  The quaint "City Beautiful" is well on its way to being revived and we look forward to visiting again on our next voyage to Texas.

Summer Preview!

Last week was the last week of the children's school and after a nice long weekend, we have begun to settle into our summer schedule.

After my oldest started school, I realized quickly how sacred summers would become.  Precious days upon days with no schedule and no obligations.  The first summer came and went beautifully.  However, as she and my youngest started to get older I quickly realized that some structure would be required to ensure we all stayed sane.

All throughout the school year, I find myself saying, "Well if we didn't have school/homework/school events, we'd have time to do this [insert activity]."  Before school ended, I decided to list out those activities and create a "summer schedule" that would allow us to relax, but also give some structure to our days.

Some of the activities I wanted us to incorporate into our daily activities were baking, riding bikes, visiting parks, and having playdates with friends.  I do continue to teach piano during the summer and am very fortunate to have flexibility in when I schedule those lessons.  Additionally, the children have four weeks of swim lessons that we can schedule our activities around.

Finally, I really wanted to incorporate more chores for the children into our days.  They are all about lists and responsibilities.  They're even about getting things done when it's on said list and not just me telling them to do it.  Again, the school year (and waking up at the LITERAL crack of dawn) makes being consistent with chores difficult.

What I have found through creating this schedule is that our days are quite simple.  I think loosely following it will give us the satisfaction of accomplishing many things, but without feeling like we're running all over the place.  There are so many chances in this loose schedule for us to relax and connect.  I am so looking forward to having my children home this summer and creating memories with both of them!

Fiona's Art Club Rock Painting Party

Very few people can say that they have never been inspired by Joanna Gaines and our recent Spring Break Rock Painting Party was no exception.  In the recent Magnolia Journal, Mrs. Gaines showed beautiful pictures and detailed particulars about a party her and her girls threw for some friends.  The party was hosted in the new "Garden and Potting Shed" which I am certain is decorated better than any of the living spaces in my home (don't get me wrong- I love Fixer Upper and own all of the Gaines' books and magazines and have made the Pilgrimage to both the "Shop on Bosque" and the Silos... but let's call it what it is, people.  It's really more of Botanical-Flower-Arboretum slash Gorgeous-Girlfriend-Creative-Hangout-Spot).

Around the same time, Fiona decided she wanted to start an art club where her friends could come over and do art projects together.  This child is so creative and is not only a visionary but a doer.  It's really remarkable to see the wheels spinning in her head and to see her ideas come to fruition.

Since the kids were out of school, and my husband's recent outdoor project was near completion, we decided to throw a "Rock Painting Party."

Our city (and many cities, I'm sure) started a community project of painting, hiding, and finding rocks.  The kids absolutely love it and we decided to have some friends over to paint some of our own to hide (or keep).

Y'all, this was such a huge hit and fun treat.  It was one of the easiest art projects I've ever put together which literally just required rocks, paint, and paint brushes.   Friends were asked to bring a smock to cover their clothes.  We found a bag of smooth river-type rocks at Home Depot for under $15.  I know we probably could've gone out and found our own rocks but personally, I prefer the smooth, polished look of the paint on the river rocks.  We spruced up our paint supplies with a few new colors and bought a 24-pack of assorted brushes.

Before our friends arrived, I put out some easy refreshments the kids could put in cups and chilled a few bottles of rosé for the moms.  The kids had an absolute blast and were so creative with their rocks.  Eliot found a new love for all things red and we finished the rocks with some outdoor lacquer protectant spray.  The rocks dried pretty quickly so most friends were able to take them home that day.  

 

Any chance to visit and catch up is a luxury most days and to get to do it while our children were creating was an added bonus.  I can't wait to see what project Fiona decides to do for her next Art Club Meeting!

In Pursuit of the Arts

If you've been around my blog or any of my social media accounts, you know that I'm a lover of the arts and specifically music.  Recently while ushering an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert, I came across a page in Encore Atlanta that peaked my interest: a whole page of events geared towards children!  I wanted to take a moment to share these upcoming events with you.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's Upcoming Family and Education Events 

Musical Mondays (for children 5 and under)

Next Date: Monday, March 5, 10:00 am

Also available: Monday, April 2 and Monday, May 7

From Encore Atlanta: "A new hands-on music education experience for early learners and their caregivers to explore fun, engaging ways to make music together with movement, instruments, singing and more!"

Music for the Very Young (for children 1-5)

Next Date: Saturday, February 24, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, and 11:30 am 

Also available: Sunday, February 25, Saturday, March 10, Saturday, March 11

From ASO's website: "Bring your little ones along as we set off on a journey to discover Music Around the World. We will have a blast as we move and groove to the music of North America, South America, Europe, and Africa.  Join us as we explore the difference in melody, harmony, rhythm, dance, instruments, and more!"

Seuss at the Symphony (Family Concert)

Sunday, March 4, 3:00 pm

From Encore Atlanta: "Join Sam-I-Am and the gang as we meet Seuss at the Symphony!  Watch the timeless Dr. Seuss tale, Green Eggs and Ham come to life on stage along with Richard Einhorn's My Many Colored Days, and selections from Aaron's Copeland's Old American Songs." 

Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra "Crescendo Concert"

Sunday, March 18, 3:00 pm

From Encore Atlanta: "Enjoy the future of classical music with the region's most talented young musicians.  Tickets are only $12 and provide a great introduction to classical music for the novice, or an affordable family experience.  

January's Ta-Da's!

In keeping with my 2017 "Ta-Da!" theme, I'd like to offer my January 2018 "Ta-Da!" list!  A "Ta-Da!" list is a list of things you've accomplished.  Looking back at accomplishments is a great way to keep momentum in achieving the goals you wish to reach.

Daily

I feel like I'm about 50/50 on my daily goals.  I haven't been as consistent at writing down the things for which I am thankful, but I do feel myself thinking them throughout the day.

I've actually been getting to bed earlier, which helps EVERYTHING.  Not quite at 8 hours, but working my way there.

My prayers have been pretty consistent while my daily writing is hit or miss.  I feel like I've been doing a pretty decent job of getting pictures and stories on social media outlets.  I'm very proud to report to you (and my dentist in a few weeks) that I've only missed maybe two floss days!

I've done great at drying the dishes after each wash and seeing a clean sink when I walk into my kitchen is a reward in itself.

Weekly

We've done pretty well with the weekly movie nights with the kids... so far we've watched (or re-watched) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Coco, and The Little Prince.  These times are so precious and I really hope we can keep it up!  Chris and I have been OK with our date nights... most of the time it's either a double-date or a group date.  We're trying to get better about intentional time together so we'll see how February goes!

I've been decent about getting in the running and yoga and have enjoyed the weekly hot baths to help recover from the long runs.  Finally, I've been consistent in speaking to my parents weekly, which I've enjoyed.

Monthly

My monthly goals are some of my favorite goals and I can almost check all of them off!  

 This month I finished two books- Gone Girl and Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff.  We also finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone via audible, which was fun to listen to as a family.  We haven't had an official "date night" to discuss it, but we have discussed it at great length as a family.  We haven't gotten our entire family together for a dinner, but we have visited with most of our family one-on-one at least.  There were no races to report for January, but I've got one already finished for February and more scheduled for March and May.  Finally, one of my favorite monthly goals that I've accomplished is having coffee (or lunch or dinner or drinks).  I was able to have coffee with a dear friend and spend time catching up.  I also worked in two dinners with other friends.  I've got one lunch on the calendar for February and hope to squeeze a few more coffees in as well.  As a stay-at-home mom, I'm learning that these social interactions are so important for me and I am truly enjoying them.