What's Up Wednesday: July 2019
Hello, hello again! I am not sure where the time went, but here I am sitting down on a Tuesday evening to write a post to share tomorrow morning. THAT is a rarity, I assure you. My preference has always been to write days or a week in advance or when the mood strikes, but regardless of that desire I simply haven’t had the time to sit down at my computer. A recurring complaint you might notice? Yes. I am working to correct that. By “correct that” I mean correct all of my life’s lack of schedule. I schedule things left and right, but I have no SET SCHEDULE. A lack of a set schedule has been one of my top two demises. The other top demise??? My health. But, I digress…
HAPPY AUGUST Y’ALL! Tomorrow is the real deal. August will be here and we will be 31 days counting down to FALL. FALL. FALL! I realize I am in the minority of people who consider September fall, but bless my own heart I do and I am thrilled about it!
Now on to the real bulk of this email, I am linking up with Shay and Sheaffer to share my monthly recap.
What we're eating this week:
I am loving my printed dinner calendar that I plan out each weekend. It is never set in stone which works well with our ever fluctuating calendar. I make a point to try to plan ahead timing wise for any fresh grocery items and keep the rest frozen if needed. I have been repeating my tried and true recipes for the hubs whether Paleo, Whole 30, or not-too-healthy to keep things “simple” and always make myself something plain to eat on the side like baked cod, baked salmon, etc. It can be very boring for me to eat so plain so I find myself snacking some evenings instead of eating a meal (more on that below). I don’t mind cooking large portions because I freeze them in individual sized containers for the hubby to take to work for lunch.
Monday - hubs: left over turkey meatballs I previously made and pasta; I ate sauteed cod with shirataki noodles, truffled olive oil, and seasonings.
Tuesday - hubs: my Paleo chile verde only this time instead of butternut squash and spinach I added white beans, the flesh of a can of coconut milk, some frozen root vegetables, and the loose pieces of broccoli florets. Random…but it all tastes good and helps add some healthy fiber to the meal! I ate a late lunch of Greek salad with grilled chicken so I am holding out for a late snack as I watch the season finale of The Bachelorette tonight.
Wednesday - hubs: Mississippi pot roast in the slow cooker. I’ve never made this before but couldn’t pass up this super easy recipe after my friend, Konni, suggested it. I won’t be able to eat it so I plan to eat baked salmon and green beans tomorrow night. We’ll likely have our mom’s over to eat the pot roast.
Thursday - We were planning to have burgers to keep a meal super simple, but the hubs now has plans. So the patties will be put in the freezer and I will fend for myself. Keto cereal perhaps? Sounds like a treat to me. It’s not 100% compliant with how I need to be eating but I appreciate the convenience.
Friday - We’re heading to a friend’s house for dinner.
Saturday - This was supposed to be a date night, but since the last two nights we’re eating out I may force this to be the burger night. Unless I get a hankering for my beloved Tex-Mex. #guacamoleislife
Sunday - I can’t think this far ahead. I made the hub’s fave meat loaf last week so maybe I’ll just take a piece of that out of the freezer. Or if we have our mom’s over then I’d like to use some chicken fajita meat and tamales the hub’s and my mom previously bought and has been frozen for a while.
I have been on a personal mission to clear out our stocked freezer and pantry and I have succeeded! These are the last of the former items. I just restocked today from HEB and Costco. ;)
What I'm reminiscing about:
Previous July’s in Aspen, Honduras, Europe, Knoxville, Mammaw’s birthdays in Texas, and so much more. Last year this time I was a week in from having foot surgery too.
July brings a lot of reminiscing but I think it primarily revolves around Mammaw’s birthday. I can remember trips because they are before or after it and we’ve always made her celebration a priority. This year she turned 94! God is so good.
Mammaw on her 87th birthday!
What I'm loving:
I am loving the reminders that I am a daughter of the most high God. It is so easy to feel down and discouraged. It is natural and it is “normal”. It is easy to feel like our prayers are not being answered or that they never will be answered. Yet, if you take the time to reflect or write down all of the things that we should be thankful for on a day to day basis you will find that your prayers are in fact being answered. Whether they are from years before or recent. They ARE being answered. I have struggled with many, many things in the past few years. Too many to list and too personal to delve in to (perhaps). But, just a week ago or so I literally had three prayers answered in a day. They weren’t all recent prayers or desires of my heart either. But, let me tell you - that was an amazing day. God listens and His timing is perfect. I can’t explain why it may take time or why the answer may be no or not yet. But, I can tell you He answers them and we need to be aware of it so we can be thankful. I am so thankful. SO THANKFUL. In my own shallow pit He cleared the darkness that day to remind me He is HERE with me.
Aside from that I am loving this facial tanning mist. It is light, dries quickly, smells great (REALLY!), and gives a great (light) shade of bronze.
