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Coffee Talk 08.25.19 ☕️

Coffee Talk + My Daily Looks

Greetings and happy Sunday, friends! I hope you’ve all had a great week.

This week has been all about getting our kids ready to go back to school, and I think they’re ready. Even the weather has changed dramatically over the past 48 hours, bringing in fall-like temperatures as if on cue to usher in the back-to-school season.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon getting D moved into his college apartment. Actually, we mostly just got his furniture built and moved in. I didn’t realize until we got there that he didn’t even bring his bedding, wall hangings, clothes, or anything like that. I would have liked to get that all set up for him, but he’ll just take all that stuff when he goes back this afternoon and set it up himself.

What I really wanted was a few good pictures, especially since I never got much when we moved him into his dorm last year. That was a bit of a rush job because he only had a couple of hours to move in and get to his first marching band practice. But as it turns out, this year was much the same.

It took a while to build the desk we bought on Amazon, which came in a bazillion different pieces. Then we figured out his room arrangement, set up his bed, unrolled his mattress, brought in his giant beanbag chair, and he was ready to go.

(We’re happy with all of the above purchases, in case you’re in need of recommendations.)

I got one quick picture of him plopped on his beanbag chair, and that was it. It’s much like the one I got of him in his dorm on move-in day last year. Take a look.

I guess it’s better than nothing, right? At least he looks happy.

Then there’s my 8th grader. R spent the evening googling healthy school lunches, bagging up snacks, and creating a lunchbox drawer in our pantry so she can put her school lunches together easily each night. (She always makes her own lunches.)

The kid is more organized than I can ever hope to be. I’m not sure where she gets it, but it’s not from Paul or me.

C is still in denial. Her supplies arrived this week (her cyber charter school provides everything, even a laptop) so she’s all set. She spent yesterday making homemade pizza and beignets, which her father and siblings very much appreciated.

As for me, I’m trying to get back on track with clean eating so I can drop a few of those pesky summer pounds that always have a way of sneaking up on me. It happens every year, and every year I buckle down in August or September and try to get back into my comfort zone.

I was going to wait for Monday, but then I decided there’s no time like the present, and I’ve been doing better this week. I’m already feeling better too. It should be easier to stick to it once school starts and the kids aren’t baking so much, I’m not entertaining so much, and life is generally busier with less time to indulge. At least, that’s what I’m hoping!

Well, it’s time for me to get ready for the day. I didn’t run this morning since I ran yesterday, but we want to shoot an outfit or two before church this morning, and no matter how much time I allow, I always seem to be running late. We call it Jo-Lynne Standard Time, haha!

Have a relaxing and blessed Sunday!

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37 Responses

  1. Jo-Lynne, I love reading your blog, and really enjoy the interaction on your Facebook page. Enjoy your family and the coming school year!

  2. Good Morning!  Thanks for this post. It so good to be reminded that there’s far more to your life (and mine too) than just worrying about which shoes/boots look best with which style jeans!  Best wishes for a refreshing day and to your kids for a great school year. 

  3. I still am laughing at that huge bean bag but guess it made a good bed. I think I want one. Where did you get it. Might be good for afternoon nap on porch. 😴

    1. Right!? It is always interesting to me. And now that they’re getting older, I can see how when they were babies and toddlers, all of these character traits were evident, just not fully developed.

  4. I thought I was the only one who gained a few pesky pounds every summer. You made me feel better, Jo-Lynne. Happy Sunday!

  5. Love this kind of Coffee Talk post!  Becca and I would get along perfectly in regards to organizing things.  We have a dear old friend that is late for everything for everything.  We have always told him, Hiller time, not Carney time, and we would tell him to be wherever 30 minutes earlier than necessary, so he would be on time.  Our DIL is also one of those individuals that runs late.  I am one that is an early bird, especially for doctors appointments.  To keep me calm, I need to be at the respective office at least 15 minutes in advance of my appointment time.  Thanks for including a pic of David’s bean bag chair because I want to show it to Larry.  You know, that could be a fun Christmas gift for our grandchildren next door.  Have a blessed day!

    1. My husband (and his whole family) are like you.My husband is always ready 15 min early, and I’m always running 15 min late.

      In fact, here’s a story. I wanted my wedding rehearsal to start on time, so I told everyone to be there a half hour earlier than it was supposed to begin, not knowing how punctual they all were. They all got there 15 min before that and were so annoyed they had to sit around for 45 min! Haha!

  6. My diet input:  I tried the FasterWay diet and although having a fasting window was pretty easy for me, I didn’t like the macro cycles, etc.  I don’t like to count or measure.  So, I’ve had pretty good results with just doing a 16 hour fast and then eating a healthy lunch and dinner. I drink A Lot of water during the fasting time and I read that if you stay below 50 calories you are still in fasting mode so that allows me to have milk in my coffee. We’re empty nesters so I don’t have to cook for a family and both of us skip carbs for the most part.  Happy and healthy is the goal!

    1. I had the same experience, didn’t like counting macros but I don’t mind the intermittent fasting. It rather works with my lifestyle. I didn’t find it helped much, but I think I still ate too much of the wrong things, so I’m going to try it again this fall with healthier choices and less snacking.

  7. Enjoy a restful day. I struggle with gaining weight in the summer too…. Its those beers, guac & nachos on the deck. I too have to crack down on healthier eating. Gaining weight is too easy! Its the losing thats very hard. Sigh……..The leaves are starting to turn yellow here and the mornings are crisp. Fall is on its way. I enjoy reading your blog…. Thanks for sharing with us.

