What’s Up Wednesday – November 2017

Today I am linking up with Shay at “Mix and Match Mama” with the What’s Up Wednesday link-up. This is one of my favorite posts I do every month. I think it will be fun to go back and look through these and see what was going on in life during this past year.

What We’re Eating This Week: Well seeing as this week is Thanksgiving…Thanksgiving food!!!

We are just having two small family Thanksgivings this year, but it will be just as yummy I’m sure. Robert’s sister’s family is gone to her in-laws this week, so it’s just going to be Robert’s parents and us there on Thanksgiving day. Then we will have Thanksgiving with my family at some point…I don’t know if it will be this weekend or next though, waiting to see what works best with my sister’s schedule.

Emmalyn lately has been loving chicken nuggets with ketchup and mustard and cooked circle carrots (they have to be circle carrots…don’t ask me why). This or Taco Bueno soft tacos have been her go-to meals the past couple of weeks.

We have started Claire on baby food. It’s taken awhile to get her to figure out eating from a spoon.

I first tried green beans and carrots and she was NOT a fan. Every time I would get the spoon near her mouth, she would just purse her lips together. Too cute! I’ve been giving her sweet potatoes and the first time she wasn’t a fan…but the second and third time, I made a big deal (i.e. clapping, waving her arms, saying yay!!!) when she would get some in her mouth and she loved the attention I think, so she has started doing a lot better and actually moves to get the spoon in her mouth. I think this week I might try her on apples and then of course she has to have some mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving.   :o)

What I’m Reminiscing About: A few years ago when life seemed simpler. I wouldn’t change my life now, but this past month has been pretty stressful with people I love going through hard situations.

What I’m Loving: Honestly I have been so busy lately (picking up the slack with Robert working so much lately) and being stressed about other things, that I haven’t had much time for extras lately. I would have to say I am loving hugs and cuddles with my girls, hugs from Robert, foaming salt baths, and my few minutes of reading in bed before dozing off while still holding the book.

**edit – I have been loving curling my hair with a 1 1/2 inch curling iron. I recently purchased this Revlon Rose Gold Curling Iron and have really liked it so far! I wish I wasn’t such a cheapskate and would splurge on a more expensive brand, but until I see how often I will be using this I just can’t justify it and so far this has been working great for me!

I am letting my hair grow out some (this is the longest I’ve had it since I was a little girl) and I am liking doing something different with it rather than scrunching it with curl cream.**

What We’ve Been Up To: See above. Life has been very stressful and busy the past month and I feel like we are just surviving each day and doing a LOT of praying lately.

What I’m Dreading: I am dreading getting a cavity filled next week and then having to schedule a crown replacement sometime in the near future as well.

What I’m Working On: Not much on the home front due to Robert working so much lately and being stressed about other situations going on.There are things I want to start doing at home such as working on meal planning, simplifying/minimalizing stuff in my house, work on my blog more, and other things. I have to remind myself that this is only a season and I will be able to work on things like this eventually.

However at work I have been so productive… the past couple of weeks I have been working on focusing on getting things done and off my desk that have been there since I have been back from maternity leave. It is nice to finally be able to get most of it off my desk and have a sense of accomplishment at finally getting caught up on things.

What I’m Excited About: Christmas!!!

What I’m Watching/Reading: 

• Watching: I have finally watched a couple episodes of This Is Us and I am almost caught up. Such a good show! I really haven’t had much time to watch anything else. Typically this time of year, I would be watching the Razorback football games, but they are doing pretty bad this year…so it’s been okay I’ve been too busy to watch any of their games this year.
• Reading: I have been reading “A Wrinkle in Time” and am enjoying it more than I thought I would. I’ve known about it for years, but always thought it would be something I would not be interested in…but I am really liking it and looking forward to seeing the movie that is scheduled to come out soon!I am also reading “A Bridge Across the Oceans” by Susan Meissner and am enjoying what little snippets I read in bed before falling asleep while reading (and the book bonking me on the head). I have so many books on my TBR list right now, but not enough downtime to read. Makes me so sad…reading rejuvenates me and makes me a better person. I need to be more intentional about it and stop scrolling through social media and wasting time that way. ** edit – I just got notified that my copy of Emily Ley’s new book “A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living” just got delivered. I will be reading that over this Thanksgiving weekend!!!**

What I’m Listening To: This is too funny, but I have started playing a Disney Hits playlist I found on Spotify for the girls on the way to and from work and I think I might enjoy it more than they do (well, maybe not as much as Claire…she starts “singing” with it sometimes)…think she will be more like Robert from that aspect). I think Emmalyn could care less about listening to music which is totally me too. I am trying to do better and listen to more so both girls can be more exposed to music than I was growing up…but Emmalyn and I both just enjoy the peace and quiet on car rides. Sometimes she even tells me to turn off the music (she is such a mini me).

I have still been listening to some podcasts lately, but not as many. I’ve noticed they tend to stress me out a little bit (just hearing about other people’s lives and things they are accomplishing makes me want to do more than I am doing right now and I’m just not at a time in my life where that is possible)… and have made a conscious effort to cut back on them and try to listen to music a bit more. I am wanting to listen to more audiobooks, but I am having a hard time finding ones that I am interested in and at the same time be a good listen. If you have any suggestions on good audiobooks, please share!!!

What I’m Wearing: Comfy cardigans! The weather here is in that in-between stage where it is cold in the mornings/evenings, but warmer in the afternoon and so coats are a bit of overkill, so cardigans are the way to go right now.

What I’m Doing This Weekend: Hopefully nothing. This past weekend the girls and I went to Conway to celebrate Tristan’s one-year birthday. My grandmother, uncle, cousin and her two daughters came over from Tennessee to help celebrate. It was a good time.

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month: Christmas!!! I think Emmalyn is at the age where Santa will be fun for her finally (see these two pictures from previous years in meeting Santa. She has not been impressed in the past – as evidenced by pictures below).

 

What Else Is New: Nothing much…just trying to enjoy my girls and soaking up my time with them.

Until next time…keep it simple.

Lindsey