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 "Sheltering-in-Place" Sanity

We've all seen the memes circulating about introverts' declaration that they've been preparing for self-quarantining their whole lives.  They're pretty funny and I would say most definitely true.  I am a self-proclaimed [outgoing] introvert whom upon hearing of a possible multi-week shut-in began dreaming of all the projects around the house that would be accomplished.  Being married to a very non-introverted outgoing extrovert, I quickly saw how being a homebody doesn't necessarily come as second nature to all.

So, I decided to put together a list of different daily and weekly events that one can look forward to during this quiet and sometimes lonely few weeks.

Learning New Music

With many hours in the day spent at home, this presents a great opportunity to learn that piece you've been putting off for a while.  I've also started looking into new artists that have much of their music available on Musescore, which offered a 30-day free trial.  Additionally, I've started picking up my guitar again (which my fingers do not appreciate) and it's comforting to have the house filled with music.

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Organizing

As I mentioned above, I dream of having extra hours to organize. Throughout the year, I like to go through cabinets, closets, drawers, etc. that have become overloaded and disorganized.  During our current stint at home, I've cleaned up the laundry room (and brought it back to its former glory shown here) and cleaned out all of our island drawers (containing flatware, cooking utensils, cooking tools, plastic containers, and the children's plastic dishes).  We also made a drop-off at Goodwill (which was surprisingly still opened) of donation items crowding our guest room and downstairs TV room.  Still left to complete include: 

1. My clothing drawers (I've accumulated about a million and a half t-shirts over the past few years of running in races)
2. The children's dresser drawers (because they're both in a growth spurt and definitely will not be fitting into their current school uniforms when school resumes in the fall)
3. The art cabinets (lesbihonest... I'll probably save this one for last)
4. The game/puzzle cabinet
5. The linen closet (I've done this fairly recently but feel it needs some tidying)

Two books that have really helped encourage me with organizing over the years are Emily's Ley's Simplified Life and Marie Kondo's Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.  

Le Tote

Two sisters turned me on to this service a few weeks before schools and such closed their doors.  It's a clothing rental service that offers different packages of clothing to borrow.  Once you're done with the clothes (either after a day or after a month), simply place in the large envelope (shipping's already included!) and stick it in the mailbox.  You do have the option of purchasing items you can't bear to send back.  This has been a little luxury that it's been fun to look forwards to every week or so.  New clothes (without having to leave the house) can definitely lift your spirits and keep you from falling into a "bla" mood.

Photo by Belle Co from Pexels

Zoom Happy Hours

You've received your first Le Tote shipment, which encouraged you to actually style your hair!  All dressed up with nowhere to go?  Nonsense.  Set up a free Zoom conference with a few friends and catch up over a glass of wine while safely remaining distanced.  I thought this was going to be super lame the first time around, but it was actually really fun to catch up with a group while each of us enjoyed the beautiful weather.  This will never take the place on live-action happy hours but is a great substitute while remaining socially responsible.

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Book Club

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, there seems to be so much more time to actually read for pleasure these days.  While reading in and of itself is entertaining, why not get a few friends together to read the same book then set a date to meet over video-conferencing to discuss it?  Most people would love the chance to join a book club but don't generally have the time to get the reading completed.  Use our extra time to set goals to complete books and make it extra fun by conversing with some pals upon the completion of each book.

Photo by Wendy van Zyl from Pexels

Bible Study

Another activity that I easily put off are Bible studies.  I'll very ambitiously purchase one while attending a conference but (full disclosure) most likely not complete it on my own.  When Chris and I were first married and many of my friends were having their first babies, I suggested a "book club" which focused on completing Bible studies and weekly meetings at each other's homes to discuss chapters over brunch.  It was such a fun time and a great way to stay involved with friends.  As we had more and more children, it became less and less simple to schedule times that worked for everyone.  I've recently started talking about getting together the old group to complete a study together over the next 6 weeks.  These studies will not only provide daily activities to complete but also added anticipation of weekly virtual gatherings.

I hope this list has provided you with additional means to stay entertained during this unprecedented time upon us.  While I realize most of these items listed are introverted in nature, I do hope some of them provide means to engage with others through the vast means of technology that is accessible!

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

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.

Linger Moments No. 10

lin·ger

/ˈliNGɡər/

verb

to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.

You know those moments: the ones often catching you by surprise, causing you to pause a little longer than perhaps intended.  Whether your upcoming weekend is one filled with activities or has the promise of being a relaxing weekend, you are invited to take a moment to linger before heading to the end of the week.

