5 on a Friday: Covid negative and looking ahead to he fun part of fall scheduling

 1. Illness, mine: 

Ugh I was sick this week, and I kept testing negative for Covid, so Ben went to work like normal, and I had to do everything while feeling like trash, and my resentment levels know no bounds-- EVEN THOUGH there are good reasons for how we spent our time. Blergh. Being a grown up sucks. I did have time Sunday and Monday to lie around and watch And Just Like That season 3 (the eps that are out so far, that is), and even though I have been following along with the hilarious Vogue reviews, I love this show fiercely and I don't care that it sucks. Seema in an LV eye patch is my favorite.

2. Almost checking my list: 

I know that July is packed, and I am doing my best to get everyone where they need to be and hit my goals every day. BUIT ALSO it is really hard for me to do everything in my routine, and one thing (a different thing each day!) has been falling by the wayside lately. My hair. Make up. My strength work out (I do it later). Getting dressed. You get the idea. Luckily, I gave my workout wear a small glow up (2 bras that have pads and give me 2 distinct boobs, 2 cute boxy cropped T's, 2 boxy tanks, 2 fluttery shorts to go with the 2 Lululemon pairs I already had) So now if I have to wear exercise clothes to swim lessons and to drop off kids (not my goal, but the days are BUSY), I look... not tragic (unless you ask Dorothy).

3. REALLY checking my other lists:

I am just checking things off my list left and right. Our district dropped its school supply lists (even though we do not start school until SEPTEMBER **praise hands**), and Minnie I bought her list (including all the teacher wish list items and communal snack) IMMEDIATELY. I am hoping her Land's End backpack we bought 2 years ago when she started 3K makes it all the way through elementary school, and I am sending in her current sneakers for gym and buying new shoes closer to the start of school. SO CHECK THAT OFF. I even ordered name stickers for her headphones and water bottles and bento box (also still good from nursery school).

After suffering much senior picture sticker shock (people charge ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE) for sessions around here (the mom blog friend who did Harry's is not doing pics at all right now), we decided to combine Jack's pictures with our annual family photoshoot (he is so cool with that) and are working on nailing down a date and a location (must be after my hair appointment because things are escalating quickly). 

Also-- WHY WOULD SENIOR PICS BE SO EXPENSIVE? And what kid wants an elaborate phot essay to document their last year of high school? I do not get it. They need a good shot for the yearbook and maybe one or two more for an grad announcement and possibly more for a social media post and ... what am I missing????

Minnie's bday gifts are all ordered, and we have booked our (reluctant) WI Dells waterpark stay (she wanted a waterpark family overnight in lieu of a kid party-- you only turn 5 once, I guess). (She is actually starting to clamor for the AG doll of the year, and I will probably cave because I cannot resist those darn dolls) (and neither can she).

4. Routine feeling very routine

I am picking up kids, dropping kids off, making lunches and sibling spectator dinners, washing one thousand pool towels a day, etc. This was our last super super busy week because next week, the club dive schedule changes a bit and then the following week is dive nats for Coop and all-city for Jack and Dorothy, meaning we will be down to DANCE ONLY for the first 2 weeks of August and then NOTHING AT ALL for a week-- and then I have eleventy billion meetings, and the school year will be upon us.

6:45 am swim team drop

Perfect ballet bun **pats self on back** for 6 hours of dance after she already swam for 75 minutes and dove for 90

CUTEST swim lessons. She's in the big kid part of the pool working on stroke development, and it is DARLING.

5. Dreaming of fall planning

I am getting ready to assemble my first ever PLANNER STACK! For me, September is the real January, so it makes sense to start my planning with the new school year. My anchor will still be my google calendar (where I keep track of everyone's everything), but I need the act of writing my life down to help me remember ehat's going on and stay on top of everything. I have tried to do this on my phone via Notes, but it isn;t the same for me. I need a notebook-- and WHY LIMIT MYSELF TO JUST ONE??

I am going to get a daily planner by the same company I currently love (Ohh Deer) because it is just a teeny bit structured but not so much that I rebel, and I love the thickness and size. I like, too, that it lasted me just 8-ish months-- this seems perfect for the school year, and it will be fun to buy a summer-only planner next year to really mark that season for me-- especially since I often struggle with staying on track in the summer or even defining what that means. Also I carry it everywhere and it it gets beat up-- no pressure to keep for the whole year and a very small price tag.

I am also going to get a new large monthly planner because mine is way too messy for me to love it anymore, but I am newly addicted to color coding my month so I can see at a glance how much work time I will have, how much of that time is for deep thinking work as opposed to keep-my-head-above-water work, how many solo parenting days I will face, where we can find time to go out as a couple, etc. 

