Hello and happiest of weekends! I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season and that it’s more holly jolly than hustle and bustle. If it’s a hard holiday season for you, I get that too and I’m sending you a whole lot of love and prayers. I am certainly in a very different place this year than I was last – and I am extremely grateful for that.
I’m going to keep it light today and share a look at what a week in the life has looked like over here.
SWITCH, CHANGE, REARRANGE
I have been talking about making a “big boy room” for Finn for almost a year now and it’s finally happening! I took advantage of the Black Friday specials and did some bed shopping. My parents and grandmother went in on a mattress as part of Finn’s Christmas gifts and I ordered his bed. While I was at it, I also ordered a new mattress and bed for the guest bedroom because it’s been on my (never-ending) list of house things to do.
I was surprised by how quickly everything shipped and was delivered. The beds and mattresses all came within a matter of days. I took the old guest bed apart and was able to give the bed and mattress away on our neighborhood Buy Nothing Facebook group (those things are awesome). I also found a home for his crib/toddler bed and I’m giving away our glider as well. Not going to lie, I am in my feels about getting rid of the crib and glider but it’s time. <3
I attempted to put one of the beds together myself. That lasted all of about 45 minutes before deciding that was a job for my handyman. The dogs were very helpful in the process, as you can see in the photo above.
I got this queen sized bed for Finn and we ordered a Casper mattress. This is just the first iteration of his room – I’m going to be adding wall art, window treatments, a new lighting fixture/fan, a new dresser, a different rug and new bedding. I have my eye on this dinosaur bedding that just happens to be in a pattern called “Finn!” He is SUPER pumped about his new room!
I decided to swap Finn’s room and the guest room for several different reasons that aren’t worth getting into on my blog. Here’s the bed that I ordered for the guest room and I went with a Tuft + Needle mattress. This room also needs a ton of work and that will happen slowly. First up is painting the walls a neutral color (they’re much more blue than they appear in this photo) and then window treatments, new lighting fixture/fan, bedding, bedside tables and a dresser.
Now, if someone could please give me tips on how to get the dogs to stop eating the hassles off this brand new rug that would be great. 😛 My mom said I’m going to have to cut them off.
I still have a lot to do but it feels good to be making progress on home projects.
PUZZLE FEVER
My grandmother is on a huge puzzle kick right now and she has me going on them again too. I worked this puzzle in three nights last week and stayed up waaaayyyy too late working on it. They just suck me into the vortex and I can’t stop. It’s such an amazing way to relax your mind. I loved the patterns and colors in this puzzle. I’ve been working 500 piece puzzles but just got my first 1,000 piece puzzle this week. It’s holiday-themed and will likely keep me busy until Christmas!
Somehow I’ve never gotten into the True Crime genre of podcasts but one of my yoga students posted on Instagram that she was hooked on the Something Was Wrong podcast so I decided to give it a go for something different. I listened to the entirety of seasons 1 and 12 in three days while working the puzzle above.
THE WEEK IN YOGA
It’s been a rainy and dreary week in Charlotte which equals perfect hot yoga weather. I taught five classes at Charlotte Yoga this week and they were well-attended and the energy was great. I couldn’t believe it when my Wednesday 9:30a class sold out! I was like, “Where did you guys come from!? Is it a work holiday?”
I also got to teach another class at the Panthers Practice Dome! This one was for the female employees of the organization. We did a 45-minute power flow and a good stretchy time was had by all.
THE BARRY’S BURN
(Wearing lululemon align leggings, align tank and On Cloudgo shoes)
I was up and at ’em on Thursday morning for a 7:20a Barry’s class. The focus of the class was “abs and ass” and let’s just say it burned. So much band work. So many glute bridges. It was such a fun and positive start to my day!