Faith and Fizz Bath Bombs

I experienced my first bath bomb (ever) last fall.  I bought it on a whim at a wine festival after I had avoided giving into the craze for many years.  I decided to try it because it smelled good and I'm a sucker for good scents.  It was (of course) amazing.  However, it was also $10.  Considering I draw a bath at least three times a week, I knew it would not be wise to incorporate this bombing routine on a nightly basis.  I started looking into shops on Etsy that would offer these bathtime explosives with high-quality ingredients but at a more reasonable price.  And then I found Faith and Fizz Soap Co.  She has an incredible assortment of bath bombs which she offers in multiple sizes!  My absolute favorite is the Charcoal and Rose bath bomb which has the most intoxicating scent of rose (without being overpowering).  The milky coconut and calendula bath bomb comes in at a close second!  All of her bath bombs contain special oils that always leave my skin feeling super silky.  Amber (the shop owner) is super friendly and even slips some samples into my orders which is always a fun surprise!  

Need2Know Daily Email

I can't even remember how I found this, but am so glad I did.  The Cheddar Need2Know Daily Email arrives in my inbox 5 days a week.  It provides a short snap-shot at political, economic, sports, pop-culture (etc) news and I absolutely love it.  They recently started a podcast of the same headlines contained in the daily email, but the email contains little quips that I feel the podcast just doesn't do as well.  There's always a retweet of the day (which is always hilarious) and every Thursday features a "Love it, Hate it, Ate it" section which never disappoints.  

Schar Gluten-Free Artisan Baker White Bread

Gulten-Free people, Rejoice.  For realz.  Eight years ago I started experiencing random complete-body hive breakouts.  They generally happened when I would get very hot and sometimes when exercising.   For a while I thought it might be rosemary, which happened to be a common denominator in a few of the reactions.  I later discovered that it was actually wheat-based gluten which I have since learned to avoid.  For those of you who know me, you know this situation is actually pretty sad.  Why?  Because Sandwiches. Are. My. Jam.  Like Garfield has his lasagna or Kevin his cheese pizza, sandwiches have always been my favorite thing.  I can tell you all of the best sandwich places in the Southeast.  I know the scientific formula for creating the best sandwich ever.  We literally celebrate several yearly seasons with very specific sandwiches. All of this to say that I have finally found a gluten-free bread that does not have the consistency of pudding, nor does it taste like a cornmeal trying to be a sandwich bread.  Schar Gluten-Free bread is the absolute BEST (EVEN better than the handmade gf breads from the local bakeries).  It's fine eaten plain but is absolutely amazing toasted.  I discovered it at our Publix (which no longer carries it) but have also found it at Sprouts.  

Linger Moments No. 9

lin·ger

/ˈliNGɡər/

verb

to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.

You know those moments: the ones often catching you by surprise, causing you to pause a little longer than perhaps intended.  Whether your upcoming weekend is one filled with activities or has the promise of being a relaxing weekend, you are invited to take a moment to linger before heading to the end of the week.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Coconut Almonds

I stumbled across these tasty little treats a few weeks ago and immediately fell in love.  It combines three of my favorite flavors into bite-sized deliciousness.  The almond is coated with a sweet coconut layer and covered in milk chocolate.  Added bonus: the serving size is 1/3 cup which contains approximately 20 pieces, definitely enough to satiate a sweet tooth.

When Life Gives you Lululemons

It's been 12 years since The Devil Wears Prada came out to movie theaters.  After seeing the movie, I decided to read the book which was great as well.  Apparently, ten years later, a sequel came out: Revenge Wears Prada.  I missed that sequel but somehow heard about the third book in the series, When Life Gives You Lululemons.  The characters include Miranda Priestly's former executive assistant, Emily Charlton, who spends a stint in the suburbs helping a new friend make a come-back from wrongly-accused police charges.  Ms. Weisburger's balances light and fun with suburban-suspense in her new book which would be a great quick pool read (and this was obviously originally written during the summer months).

Yoga with Adriene: 30 Days of Yoga

I stumbled across this YouTube channel when searching for a Yoga video I could watch and practice at home.  I do belong to a gym with yoga classes (both hot and not) that I love, but lately, things have been so active that stopping everything to go to a scheduled class just hasn't worked out.  While a 60-minute session can be an amazing addition to any day, it can take a whole lot of planning to coordinate the class schedule with carpool, chores, and other activities.  I was so excited to find Yoga with Adriene and started one of her 30-day yoga challenges.  After a little research, I found that she has a gazillion videos of every type of yoga imaginable (yoga for runners, weight-loss yoga, yoga for zombies (?!?)), and at least four 30-day yoga challenges, each with different themes.  She also has over 4.5 million subscribers, so chances are, you already know who I'm talking about.   I'm enjoying working through the one linked above and LOVE the flexibility of being able to roll out my mat and click on the video whenever my schedule allows.