I am going to add a weekly planner to my stack because I really do feel fresh start energy every Monday, and I'd like to add a weekly reflection to that morning's routine so I can make sure I don't miss the big stuff that will structure my week. We are also entering into the season of everyone's check ups and dental appointments, and those can really throw me off if I am not on top of them. 

I would also like a concept planner or some other kind of notebook for thinking about creative projects and projects with longer deadlines. Right now, I am not systematic in where I keep track of these things and their accompanying ideas (sometimes google docs-- sometimes my current planner in the notes section, but it's hard to find those notes when I need them-- sometimes on post its or the back of receipts)

Stuck in the kitchen!

 Something happened to me the other day that used to happen to me all the time and drives me up a wall: I got stuck in the kitchen after lunch and didn't leave it until 8pm. Does this ever happen to you? You are cleaning up lunch and then maybe you empty the dishwasher and then as you are finishing that up, someone makes a snack and then you bake something and then all the sudden it is food prep time and then actual meal time and then clean up and then you prep for the next day (a lunch for someone going to a dance camp  for example) and make coffee and set the coffee pot(s) to brew and then it's time for someone's bedtime snack and OH MY GOD.

Ben, all footloose and fancy free taking one million meetings and then puttering around walking the dog a couple of times and folding some laundry after work hours was like why are you so crabby and I snapped I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE KITCHEN FOR 6 AND A HALF HOURS, but I actually think it was longer

Never wear an apron with long strings when you have a puppy.

Making muffins, but she looks like she's churning butter.

SUCH A MESS THO

Gah!

OMG, Annabel.

Then, since everything was trashed, I let Minnie play potions, and Dorothy and Coop joined in unexpectedly.

STCUK IN THE KITCHEN.

Coop makes snackle boxes for Squid Games and Big Brother (parents of the year over here)

Oh. And. After my smug Friday post, Jack woke up with a fever and is positive for covid. Whomp whomp.

** at the time of this post going live, he is covid negative but has a raging wisdom tooth surgery infection and is on much amoxicillin.

I only ordered only a few dance pics (25 bucks a pop for a freaking social media-sized download), but they are good ones:

ISO a new morning routine free of junk science and also HEALTH STREAK UPDATE

 I do SO WELL with a finite healthy habit timeframe. Like 4 weeks? NO PROBLEM.

 But the thought of just making better choices forever? NOT SO EASY TO SWALLOW.

 I have had to juggle some things around (date night, for example, is moved to a local outdoor mall where I can eat a delicious salad, and we are postponing our supper club rez to early August because you cannot go to a WI supper club and not have an old fashioned (brandy, sweet) and a grasshopper for dessert).

I realized when I was having insomnia trouble (thank you, HRT, for letting me sleep again) that I actually LOVE getting up early and getting a jump on my day. And also, I waste a lot of time in the AM that I could be using for better things. To this end, I just stopped doing all of my NYT word games because I found them leading to way too much phone time. 

I know that I do like to wake up slowly and have a cup of (1/2 caf) coffee under the covers. I also know that I want to walk the dog a little before 6am and get at least 20 minutes in with her before Minnie and the rest of the house starts stirring. I have started checking in with my to-do list and gratitude journal with my first cup of coffee, and I am also doing my Calm app right away, too. This means I am awake for a good hour before I really engage with my phone (besides doing a meditation and listening to a book or podcast while walking)-- super helpful.

But! I think I could be getting more out of my early AM time, and I know from past attempts at packing my mornings that I just don't want to do hard things (writing, strength training) and will distract myself until I have run out of time and then blame all my caretaking responsibilities for my lack of fulfillment when really I just read blogs under the covers too long. I also know that I will probably not read for pleasure during this time but will scroll instead because when I scroll, it is like I am not even admitting to myself that I am spending leisure time the way reading makes this admission.

Soooo I started looking at wellness influencers and listening to podcasts to see if there's something else I could/should be doing right away to set myself up for success, and it's all snake oil and bullshit and punishment disguised as care, IMO. From bullet proof coffee to biohacking to grounding to contrast therapy-- it's all... not for me.

Watching women who are hustling in the gig economy and taking care of small kids wake up before 5 am to have just a sliver of alone time and then spend that time cold plunging was a real fucking bummer, though, because I also fall into that trap (minus the gigs and ice baths thank god, literally). But I am not drinking butter or walking barefoot across my lawn or contemplating things in my life that are going well in the pre-dawn hours as I look painfully exhausted and sip raw milk in the name of me time. I DO HAVE A LINE, I GUESS, and it is fish oil tablets and ankle weights.

Ugh. Everything I write goes straight to nihilism these days. (the things I do are probably bullshit -- everything is bullshit-- is the enthymeme) (and it's a bad enthymeme because the whole point is that you don't have to say the quiet part).

