Coaching Day

The one and only face-forward interactive thing on my calendar this week, COACHING -- I'm excited.  My guess is this will be more of an introduction call on the specifics of what I want to work on.  The consult call was more general discussions.  I don't expect much "insight" and "improvement" from this first session, but who knows.  Update tomorrow.

I was able to find a good day in the forest of nothing yesterday.  A couple of good catch up conversations, a hard workout, podcasts, etc.  My girlfriend introduced me to the TED talk from Adam Grant so I fell down that rabbit hole for a bit.  Held well on sitting with the afternoon blahs instead of eating through them.  BTW, the Adam Grant talk kind of sums up my afternoon issues.  Worth a 15 minute listen (on high speed).

I tried to get a nail appointment this week, but my technician is on a break.  Next week for the win.  Guess this week is REALLY low interaction.

I also read a bit in Glennon Doyle's Get Untamed, The Journal (the blah zoom call event book).  More reading and thinking than writing.  It takes parts from the book with followup questions.  Since I'm starting coaching today, I didn't need to flood the field with too much stuff.  I don't want it to go unlooked at though.  There are some good questions to ponder.

I found a vegan mushroom soup recipe on IG.  I'll make it today (after a quick run to the market).  Soup sounds nice for dinner.  Once again, I'm bored with dinners and need to make an effort to add variety.  This should work for a couple of nights.

I did a try-on in my closet yesterday.  I have 2 outfits that really are outside my box -- even my Future Self box, but I like them.  I played around with styling so I'll wear them (for the right moment -- they both need a MOMENT).  My rule -- buy it and you MUST be BRAVE enough to wear it.  It's not that I don't like either, it's that I feel self-conscious wearing them.  That's not a good reason.  (I should've taken pictures -- I will when I wear them!)  

One is a wild print (black and white cheetahs) wide legged jumper.  Needs a shirt under and a jacket over. The other is a short, puffy sleeved dress to wear with jean leggings and sneakers.  Both are fun and cute, but VERY trendy outfits.  I had to find a way to calm down the trendy with a little basic to make it feel wearable for me.  That said, I like both a lot.  Fun outfits to go out with girlfriends -- if that ever happens this winter.  I might need to make my own moment.

That's all the scoop from here.  Coaching recap tomorrow.  Have a good day.  Later gators.

Fun Bookclub

Bookclub was just the mix I like -- some talk about the book which led to social issue discussions, fun personal stories from the ladies and some personal sharing (hard kind).  It felt like a connection and that's what I want from the group.

Just 4 of us (until the very end when another person joined).  Easy to talk with zoom instead of Facebook rooms.  Less book questions and more personal discussions -- serious and thoughtful, not "how's the weather" kind of talk.  

I hope this direction continues.  I think meeting in-person helped me a lot to feel like part of the group.  Also, the group size is smaller month-to-month since lives got busier again.  That lends to a deeper conversation too.

Hubby left for NYC for 2 nights -- home for one and then off for a week long golf trip.  As I mentioned, I'm glad for this time ahead of the business of December.  I'm also glad my first coaching call tomorrow is completely private too.  I like to have quiet time ahead of the calls and that isn't guaranteed when he's home.  I'll also want time after the call to sit with what we discuss.  

I made this for hubby last night to trial it for holiday options.  I think I'd use less butter, but it's a good option -- even for serving with a salad for lunch.  Couldn't be easier.  I tried a piece and it was surprisingly tasty.   

Today is a self-care, self-exploration day ahead of the coaching call.  Listening to some stuff, filling out the questions.  Quiet thinking.  No chores set for today.  Actually, only thing on my to-do list for a few days is making the bacon for Christmas (ahead of trash day on Wednesday).  I got everything else finished.  

That said, I need to be mindful.  Having ALL the time to myself AHEAD of feeling busy or feeling too social or feeling stressed, makes me crave a sofa slug day, eating too many sweets, wine at night -- buffering BEFORE -- head in the sand style.  Nope and nope and nope.  I need to practice other ways to fill my cup that actually fill my cup (not leave me feeling like crap for the next few days).  Funny how hard this can feel -- PRACTICE is how to change it.  I'll report back tomorrow.

Let's start this transition week well.  End November on a high note and a welcome December feeling good.  Stay well.  Later gators.

All Finished

All finished decorating AND all finished with my weekend chore list.  I decided to speed up yesterday and get it all done.  Christmas-lite and I like it this year.  It looks festive, but was much easier.  

I love the tree.  It's so much nicer than the ones we had (both bit-the-dust the same year -- lights out, leaning, dropping needles).  The white and multicolored lights look really nice on the back porch.  I'm inspired to do the front next year.