I have a goal to make a once a week Barry’s class a thing in the new year. It’s my favorite group fitness workout because of the blend of treadmill intervals and strength work. As a trainer/teacher/fitness professional, sometimes it’s just REALLY nice not to have to think and let someone else push you and tell you what to do. It almost feels like a “treat” as crazy as that might sound.
I absolutely adore the energy and vibe at Barry’s. If you live in a city with a Barry’s – head’s up that they are offering their annual holiday sale right now. You can get up to 35% off of class packages and memberships through midnight on Sunday, December 11. This only happens once a year so definitely the time to invest if you want to check out Barry’s or add it to your routine.
Barry’s also has a great smoothie bar. I was heading out to teach two hot yoga classes after my workout so I grabbed a smoothie called Matcha Made in Heaven. It was a blend of banana, matcha, almond butter, vanilla whey protein, almond milk and spinach. I added mango at the suggestion of the person making it for me. I have two unopened bags of matcha at home and I now know how I’m going to put them to use!
IN THE MOOD TO BAKE
The holiday season has me in the mood to bake. I made a cranberry orange loaf cake last week with fresh cranberries and orange zest. I had high hopes but it was just okay. I think Finn and I are going to bake cookies and decorate them with icing and holiday sprinkles this weekend. I’d love to hear about any baking recipes that you’ve tried and liked lately!
PRESCHOOL MORNINGS
Preschool drop-off and pick-up is one of my favorite times of the day. I can’t tell you how often my eyes fill with happy tears over the sweetness and wholesomeness of it all. I think Finn’s preschool is a magical place and I feel grateful to have him in an environment where he is so nurtured. I just want to bottle up this age and stage that we’re in and hold onto it forever.
This week he asked me why I make him take a photo every day before school (it’s not every day but just about, haha). I told him it’s for Meme and Mema and that they love seeing pictures of him. I also love having them for my memories too.
If you’re looking for a last-minute gift idea, I gave my grandmother a digital photo frame a couple of years ago that I can update remotely from my phone. I try to change her picture a few times a week and she loves it so much.
And with that I am wrapping this post up! Have a nice weekend friends!
QUESTIONS
I would LOVE recommendations for where you like to shop for window treatments.
Are you working on any home projects right now?
Have you done any holiday baking? Any recipes you’ve loved?
Do you listen to any true crime podcasts?
Alum made into a paste worked for my sister’s dog who kept chewing the bottom of her wooden gate. Bitter Apple spray and sometimes vinegar works. The tassels do look a little like a chew toy. Hope this helps. I too am in such a baking mood, but shouldn’t be eating the goodies and with covid I’m not sure if neighbors etc are in to accepting goodies. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks for these tips Kim. I agree that they do look like chew toys so trying to give them some grace! If you were my neighbor, I would be accepting your home baked goodies! 🙂
Love the life in a week posts & all the updates! Do you know the details of the blanket/quilt in your extra bedroom? Looking for something similar.
Thank you Michelle! I picked that up at Marshall’s or Homegoods but it’s been several years.
How about keeping the dogs out of that room to keep your guest room clean and the rug un-chewed (HA)?
I try to keep the bedroom doors closed upstairs so they don’t get on the beds but it’s not a sure thing because Finn likes to open them back up. Haha. I guess I could lock the door but I need to access that closet semi-often. I’ll probably just end up cutting the tassels off if they keep at it.
Bitter Apple might work. Of course I have had mixed results with it. I had one dog that figured out the smell would eventually dissipate and he had to be patient and bide his time until he can chew again. Is restricting access to the room an option? I have pets, so I know the struggle in keeping them out of rooms, lol. Right now I am working on kitten related damage to the walls in the house and figuring out a less tempting door stopper option–I forgot that those things are cute, but very naughty and destructive.
The biggest issue with restricting access to the room is Finn. He likes to open all the doors to the bedrooms upstairs. I have a feeling the long term solution will be cutting the hassles off. Good luck with your kitten! God really did know what he was doing when he made puppies and kittens so darn cute. Helps you overlook many things!