BTW Maintenance Phase-- best podcast ever and a perfect antidote to the neoliberal hellscape that is wellness influencing. (In her latest episode, Empowered is like I work out now so I don't have to go to a care home and be a burden in my later years and that's not exactly how it works...)

I need to ask myself what my mornings would look like if they were easy... I will think about this for a little while.

Stats:

Since my doctor's appointment in May, I have lost 13 pounds!

This week, I hit all my nutrition and exercise goals, but I forgot to put an estrogen patch on after my shower one night and remembered it the next morning, and I forgot B6 and fish oil on Friday. 7 days of progesterone though!

Always be multitasking:

Prairie love

Dorothy called this hairstyle a "literal tragedy." My bang situation is ROUGH.

Ankle weights and Birks= FASHIONISTA

 

5 on a Friday: Updates

 1. Thanks for the advice about upping the strength training via comment, text, and email. Sarah suggested this podcast, and I am learning a ton (she got hooked from Kae-- love this small blog world). Emma talks a lot about weight loss, so do not listen if this is a trigger for you. She also reinforced a ton of what I already know and do- -including how to eat away from home in a way that supports your goals. My main problem is that I, um, hate strength training. And! I am really bad at pushing myself when a workout is hard or feels uncomfortable. I really despise group fitness, but perhaps it is finally time to get a trainer or take a class.

2. I went to Barnes and Noble the other day because I was running errands near one, and I added a ton of books to my notes app and then, later, to my Libby and library holds-- such a fun (and free!) way to spend a chunk of time. Here are a few I am really excited about but haven't come across in all my googling:

The Last Session

The Last Ferry

Fun for the Whole Family

The Poppy Fields

3. I am on top of my calendar, including dance intensives for the next 3 weekends, an ever-changing club diving schedule, and all sorts of other gems.  

My hair appointment is scheduled for mid-August. Cross your fingers that these BANGS will be grown out enough to be sort of cute by then and that my hair will be long enough for top knots. I miss top knots.

4. I am enjoying what I have AND ALSO.

I KEPT GOING BACK to the Athleta semi-annual sale, and by far my favorite purchase (even better than THIS adorable skirt that I love or THIS ideal t-shirt dress) is THIS romper-- it is so perfect I wish I would have bought every color and called it a summer uniform. I also bought other basics for me and stuff for the girls-- bras and a cami/shorts set for D and a cute little sporty set for M. Next time this sale happens, I am going to just go once and buy everything I want when the colors and sizes are plentiful-- I just did not admit to myself that I was going to buy lots, so I purchased in dribs and drabs.

These Nutella biscuits were a random Costco substitution from my online shopper, and they are DELICIOUS. I don't even like Nutella, and these were amazing. (I ate one before my healthy habits reset). The kids ate FOUR BAGS in 24 hours.

I even bought stuff during Prime day despite reservations. We are trying the viral fruit fly traps, and I did find a mattress for Cooper's room. No luck on the Chromebook front. Everything is more expensive than I want it to be. I have lots of other things in my cart but will probably not buy them.

5. In health news, the vid is gone, although it also took out Cooper (not a surprise since he and Ben traveled together). I have been on the living room couch since LAST WEDNESDAY, but everything is finally back to normal. We stuck Coop in with Ben to avoid getting the rest of us sick, especially Jack.

Jack got a 4 on his APUSH test! YAY! Also, he got 4 wisdom teeth removed the same day **yikes face** We did not want him to deal with that AND the vid, so we have been extra super careful.

This is all he feels like eating.

I am not one to wish away these happy golden days, but I am glad that July is clipping along because it is a BEAST over here.

Oh! Dog walking shoes! I went the total cheapskate route and used a $30 Dicks reward to buy $35 sale children's Nikes.

Dog-approved!

Self Care

I signed Minnie up for a preschool dance camp at her dance studio every week in July. (So... all of the camps-- there are only 4). In terms of budget, I counted it in my own self care column (LOL), and I decided to pair pick up with a Starbucks run. LOVING IT SO FAR.

3 hours was niiiiice, even though I did have to run Dorothy to to the pool and back during that time.

This week's theme was Moana, and they danced to 2 songs from the movie-- I should have videoed the performance since they did the dance twice, but it was too fun to just watch and take the occasional photo.

Iced cafe americano 1/2 decaf with a splash iof skim milk **chef's kiss**

Because I am only a fake adult, that crisp t-shirt did not make it all day-- eventually, I was covered in cherries and peanut butter, which is pretty par for the course around here.

