Who Was I? + Monday Matters.

We celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend so I also keep thinking that Thanksgiving is over and we are a lot closer to Christmas.

When we moved into this house we became something I swore I’d never be – a multi-tree family. Our main tree is real with ornaments we’ve collected over the year. I have a silver tree that holds just red, white and silver ornaments. And just last year I got a second real tree that just has white lights. We won’t get the real trees until a week after Thanksgiving though.

Enjoy the sleep while you can! As the kids get older it is harder to get to sleep early. While I also have a husband who doesn’t require much sleep, even when I go to sleep early, I still hear them all stomping around. But I then do get up early and enjoy the quiet while they all sleep :)

I love that you are all in full-on Christmas mode!!!
I have a VERY important announcement for you: this morning at the grocery store (I always go to the store super early on my way home from the gym–MUCH quicker in and out, it’s just me and the people stocking the shelves), I had my first time HAAGEN DAZS PEPPERMINT BARK ICE CREAM sighting. You turned me on to that a year or two ago. I bought two. And I will buy more and more until the holidays are done so I am stocked with that for year-round.

As for your questions: Tom, somehow, is totally fine turning the water on as he gets into the shower. I don’t get it. I need the shower already on and the water SO SCALDING HOT before I even dare step in. ALSO, I will not go in the stores for Black Friday. I’m cool with online–I never really cared much for in-store shopping with the holiday rush (I am allergic to big crowds of people all taking up every bit of air to breathe…always have been, it ignites my anxiety), and then I had that time working retail. And it made my aversion to in-person black Friday shopping even worse. Totally not for me.

How have I changed in the last 10=ish years? I think I have become a better listener. I think I have grown more to lead with compassion, openness, and understanding than confidence (which I never really, truly, deeply felt until about 10-11 years ago tbh). I think I have become a better champion of people as they are and with what lights them up instead of imposing my own standards and ideas on the world around me–ie helping people live life as they see it instead of as I see it. Also–and this is really big for me–while I am still very deeply an “all in” person in my commitments, I have become less and less of an “all or nothing” person in my experiences. I’m so stinking grateful for what I do have, for what I get to do, and for finding ways to still figure out how to enjoy even SOME of what I love when things seem tough. The last few years especially, with my big career changes, have taught me that kind of gratitude and celebration that I think I totally missed before.

And it’s making me a much better person.

Oh–I have a pair of black skinny jeans, but I like the wash on those blakc Madewell jeans you’re wearing in your picture, and I could use a straight leg pair that’s just really good. And the rise on them is a good length for very short and short-waisted me. If Madewell has them in curvy fit, I might have to give them a shot! I’m trying to be a bit intentional with my purchases–I’m reaching near some wardrobe creep that I really don’t want to completely fall into–but this might be a valuable thing for me to add in.

I hope you all have a great day out there! You know, over the weekend I *did* go to Crumbl and get my cookies from last week’s specials! My favorite was the carrot cake one. The special flavors for this week look really good, so on Wednesday I might have to head over there after I go to the gym and make sure I have some tasty treats for the holiday weekend!

Hi Janae! I love that you have your tree up already! We’ll probably get ours next weekend.
In the past 15 years, I am much less self-conscious of the way I look, act, etc. I’m in my 40s now and simply do not care what other people think of me, and it’s amazing. I mean, I take care of myself and want people to think I’m a nice person, but if I want to wear sweatpants and a 30 year old hoodie to the grocery store, I don’t sweat it.
The shower must be scalding before I set foot in it :)
We have always had a real tree, with a mismatch of ornaments, dating all the way back to when I was a little girl.
I do black friday, but only online.
Have a great day!

I’m so glad you had a pain free 7 miles. Yay!
My husband sometimes gets into the shower before turning it on, so weird! I’m usually getting into the shower after my run and workout, so I need the nice warm water on.
Skye’s PB&J technique, hilarious. But it probably gives her the perfect bread/jelly/peanut butter ratio. At least for her. Ha ha
I think the biggest way I have changed in the last 10-15 years, is to let things go. I can’t control what other people think or do, so I have learned to let that go. I think I’ve also become even more patient and compassionate. Of course I have moments when I “loose it” but for the most part, I am very much at peace. Another thing that’s changed, since we’re getting close to not having kids in the house, is our relationship/marriage. We’ve had to learn how to communicate again. It’s interesting, fun, sometimes hard, but good too. That’s a great question!
Have a good Monday and start to the week. ?

What kind of crazy person turns the water on when they get in? It’s got to be the perfect temperature.

I have always been a real tree type of person and then I married my husband and he is very much an artificial type guy. Pick your battles I guess. We like to pick one ornament every year to describe the year so we have a big variety of ornaments. My Mom used to do this so I have quite a few from my childhood thrown in.

I’ve done Black Friday, but it is way too crazy. I also learned that going about two weeks later actually has much better deals so I’ve been going a little later now. Of course, now a days, if it’s online then it’s much easier. Shopping is not my favorite thing to do.

Ha, I wasn’t going to post… but YES, I don’t turn the shower on until I get in! And even weirder, when I lather up with shampoo and soap I turn the water off and then back on when I need it again. I guess it makes sense to me because I don’t see the sense of all that water going down the drain uselessly. Oh well….

Can you do me a favor? I would love to know where you and your readers go (besides here) for their daily dose of good news and positivity? Other blogs, web pages, etc..? I stopped watching the news months ago and only scan headlines now to keep up. But even doing that is tough.

We used to get real trees until we found out our youngest son has some sort of allergic reaction to them. So, just fake trees since then.

Yes to Black Friday- but just online. Need to pick up some more cycling gear. Tell Andrew I just added a 2021 Giant Fathom 1 to my bike collection.

– I used to be super precise how I folded clothes/paired socks/etc. 25 yrs and 3 boys later…nope, not a think anymore.
– I turn on the water when I’m in the shower. But I stand in the back until it’s warm.
– Fake tree because I’m allergic to real ones. Ornaments are pretty random.
– I think the only time I’ve ever been in a store on Black Friday is one year when I had to pick up a prescription for Mom. I check online if we need stuff but otherwise, no big deal.