My Rosacea has been significantly better since I started seeing a new doctor and I haven’t been wearing my heavy foundation for the past two months!!! Once or twice I week I may spray this on, but primarily make a point to when I put on my weekly self tanner. These are summer time greatness without the UV rays.
What we've been up to:
Well, since April we have had a lot of things happen!
May: I traveled to Knoxville, Montana, and Dripping Springs. I was in two of my besties’ weddings, hosted a bridal pool party and bachelorette celebrations, attended two high school graduation parties, took my mom to multiple eye appointments and surgery, final dress fittings, doctor appointments of my own, vet and groomer appointments, and survived a major face rash issue. =/
June: I traveled to Miami to see my family and Aspen for Titanium Tequila events with the hubs. We had kids’ birthday parties, dinner parties, more doctor and vet appointments, etc.
July: I traveled to Knoxville to see my family, celebrated many birthdays for friends, family, and my four nieces who were in Knoxville while I was as well. We’ve attended dinners, lunches, gender reveals (YAYYYYYYY it’s a BOY!), appointments, and I’m just now coming up for air. I also painted our powder room and redecorated it this week.
Life is good and I am grateful for the momentary lull that is allowing me to focus on things around the house.
What I'm dreading:
I am not much into dreading anything. I will continue to dislike the heat and humidity of Houston summers as well as the mosquitoes.
What I'm working on:
My health. Please God, oh please…I have made so much progress in this past year in discovering the root cause (Hashimoto’s or Autoimmune Thyroiditis) and beginning the healing journey. l am working on a schedule, life, my marriage, and being present for all of those that I love.
Legit - I stumbled across this a couple of days ago and it resonated with me. I didn’t know it at the time, but this is me, what happened, and how I responded.
What I'm excited about:
Did I already mention fall? ;)
I’m excited about trips that I’ve planned, the holidays with my family, a major job promotion/change my brother recently made, and my friends and family having babies later this year!
What I'm watching/reading:
Watching: The Bachelorette (it ends Tuesday - tonight though), the Bachelor in Paradise soon, and I’ve enjoyed what little I’ve been able to see of Christmas in July on the Hallmark channels.
Reading: Oh heavens. I haven’t read a whole lot of fun stuff, but what I have read was seriously enlightening.
I just downloaded some fun Christmas themed Debbie Macomber books for the treadmill. I’ve got to find something to take my mind off of cardio!
What I'm listening to:
Lately my playlists have been on repeat. Cold Play just takes me back to places in my mind and I frequently go back to Ghost Stories and A Head Full of Dreams. I am hooked on Hillsong United’s albums Wonder and Empires. There is something so powerful about their music and lyrics that lifts my heart to feel God. I need that.
What I'm wearing:
I must be honest. I struggle these days. I buy cute clothes and then don’t get the opportunity to wear them (85%). If I do wear them, I don’t get a photo in them (10%) If I do get a photo in them, I don’t like the photo (5%).
Items I’m loving aside from athleisure…
This jumpsuit from Lulu’s. With or without a jacket, it is just sexy and comfortable. I suspect a long cardigan and booties will be super cute for fall too.
I also linked in some new faves I’m wearing in my recent Friday Favorites post. I’m a fan of trying stuff from Amazon because if*** I try it after reading reviews then I know I have an easy return policy.
This simple tee shirt has also become one of my faves. I don’t like tee shirts and I don’t like sleeves. However, I picked up this shirt in white with thin red stripes with the idea that it would be a good 4th of July shirt. It is SOOOO soft. I held on to it for weeks debating on if I would really wear this shirt in general but ended up sticking with it and now it’s one of my faves. I went back and picked it up in black with thin white strips too. Have I mentioned it’s soft? And for the great deals or low prices of Kohl’s I simply couldn’t pass it up.
What I'm doing this weekend:
We have dinner plans with some friends Friday night and as of now the rest of the weekend is open! WOO HOO! This is an anomaly and I couldn’t be happier. We always have a long list of to-do’s around the house and the hubs and I work well together to knock things out so I suspect it will be a relaxing yet fulfilling weekend!
By the way, how cute is this? This is literally what we do when it rains. We get soaked in an attempt to keep our bunny dry.
What I'm looking forward to next month:
In August I am looking forward to seeing my family in Tennessee! I have plenty of other things I need to plan like seeing my God children but I am greatly looking forward to not having a full month of plans ahead of me. =))))))
What else is new:
I think I've summed things up for now!
How was your July? Are you excited for anything specific in August? I know it’s getting close to back to school so most teachers and students are beginning to feel the end of summer is near. But, I’ve always loved school and have so.much.respect. for teachers. Y’all seriously deserve at least quadruple what teachers’ salaries are.
Wishing you all a wonderful remainder of the week!
XOXO