I have a new favorite afternoon snack: a sliced apple (I prefer honey crisp, but I got a bag of cosmic crisp from Costco, and they are excellent) dipped in a tbsp of melted peanut or almond butter with a tbsp of chia seeds mixed in. SO GOOD YOU GUYS (and only 6 grams of protein but 10 grams of fiber!). Sometimes I eat this right after dinner if my afternoon goes by too fast, and it is an excellent way to round out the meal.

4 Week Health Challenge!!

 Mondays are always fresh starts for me-- even more than new months. And so! THIS MONDAY! I am starting a 4-week healthy habits streak. Here's the plan:

• Eat from 10am-6pm every day (going back to black coffee **whom whomp**-- I have been adding my fave chocolate milk again)
• No added sugar (but fruit is great!) (also I eat some dark chocolate every night after dinner because I am who I am)
• No alcohol
• TONS OF FIBER (I am aiming to eat 25 grams a day and also take a supplement, which I do not count toward this total)
• 10-minute strength workout every day
• At least four 15-minute dog walks with my weighted vest and/or ankle weights every day
• 30 minutes of cardio (elliptical machine typically) every day
• Calm app every day
• Progesterone every day (lol but this must continue indefinitely-- not just for 4 weeks)
• Magnesium, fish oil, B6, and fiber every day

I lost 12 pounds doing the Galveston Diet-- but then! Instead of doing the maintenance phase, I started just adding little mouthfuls of garbage here and there and the occasional glasses of wine, etc. Which is fine! And human! But also! I am noticing the effects of inflammation again (joint pain, swollen fingers, red skin around my mouth). SO. Back on the horse. I usually aim for 5 days a week for cardio (and just added strength like 6 weeks ago), but for the next 4 weeks, I am going to do everything every single day.

I am committing to 4 weeks of health (during the busiest 4 weeks of our summer) and plan to reward myself with fabulous new hair and some delightful Lulu pants (Athleta has been my gateway drug).

I am very much a don't break-the-chain kind of gal, so we shall see what happens if I interrupt my streak or get sick or something-- hopefully I will figure out a way to extend the challenge or keep going with less than perfect results because this would help me in pretty much all aspects of my life.

Anyone else up for a 4 week streak of something?? 

I listened to my Calm app daily meditation while blowing this thing up, and it was PERFECT. The voice was like imagine you are blowing up a balloon and I was like I'll do you one better

Family float day!!

Also my tiny bestie and I watched all of the The Comeback in anticipation of season 3. Best show ever. If you've never watched it, treat yourself.

Ben has the Vid, volume 3

 Did I make Ben's illness a lot about me by sulking that my anticipated solo parent rescue did not come? YES I DID. Despite mindful mindfulness practice, I am still an asshole, I guess. It's like in ATGIB when Francie calls Katie on her North Pole rescue bullshit and is like um we are still poor and not explorers after all. I AM STILL UP TO MY NECK IN KIDS AND BEN LEAVES FOR WORK LIKE NORMAL NEXT WEEK no matter how brave and fun I am.

BUT I SOLDIERED BRAVELY ON into a holiday weekend that suddenly had no plans and kids with HOLIDAY EXPECTATIONS.

Bah humbug.

Ben did have the energy to blow shit up in the street, so that's a relief.

Socially distanced smores!

A truly batshit puppet show

Truly

Batshit

And delightful!

CAn you beleiev Minnie never had a smore before??

Soooo 2020 this set up

Annabel is a huge fan of the new grill and its dangling appliances-- she licked the spatula clean.

We made a trip to a Walgreens open on the 4th for more covid tests because Ben wanted to test his way out of covid jail (NOT YET WHOMP WHOMP) but made it fun by stopping at DQ. I AM SO FUN GUYS SEE?

Are you a Midwest mom without a cookie pizza? Apparently not because every place was out of Pilsbury sugar cookie dough, and I had to use the funfetti version.

Cooper sliced a watermelon, balled some of it, AND made slushie popsicles with it.

Not messing a round with their puppet constrcution

Seriously, there was much melon working.

Ben tested positive on Wednesday (while I was getting a pedicure with a friend), and we have spent our time at the pool a bunch. A bunch more than normal even.

We even branched out and went with Harry to the other pool and tennis club he also works at (both pools owned by the same dudes) to see if maybe we want to switch our memberships.

We loved how dead it was!

Kids were a fan of the garbage dinner.

We bought lots of things to blow up when we had to cancel our out of town plans.

I should be online grocery shopping right now, friends. We are spending about $100 a day at the pool snack bar, and this feels... not sustainable but also totally necessary.

Sunday should be Ben's last day of covid isolating (grumble grumble), and then we shall see how he feels (Paxlovid for the win tho seriously). Before he leaves for the rest of the week for Peoria. I AM STILL AT THE NORTH POLE YOU GUYS FUCK.