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Saturday Morning #CoffeeTalk

I’m sitting here with my coffee mug half-full at 4:30 on a Saturday morning, listing to the intermittent beep of the smoke detector trying to tell me it needs a new battery, making a list of all the things I don’t want to forget to do this week.

It’s chilly right now, but today promises to be milder than the last few frigid days, and I’m hoping I can get outside and take a walk at some point. I’m going stir crazy from lack of exercise. My strength training sessions are the only thing keeping me sane anymore.

I snapped this picture one frosty morning this week — the sunrise over the barren cornfield behind my house.

sunrise over the cornfield

I always find it depressing to see the corn cut down, but at the same time, I love this time of year with the warmth of the holidays looming.

Last night I was lying in bed (at 8PM, no less — yes, it’s been that kind of week) surfing Facebook on my iPad and I came across this video. I laughed until I cried. Sometimes you just need a good laugh, ya know?

The comments on my Facebook page make it even better. I am laughing all over again this morning.

#thestruggleisreal

Snort.

Anyway, so yay Saturday!

Yesterday I had about 30 minutes when I thought I was coming down with a stomach bug. Turns out, I think I just got overheated sitting at my computer in my coat, ready to walk out the door, checking last minute email, which of course turned into a 30-minute project.

I laid down for a few minutes until I felt mostly better, but my head still felt swimmy and I’d already lost my window of opportunity to do the errands I needed to do. My dear husband came to the rescue and went out on his lunch hour to do the shopping I needed for an upcoming blog post.

And then I thought… we might be onto something here! If he did all my blogging errands, I could write more. This could work out nicely! Like he has nothing better to do on his lunch hour.

Oh well, it’s nice to know it’s an option when I’m in a bind.

I still felt a bit off the rest of the day so we ordered Chinese for dinner because if you’re gonna get the stomach bug, you might as well go out with a bang.

I went to bed at 8PM and woke up feeling fine this morning so all’s well that ends well.

I’m so glad because ain’t nobody got time for that!!!! Especially not this time of year.

This season is always the most hectic for this here blog. I feel like I could post four times a day and still not fit in everything that I want to. My gift guide launched this week. My Gift Ideas for Women is the first of many I’m working on. And our 12 Days of Holiday Outfits is still going strong. Plus I have a ton of other fun things I’m working on.

I know it will all slow down in January. I always do a bit of re-evaluating as I head into the new year, and I’m trying to decide what features should stay and which ones should go.

The Weekly Sales and Deals… do y’all like that? Use it? I was told that those posts are better when I highlight certain products from the retailers, which I can appreciate. So I tried to do that last week. I was going to skip it today because I have so much other stuff that needs to be done, but the deals keep flying into my inbox AND THEY ARE INCREDIBLE… so maybe I should whip one up!

Beauty Buzz as we know it is coming to a close. The linkup hasn’t taken off and the other bloggers aren’t interested in continuing, which I admit is a bit of a relief. The linky and giveaway isn’t really worth the time and effort, and I’m happy not to have to mess with that anymore. But I can still continue to post on beauty topics every Tuesday. Sometimes it’s a struggle to come up with something to write about, but when I asked on my Facebook page, I had a few people that said they really enjoy it and have found some great products from my recommendations.

And what about the Meal Plan and Grocery List? Does anyone really use that? I’d love to know. It definitely takes some time and effort to put that together every week so I want to make sure it’s truly useful — especially the grocery list part. That takes at least an hour to put together every week. I think it’s cute and all, but if no one is using it, I’ll ditch it.

Clearly my fashion posts are the most popular. I can see that when I look at my statcounter. Which is kind of funny because I’m really just learning as I go. I’ve never been particularly stylish, although I’ve always enjoyed shopping and keeping up with the trends. Maybe that’s why y’all like them. You can learn right along with me.

I’m excited about rolling out more gift guides this week, and Colleen has some festive new recipes in the works. Tonya has some fun holiday projects she’s going to share too so there’s lots to look forward to as we cruise into the holidays!

Speaking of the holidays, who has set up a Christmas tree? Anyone?

We always do ours the Friday after Thanksgiving when we’re in town. I definitely plan to get my “fancy tree” set up next weekend, and then we’ll probably go cut down our family tree after church on Sunday . . . next Sunday, not tomorrow.

I’m looking forward to decorating for the holidays, but we respect the turkey around here. Not a hint of red and green shall be unveiled until the last bite of pumpkin  pie has been savored.

How about you??

Join The Conversation

22 Responses

  1. I am a fan of your menu plan as I have gotten several recipes and ideas from them. Though I have never used the grocery list. I also like your fashion posts. I don’t really use the others. I am not a big shopper, if I need it I’ll buy it but a sale does not make me shop. My favorite posts are these coffee talk posts. They make me feel like I am not alone in the craziness that is married life with older children.

    Have a lovely day and I am glad that you were not sick.

  2. Although I start listening to Christmas music on November 1st (much to my husband’s chagrin) I do wait to decorate until after Thanksgiving. I also usually leave my decorations up well into January. I’m not someone who just can’t wait to get everything “back to normal” – I love how the house looks and don’t want to put it all away after just a few weeks.

  3. I do enjoy reading the weekly sales deals, mostly because we are around the same age (OK, I’m a few years older than you) and shop at the same kind of stores. Although I probably wouldn’t notice if they were posted less frequently, or just when the deals are especially good. I also like the weekly menus, though I’ll admit I don’t need the grocery listing. The menus have often given me ideas or at least a vague plan of what I can whip up for my family in the coming days. The beauty link-up is probably of least interest to me, I prefer to read your reviews of specific products that you use and like, especially if they are geared towards (ahem) aging skin issues. I am enjoying the 12 days series, as I am already a regular reader of Cyndi Spivey’s blog in addition to yours. I am trying to warm up to the 3rd blogger in that series, but I’m not finding a lot of relatable content there. (Sorry!) I would be interested in some details on who you are going to decorate your house for the holidays, without purchasing a lot of new decor each year but still making it look fresh. Overall, your sugar detox is the biggest inspiration I’ve found in your blog…it’s the first review I’ve felt was open and honest about the wins, losses and pitfalls along the way to healthy choices. Look at that, it’s time for a cup of coffee……..

    1. