Hi and happy October! How was your weekend? Ours was really nice. Friday we went apple picking at Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, NC. Mema joined us and we all had lunch together, too. It felt like a great way to kick off the new month!
On Saturday Kaitlyn had her first Tae Kwon Do tournament and it was so much fun. She was giddy about it. TKD has really become on of her favorite activities, and I was so proud watching her get up by herself to perform her sequence. I held my breath a little watching her spar, but she did so well! It’s the coolest thing in the world to watch your kids do something they love.
In the afternoon we hung out with friends, watched football (it’s a fun year to be a Georgia fan so far!), and played Monopoly Deal. A nice little Saturday.
I was looking forward to sleeping in today, but my eyes popped open at 4:00 AM. I tried to go back to sleep for about 30 minutes before giving in and getting up.
I wandered to the kitchen where I saw the avocados were ripe, but knowing we didn’t have any bread I decided to pull out my favorite kitchen appliance, the bread machine. I googled a basic bread recipe and even though it takes just shy of 4 hours to mix and bake, I figured it would still be ready by the time the kids got up. Even though the machine does all the work, it makes me feel quite like Caroline Ingalls knowing I have bread baking in the kitchen.
I checked in on my Aerogarden (a birthday gift that I’m really enjoying), then made tea and sat in our new chair that was just delivered (that doesn’t have a permanent home yet, since we are still at least a month out from the couches and rug being delivered).
I started scrolling my phone, which made me think about how I want to read more and scroll less. I decided to look up books to reserve at the library but don’t really know where to start since I always choose self development style books (currently listening to Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life).
I want to have a book around more for two reasons: to keep me away from mindless scrolling and for the kids to see me with a physical book (not always just audio).
This thinking pushed me to consider what other goals I’d like to set for myself, and realizing that it’s the beginning of a new month felt like the perfect opportunity to write some down.
Ah, nothing like some vague goals, right? Maybe I should label them intentions. Either way, it felt good to see them in writing.
Because I love nothing more than a challenge for myself, I decided to really focus in on them this month. After all, October is one of my most favorite months. Fall weather starts rolling in of course, but it’s also full of the pre-holiday buzz, and it just has a great energy to it.
How can I keep myself accountable to these, I wondered? Shoot, let’s blog about it!
So, that’s what I’m going to do. Daily blogging (I might skip the weekends) for this month, old school style. Just stream of consciousness, recording whatever we’re up to or whatever is going through my head. I’m excited about it!
First steps:
- Download Headspace (a meditation app I hear good things about)
- Choose a novel and reserve it at the library
- Make the girls’ charts for the week (I’ve been adding in a daily walk/jog for us which gets us outside in the mornings and gets our blood pumping)
- Go defrost the ground turkey. I’m making this delicious fall chicken chili for dinner and might try to make it before we head to Hailey’s soccer game so if I’m exhausted from my early wake up, I can bum and watch Halloween movies with the kids this afternoon.
Kelli says
I would love daily blog posts since I’m off social media now. It’s been since December! Feels so good. I stopped reading the news almost two weeks ago to see if that would help my head space too. I figured if something big happens someone will tell me. Amazing how not reading the news actually hasn’t made a difference in my daily life. Life still goes on just without me complaining about the current state of affairs every day.
I finished a good quick fiction book called Every Vow You Break last week and loved it. It’s a thriller. Maybe you’d like it if you just want something fun. I also just finished reading Dumbing Us Down by John Gatto and now I’m reading Free to Learn by Peter Gray.
Brittany Dixon says
I’ve actually thought of you several times and your commitment to get off social. I imagine that must feel really freeing! Such a good point about the news. I’m typically a podcast gal, but limiting the political commentary podcasts has been helpful with my head space, too. I like getting the headlines, but not getting too sucked into things I can’t do much about.
Kelly says
Hi Brittany! The Midnight Library is a great book if you are still looking. It is a novel but delivers a great perspective on life.
Brittany Dixon says
Thanks for the suggestion, Kelly! I’m adding it to my library hold list 🙂
Sammie says
So excited for your return to blogging like this! I miss when this is what everyone used to do!
Project Hail Mary is absolutely fantastic and very unique if you’re still looking for books to add to your list!
Brittany Dixon says
Definitely taking book recommendations; thank you! 🙂
Sharon says
Looking forward to the blog posts. If you are looking for book recommendations….think you would enjoy the Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. It is one of the best books I have ever read.
Brittany Dixon says
I am adding it to my library list; thank you! I’ve heard great things about that author but have never read any of her books.
Meg says
I’d be verrrrrrrrry careful with Jordan Peterson. His substance abuse landed him in a coma. He’s been accused of sexual assault, and is infamously misogynistic and transphobic. Not someone we should be taking life advice from.
Brittany Dixon says
I’m definitely new to him, so I’ll definitely have to look into that, thanks!
Stephanie says
Looking forward to the old style blogging!!! I miss it so much! And I am trying to limit my social media (hard to do when its a part of your work- I get it! I sell hair skin wellness and water products) But your blog has always been hands down my FAVORITE. I catch myself reading old posts at least a few times a week.
Brittany Dixon says
Thanks so much for the kind words Stephanie! I have the same struggle with social, especially because I do enjoy it, but sometimes I wonder at what expense, you know?
Mary says
If you are still looking for fiction reading recommendations I HIGHLY recommend Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout if you haven’t already read them. I love short stories collections because they are great for short bursts of free time 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Oh short stories are a fun idea; thank you!