My Goal for 2019

I am not a researcher.  I have immense respect for those who are and know many people who pour over Consumer Reports, create spreadsheets with the data, then determine the best course of action shown by their due diligence.  I am not one of those people.

However, I feel pretty secure in the fact that because I do know those type of people, I can trust their research and opinions.  Why is it, then, that I often find myself in a situation where so many people are telling me to try something, yet I completely brush it away, thinking, "Well, that works for them, but I know me and that would NOT work for me"?  I know that not everything is for everybody, but for some reason, I have deep urges to resist trends/products/habits that don't immediately appeal to me, even when many trusted friends (who have undoubtedly done their research) are telling me to try it.

So, I decided to make 2019's Goal be "Give It a Whirl."  To try the thing, product, habit that seems so far fetched for me, so out of my comfort zone.  I'm not expecting everything to be fabulous and 100% me, but at least I'll give it a try!  The things that I'll be trying out will not be things that I've been considering or things that I have been wanting to try out and just haven't.  They'll be legit, I've-been-purposely-avoiding-that-things.  

I've begun to record my 2019 "Give it a whirl" list.  I'm up to 13!  Rather than posting them all today, I'll share them as I go and will leave two I've begun/completed here for now.

1. Read The Help.  

I know, I know... who wouldn't want to read this book?  The truth is, I've had this book for several years now.  A friend gave it to me, strongly urging me to read it because she "knew I would like it!"  Well, I resisted.  To me, it was probably a sad book with a heart-warming ending.  I'll tell you right now, Nicholas Sparks ruined me from trusting the New York Times Best Seller list, so the fact that this book is also on that list didn't help convince me.  Well, spoiler alert: I read it.  And of course, I loved it.  It was a little sad, but more so interesting, and the ending wasn't even that heart-warming!  I know I don't need to say much else about this book, because you've probably already read it, lol.

2. Do the laundry daily.

Nearly every runner of households recommends this.  Rather than waiting until it piles up, they daily run a load or two.  I've resisted this one for quite a while, even blogging about it stating "who wants to do laundry every day?!"  Well, in honor of my "Give it a whirl" pledge I decided to try it.  I've been at it going on 2 weeks now and it really is nice not having huge loads of clothes to fold.  Right before bed, I put our day's clothes in the washer and set it to start a few hours later.  The next morning, I transfer the load to the dryer and try to fold and put away the clothes before carpool begins.  I also took some time over our Christmas break to deep clean the laundry room, so everything is in order, there are no dust bunnies peeking out at me, and it all looks fresh and pleasant.

Do you have any suggestions for things I should try out in 2019?  Leave a comment below, and perhaps I'll give it a whirl!

In Pursuit of Favorite Beauty Items

While I do enjoy trying new beauty items, what I really LOVE is finding new favorites that quickly become staples in my beauty routine.  I wanted to share some of my favorites with you: both a few luxury beauty items and several budget-friendly beauty items as well.

Favorite Drugstore/Supermarket Beauty Finds

Method Moisturizing Boday Wash in Olive Leaf

I first saw Method products at Target right after we had been married.  I love the idea of more natural products and when I found the Olive Leaf scent, I fell in love.  It's got a clean scent with olive leaf, fresh herbs, and a tiny hint of citrus (which I normally steer clear of, but enjoy in this product).  Bonus: it also comes in a Moisturizing Hand Wash so you can continue to smell this nourishing scent all day!

Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion

As I write this, I realize just how long I've been using this lotion- probably close to 15 years!  While I will still occasionally try new lotions, I always seem to return to this one.  Its scent includes lavender, chamomile, and ylang-ylang.  I use it all over and it leaves my skin super soft!

Acure Moroccan Argan Oil

After reading French Women Don't Get Fat, I had always wanted to try Argan Oil, which Mireille Guiliano raves about having incredibly anti-aging properties.  However, it wasn't until I started using essential oils (and needed a base oil for the ones I was using on my face) that I finally purchased some to try.  I use it in the morning with a drop of Melaleuca (Tea-Tree Oil) and a drop of Frankincense.  I like the purifying properties of the melaleuca and love how the Frankincense helps to brighten my skin tone!

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser

This is a relatively new find as a product I had used in the past was discontinued.  I love the grapefruit scent and use it in the shower after runs and at night before bed.  

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

For years I used Mary Kay's Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, but after finding this one that can be purchased almost anywhere (and is half the price), I converted.  It does not irritate my eyes (which are pretty sensitive) and works great to remove my heavy black eyeliner and mascara.  Bonus: Kroger has its own version of this that I like to stock up on- it's about half the price and just as effective!

