Currently

Reading

I am trying to get through Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. For whatever reason, it is taking me a little bit to get into it. But I can tell it is going to be better than Truly, Madly, Guilty. Or at least, I hope so!

Listening

Still loving the Influenced podcast from Lindsay! I tune in every week to listen, except for last weeks book one because I haven’t gotten my hands on a copy of the book yet.

Watching

Billions – Have you seen the show? It airs on Showtime. We have really gotten into it over the last few weeks while all of our normal shows are on break for summer. I really enjoy so many of the characters.

Melting

Seriously. It is HOT down here!!!! The heat index has been between 105-110 for days and my northern blood just can’t handle all the heat, no matter how long I have been down here for.

Playing

We have been outside a lot, despite said heat. I try to wait until the sun isn’t shining on the front of our house….around 530-600 pm. We have bought a lot of outside toys and games over the past few months. Ring toss, lawn darts, corn hole, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, a small pool, water table, bike for Zoe, etc. Plus we take a lot of family walks. It is so much fun watching her explore and play out there. She has really enjoyed swim days at home, as well as the ones she has at school. My little mermaid!

Reflecting

It has been a long few weeks. Chris’s grandmother passed away on Friday and her funeral was Monday. It is always hard to see the family hurting after the loss. It also makes you think about things in a different perspective. At her funeral, her BIL had made a comment about how she never had anything bad to say about anyone. And no matter when you saw her, she always presented her best self. It made me think about would people say about me if I were gone today.

Planning

Due to the death in the family, we did not go on our annual beach trip around the 4th as planned. We did enjoy the day at Chris’s sisters house with all his siblings and their kids. They grilled out, and the kids went swimming. It was odd not being at the beach to watch the fireworks. We really needed a trip away for awhile. We still do. I am hoping we can get away for a weekend soon. Or at least plan some fun things to do for Zoe. I would like to take her to see her first movie in a theater. Maybe check out the science center, they have a really cool kids area there. Zoe will have her first trip to Chuck E Cheese this weekend for a special friend’s birthday party!

Goals

Our beach trip was my line in the sand for getting back on track. I planned to get back to healthier/leaner lunches and dinners during the week. More strict meal planning, adding time to my morning workouts etc. Since we didn’t go, it sort of feels like I was cheated a week of fun. And that last hurrah, but no excuses or line in the sand now. Gotta get back on it! I feel like I need to branch out and not go back to the usual recipes I always get in a rut with when trying to eat healthier. I had let rice and other carbs creep back into our dinners. Instead of preparing lunches on my own the last few weeks, I have been grabbing adult “lunchables” and eating out more often. I have got to stop all that! But I also don’t want to go back to eating cauliflower rice for four months straight at lunch like I was doing before I went rogue. What are some of your favorite recipes right now for lunch or dinner??? Heck even breakfast, as I tend to get in major breakfast ruts since I hate eggs and don’t have a lot of time in the mornings.

Deals

I scored everything you see above at the Dollar Tree!!! The Body Book was on my TBR forever, $1 for Cameron Diaz????? OK!!!! Zoe loves coloring and painting, and I was really surprised to see the selection that they had there. The shimmer shine paints came with a paint brush and each painting sheet has its own colors, all you need is water! She LOVES it and it has really occupied a lot of her time .More than the usual 5 minutes, anyways.