Now for each week planning for food prep in December for the trips to Asheville (girlfriend trip and Christmas).  I need to make the cookies on the early side and that's tricky for me.  Wish I felt confident I wouldn't dive face first into frozen cookies (I love them frozen), but I know me and Christmas cookies.  If I eat too many or too regularly, my energy will be tanked.  Can't afford that this December.  I want to feel the best I can and enjoy all-the-things.  I'll plan them for as late as I can.  This half week of December is MAKE THE BACON.  Freeze ahead and it's the biggest time/mess saver.

Bookclub this afternoon (I say to remind myself).  It's a zoom call and that works so much better now.  Plus, I'm getting to know some of the ladies in-person and that makes it more connected too.

Chose The Gunkle (Steven Rowley) for my next read.  Sarcastic humor with a difficult storyline (mother died and father in rehab).  A couple chapters in and I've already laughed out loud a few times.

I read the coaching questions (printed them to fill out tomorrow).  Thoughtful questions.  I'm ALL IN for ALL THE THINGS during this time.  I'm super curious to explore everything and see if it makes a difference in my life.  Maybe Christmas cookie coaching lol (!!)

I finished burning the new candle I love.  Word of warning -- it burns completely and at the very end it cracked the glass.  I heard it crack -- kind of freaky.  Guess that's why most candles leave a wax layer.  Still, great scent range on this candle -- you know you're burning it.  I have 2 more to use this season.

This week ahead is one of the few times I have to myself in December -- eek.  Lots and lots of time together coming up so I'll take complete advantage of this week.  NOTHING social on my calendar and time to plan for 2022 and reflect 2021.  Good stuff.

Have a great Sunday.  Stay well -- getting yucky out there again.  Later gators.

Boom -- It's Christmas (!!)

We're decorating a week or so early because of our December schedule.  I got as far as outside (wreaths and more lights on the back porch) and the new Christmas tree.  House decor today and tomorrow.

I'm stream-lining even more this year.  No one will be over in December and we'll be in Asheville over Christmas.  A few fun things and that's enough.  I need to decorate Asheville too so I'm taking it a bit easier in GA.  Still festive, but not putting everything out -- sorting stuff to bring to Asheville.

I LOVE the new tree.  It's designed to look more real (less perfect of a cone shape).  The updated mechanics of a pre-lit tree are so much better than 20 years ago (duh).  We also agreed to a new placement and it works so much better.  360 views of the tree, out of the way enough and no furniture moved to our bedroom.  Total win.  I don't know why we didn't do this before (I think we thought it would be too in the way of things).

Minimal ornaments because we aren't
here for Christmas this year.
Vintage star on top -- love it.

Big dent in Christmas shopping online yesterday.  No Black Friday deals per se, but kids gave us some ideas over Thanksgiving.  Have to get on it for shipping in December.  Timed out to shop yesterday.

I need to reload the refrigerator with my food.  Looks like a trek to Trader Joe's today.  That's why I'm spreading decorating over 2 days.  Looking out for my back.

My first coaching call is coming up on Tuesday.  I'm excited and a bit nervous that I'll find it "worth it."  She send a homework set of questions that I'll look at on Monday (once hubby is out of town).  I want quiet time to sit with the questions.  Brooke Castillo's program is ramping up a bit so I'll stick around for at least another month.  Lots of resources on my mental state of being (!!)

I finished The Alchemist.  Very sweet story.  I'm still shocked I didn't know more about this book and haven't read it before now.  New pick coming today.

Bookclub tomorrow.  I'm primed to forget so I need to set a phone reminder.  The days are very confusing this week.

Hope you're enjoying the weekend.  Later gators.

TG 2021 in the Books

What a great Thanksgiving (!!)

FINALLY, Thanksgiving as it's intended (i.e. I'm not cooking everything).  It was so much fun to share the cooking -- taste what everyone else made, community effort.  I loved every minute.

Trazadone kept my pups calm and they had a great time with 5 dogs total.

The food was super delicious.  My gluten indulgence was dessert and worth every bite.  I had a Cosmo (couldn't finish it though -- too strong since I don't drink often anymore) and a couple of glasses of red wine (my favorite).  Knock wood, I feel fine this morning from wine and gluten.  The trick is to eat well today and my joints/energy should hold up.  Also, I'm not spent from cooking AND I don't have any leftovers tempting me.  (I made a second batch of stuffing for hubby, but gluten and I don't like sausage stuffing so that doesn't tempt me at all.)