  8. Happy Sunday!  Hard to believe school is starting.  I hope your kiddos have a really great year!  And you, too! 

  9. I always gain in the summer, too. What’s with that? One is usually more active during the summer. Anyhow, I’ve decided to start my intermittent fasting again. I don’t find it hard to not eat in the morning, as it’s a busy time so I eat between 12:00 – 6:00. Time to cut those carbs, as well. 
    Your son looks happier this year. I guess he’s looking forward to apartment life versus dorm.  I would too. 😀
    I noticed it’s getting dark earlier and evenings and mornings are cooler. Early fall? 

  10. your 8th grader sounds like my younger sister she was all about making lunch and she would make mine too. i can remember going to high school and she would make me lunch.  I also feel the pain your daughter who goes to cyber school feels. its alot to sit and be forced when you have been so free for so long. 

    1. It’s hard when you don’t fit into the mold. My other two love traditional school and did well in that environment. It really is not for Caroline, but beyond letting her do cyber school from home, I don’t know how else to help her. Our next hurdle is figuring out what to do for college… or what another option might be. I envisioned all my kids going to college, but she may end up doing something unconventional there as well. We shall see!

      1.  Mine doesnt fit the mold either and high school are a little crazier than when i was in school and I went to NYC public school. Maybe your daughter will go to online college too.  I thinking that’s what mine will do but she could fool me 

  11. I also had to laugh at the bean bag. My older daughter won a giant bean bag at a school fundraiser.  Her dad taught her to do somersaults into it in our large family room. She was doing somersaults, to which I warned her to be careful. All of a sudden she ran out of the room. I found her laying on her bed with her hands covering her nose. Yep, she broke her nose with a knee to the face!! She eventually took it to college. Her younger sister wanted to also take it to college but she said no and it ended up being a gigantic dog bed. Our bean bag was well traveled in Michigan!

  12. Boys are so funny, huh? For the most part they’re true minimalists which certainly makes our lives easier as moms. Although my two sons are completely different; one is chill and laid back, and the other OCD and a perfectionist (like his momma 😬🤣). My older son is driving back to San Francisco this morning for his last year of college and to start grad school. Our dogs are soooo sad! He has a 6-7 hour drive ahead so I’m praying he has smooth travel and minimal traffic. 
    We’ve had a really mild summer in So Cal this year and our mornings our already changing too (it’s 10:00 am and only about 74 degrees with a nice breeze, but the high will be around 84). Im just praying we don’t get horrible September heat like we’ve had the last few years! Happy Sunday! 

    1. Yeah, I love how minimal and low maintenance he is, for the most part. But I did want a nice picture of him in his new room before he junks it up, haha! Oh well. I keep telling Becca it’s all on her.

      Your weather is baffling to me — hot in the fall, cold in the summer, I’m always amazed when you tell me what it’s doing there. I imagine it to be gorgeous 95% of the time. I guess I’ve only ever been there in May.

  13. Hi I have been looking for a decent bean bag chair for my teen daughter. Please advise where you purchased your son’s bean bag chair. Thank you

  14. My daughter’s boyfriend had to have that same huge chair!  I blame it on the King of Prussia Mall!  Best of luck to your kids this year!  My son quit cross country/track after his sophomore year of college and we were really sad.  It turned out he was less stressed and was able to work part time so it was for the best.

    1. That’s good to hear. I’m sure it will work out for the best, and it wasn’t meant to be for some reason, but at the moment, I’m still a little sad. He is too, but he says he doesn’t regret his decision based on the circumstances. He is enjoying his job at the high school, and I imagine it will make his fall schedule much easier to juggle, so that’s good!

  15. So good to be back on and reading your blog. The last 2 weeks have been crazy.  My daughter had her baby 5 1/2 weeks early while on vacation 3 hrs. away from their house and 4 1/2 from mine.  So, we went straight there.  She had a girl…we knew that, but so tiny.  She’s doing well, but was in the NICU for 2 weeks and just got to go home today.  I’m so happy.  They had told them it could be up to her due date…..Sept. 18th or longer.  Lots of hurdles to climb but God is good and she’s doing well. I can’t wait to see her again.  My first grand child. 🙂  Love to hear all about your family and see your son is all settled and hear how your girls are getting ready for their new year.  Hard to believe we are talking school and Fall. I love Fall, so I’m ready.  Enjoy them…..you empty nest before you know it.  

    1. Hey Kathy, good to have you back, and CONGRATS!!! My Caroline surprised us at 36 weeks and spent a few days in the NICU. It was very stressful, esp with David (3) at home needing me, but it all worked out. Prayers for your tiny granddaughter. xoxo

    2. Congratulations on your precious grand daughter! 🌸 being a grandparent is the BEST! Hard to explain the feeling of how special they are until it happens to you 
      ❤️❤️

      1. Thank you Traci. You are right it’s more than I even imagined it to be. She’s so precious and I already love being a Grandma. She’s 2 weeks old but her due date isn’t until Sept 18. So we got her early. 🙂

  16. That is what we spent our time doing this weekend. Our junior still wanted to stay on campus, so we set him up in his single room. You would think that by year 3, I wouldn’t be so upset. Yeah, I was still teary eyed. Youngest starts college tomorrow, but he is going to community college for the first two years and living at home. So we aren’t completely empty nesters!

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