Today is supposed to be colder and rainy by this afternoon and honestly, we are all psyched. Well, maybe not Finley, but it’s been a very demanding week and some afternoon and evening R&R (we are going to do at at home girls spa day!), homemade pizza, and a movie sounds just like what the doctor ordered. But first, let’s catch up a bit, categorically.

Currently (March 2024)

Watching

Not much of anything except joining the kids when they watch a Shark Tank. It’s currently our family’s favorite show and I love watching the kids decern whether or not they’d invest and why.

I was talking to David yesterday about the nostalgic memory of picking out a movie on a Friday night at Blockbuster. I loved that feeling. I also loved the limited choices. Now on movie nights we are prone to scrolling through endless options and watching too many trailers and it just drains the fun. I’m going to pre-research and make a list of family movie options to streamline the picking process. If you have any family movies you’ve LOVED, will you send the rec my way please?

Reading

A few things! First, I’m listening to The Women by Kristin Hannah. Her books are so gut-wrenching but I also can’t get enough of them. The Vietnam War is a time period I didn’t know a lot about, so it’s been fascinating (and hard) to learn more about it trough her story telling.

Second, Killing Lincoln. I know this is an old one, but I’ve always had it on my radar, It’s written in a unique way, very straightforward, and I like the historical perspective. I just read a few pages each night before bed so I’m going through it quite slowly. I’m not one that can read at night well because I usually pass out by the second page, no matter how good the book is.

Third, Mockingjay. I’m reading this third and final Hunger Games book to the kids. And fourth, as part of Hailey’s new IEW themed unit on the middle ages, we are reading King Arthur: Tales from the Round Table. We’re also listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks (which are fabulous) in the car and are currently on the third book.

Eating

I am *mostly* back in my kitchen after a month! Fingers crossed I have my stove back early next week, but in the meantime I’m very content with my oven, sink, and dishwasher capabilities. The best meals of the week were sous vide steak, simple chopped kale salad, and roasted sweet potatoes, and Hailey’s favorite chicken, bone broth rice, and roasted green beans. Kaitlyn’s top request for next week’s menu is Annie’s Mac n Cheese which I’ve promised her she can make as soon as we have a stove.

Planning

Kaitlyn’s Black Belt testing details (so many things to not let fall through the cracks). The finishing touches to our home projects. A special surprise getaway for Kaitlyn’s 10th birthday in May. A potential RV trip late summer.

In the Market for

Pendants for the kitchen. We found barstools (we bought the used- very good options and they’re basically brand new!) and are very pleased with the look and the comfort! I also need a new handheld vacuum. After a few years, mine bit the dust (ha) and knowing how often I use it, I’d love to get a solid, powerful one. Any recommendations?

Drinking

Purity Coffee’s 1/3 Caffeine and loving it so, so much. It’s smooth and delicious and with only 1/3 caffeine (using the Swiss water method, not chemicals), I can enjoy two cups in the morning without feeling jittery or anxious. I just purchased four bags of it, plus a bag of their Protect variety for days when we want a stronger caffeine boost. I asked them for a code to pass along and now AHS will get you 20% off your first purchase!

Excited About

Pumice stones!! An odd thing to be excited about perhaps, but after embarrassingly showing my 15 year old Dutch oven on IG, it was suggested to me to try a wet pumice stone so I did. It worked a miracle and made it look BRAND new again, without scratching the surface or enamel even in the slightest. My mind is blown, because no sponge, scrubber, or solution could even touch the stains on this bad boy before the pumice stone.

Feeling

Happy, but also a little frazzled. Between day to day things and the kitchen renovation and some other circumstances I’m not at liberty to openly discuss at the moment, I feel like I’m on full speed from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. It’s not a humble brag, I know everyone has their hands full with their own life happenings, but usually I’m pretty good at maintaining an even keel, yet at the moment I feel like I’m treading water just trying to keep my head above it. I remind myself how grateful I am that it’s good stuff to be juggling, but whew. Have I said TGIF yet? 😉

How about you? What are you eating, watching, reading, planning, or feeling lately?