Here are a few pictures (out of order).  I didn't end up in any (that I took).  I wore the burnt orange dress I wore to the winery with black tights.  Festive, comfortable and now it's retired for the season.  It's like a summer dress in a fall color (perfect for the south) but not heavy enough to take it through winter.

Dogs heading for one of many walks.

Delicious!  Over temperature (oops),
but organic is so forgiving.

Power tools.
Dad passing the torch. Hah!

Goofing off.
Preparing to surgically
carve the bird.

PIES (!!)
Apple, pecan and dairy-free whip.

First to the table with my plate.

The kids did a fabulous job of hosting their first Thanksgiving.  The house is designed to hold a crowd and once they have all their furniture it'll be even more comfortable, but we managed well.  It feels like such a warm home.

I think our new chapter of holidays is exciting.  I'm ready to change things up, start new traditions and enjoy an extended family group.

Hope yours was all-things-good too.  Later gators.

Happy Thanksgiving

My good sleep streak ended because hubby snored so much and so loudly it came into my dream - haha, but not haha.  Up since 2:30 -- falling back into that almost sleep several times to have him give a HUGE snore burst.

Ugh.

That said, I'm going to rally to have a great time today.  Only "work" left is the mac & cheese and sausage stuffing.  All prepped, both should take less than an hour to pull together.

My son made my family's apple pie recipe and added a little oven fire from the drippings yesterday -- oops.  We all Face Timed for the turkey prep from a favorite go-to technique (food network years ago).  That was fun -- included, but far, far away from a raw bird (!!)  It's not Thanksgiving without a cooking story.

Made it to the dump yesterday.  We had to go to the real-deal dump though and it was kind of scary (!!)  No flat tire from DRIVING into the dump area and the chair is gone.  I hope big trash pickup resumes from home service at some point soon (if we need it).  Eye opening at the level of waste.  I need to do better individually.

I haven't figured out my outfit for today.  Dressing as Future Me helps me act the part and show up how I want to show up.  I want to be a little dressy, but it's going to be WARM in the kids' house.  Oven, crowd of people/dogs and big sunny windows.  Most of my choices are long sleeved and might be too uncomfortable.  I didn't end up trying anything on yesterday.  Game day decision and a little rushed this morning.

On a Christmas note ... the wreaths I ordered for the front doors are too small.  Guess this company measures from leaf span, not wreath size.  I'm taking 2 to Asheville, but had an extra so I "decorated" my office.  I'll get new wreaths for GA next year when the choice I want is back in stock.

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with good things.  I'm thankful and excited for some new traditions today.  Later gators.

Thanksgiving Wednesday

For me -- usually a FULL kitchen day.  This year?  Just a little bit of prep.

I had another kick-butt day yesterday.  I'm not sure where this energy is coming from, but I'll take it after a month of forcing myself to do anything.

We hung the vintage-inspired Paris map picture and I love it.  Just what the wall needed.  It was actually easy to hang.  Pottery Barn does a nice job with things-that-hang (pictures, mirrors, curtain rods).

The grocery store wasn't crowded and that was unexpectedly nice.

I  made a new cranberry sauce recipe -- the one that's going around from Ina Garten.  I didn't put in all the sugar and used a honeycrisp apple instead of a granny smith.  It's WAY sweeter than I'm used to (I like a tart sauce), but I like the flavor a lot.  This is a keeper, but I'll add even less sugar next time (calls for 1 1/4 cup -- I used a scant one cup).  I also blended it smooth in the Vitamix.  Saves the straining and I like smooth rather than chunky.

I made MORE honeycrisp apple sauce.  I love honeycrisp season.

Then I tried stuffed mushrooms from Down Shift Technology and they were delicious.  It's a trial run for a Christmas Eve munchie.  Total winner and very easy.

And I went back into town to get more candles.  The brand is Thymes.  They are great, but only the pine scent available at the store.  

Outside run was a no-go so I did a treadmill run.  It was good, but leaves my back tired.  Peloton today.

Up early for the cleaning crew this morning.  I prepped messy things yesterday so hopefully I can keep the kitchen clean-ish after cooking this week.  Today's prep is chopping and grating cheese.  Easy.  I canceled my nail appointment and good thing, I sliced off half my pointer finger nail rushing on the mushrooms last evening.  It's just the nail, not into skin, but it's sensitive and is going to take awhile to grow back.

Hubby and I are heading to the dump for a morning date lol.  We are getting rid of the broken movie chair and a large box.  Trying to get things organized ahead of Christmas decorating and all the things in December.

Good luck in the kitchen today!  Later gators.