Favorite Luxury Finds

Aveda Madder Root Shampoo and Conditioner AND Aveda Color Conserve Daily Color Protect

I went a subtle shade of red about a year ago and my hairstylist recommended these products to help prolong the life of my color.  They work so well that nearly every time I wash and dry my hair, people ask if I've just had my hair done!  Since I love my high-quality salon but cannot afford to go as often as I would like, these products are a great investment for me as they help me stretch out the time between my salon visits.  

L'Occitane En Provence Ultra Rich Body Lotion

I mean, who doesn't like L'Occitane?  I love its Shea Butter scent and especially love how it moisturizes without leaving literally any type of residue once it's dry.  I literally feel as though my skin is more radiant when I've used it.  Since it is a bit more expensive than my trusted Aveeno, it's been a little while since I have splurged on it.  I did receive some as a birthday gift and have been savoring it since :)

Lancôme Absolue Night Premium Bx

I received a sample of this from my mother-in-law and immediately understood why people tend to invest in luxury night creams.  Within days of use, my skin seemed brighter and more youthful.  I love the scent and just as I can still remember the scent of my mother's night cream when I was a child, I hope my children will one day think of this scent on my face as I kiss them goodnight and say their prayers.      

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

In Pursuit of Household Simplifying Tips

I'm a firm believer in living each day to fullest and in this season of my life, most of that living is done at home with my children.  Days are full and busy, so whenever an opportunity comes along to simplify a process (especially those used daily), I jump at the chance to do so.  The first two tips come from being able to examine a situation, step back, and determine what I could do to change the situation.  The third is simply a household product that I cannot live without... and seeing as it has so many uses, it, too, has helped to simplify a process.

1. Dealing with Junk Mail

One awful habit I have had since I was little is accumulating piles.  Piles of notes, piles of pictures, piles of mail.  In one of her "Happier" books, Gretchen Rubin tells about her process for combatting one of those piles: mail.  Many books talk about systems to help with the clutter junk mail and bills can create, but behold the one that works for us:  On most days, I wait until the end of the day to get our mail.  I try to not retrieve it while in a hurry so that I can move on to my next step: I open the mail before I even get inside.  That's right.  I stand by our recycle bin and immediately trash any junk mail, flyers, unsolicited magazines or unwanted catalogs.  For the few remaining bills that still arrive via USPS, I open those and throw the envelops away.  I enter my house with only items that will be kept and those are immediately placed in their proper locations: Bills in the Bills folder, my magazines and catalogs in the living room, greeting cards on the island, and Chris' magazines on his nightstand.   This simple practice has helped to alleviate at least one of my habit piles at home :)

2. Home Alarm System Wireless Key-Fob

As we have been on the move more, a moment that I realized was incredibly stressful nearly every day was the [seemingly] simple task of entering and leaving the house.  Since we live in a split-level house with a finished garage, we lack a true entry area.  We are left with using the front door or the downstair's piano studio entrance.  Needless to say, attempting to get two children (and all of our accoutrements) out one of these doors in the 60 beeping seconds before the alarm set itself off caused a muck of unnecessary stress.  Getting everyone inside to turn the alarm off proves just as difficult.  My anxiety started to pick up every time we left the house and every time we arrived back at home.  I decided to examine what was causing stress with the situation (the warning "BEEP-BEEP-BEEP" was a big factor) and how I could alleviate the situation.  We decided to invest (a whopping $22) on a keyless entry, and it has been worth every penny and more.  I am now able to set the alarm and deactivate it without ever hearing the beep.  Leaving the house and arriving back at home has become much more enjoyable as we no longer live in the fear of setting off the alarm.

3. Lemon Essential Oil: The Windex of Our House

No joke, y'all... this stuff is incredible.  Before I purchased it, I heard of its power to freshen a load of forgotten laundry already washed.  I tried it by running a rinse cycle with a few drops, and it worked!  Since then, I've used it for so many things around the house- mostly removing sticky things and stains.  The sticker residue left on the glass of picture frames?  It removes it.  Tar left on my car that the teenage boy at the carwash couldn't remove?  Came right off with the oil!  Below, witness two stain removing uses of this amazing oil: permanent marker on my hardwood floors and ink from nutrient facts that transferred to my countertops from a box of (cough-cough) donuts...  I will say to use your own discretion when using the oil as a stain remover- I was a bit worried that I'd take the paint off of my car or perhaps the stain off my hardwoods.  Neither happened, but I would assume that for an over-zealous cleaner, it is a possibility.

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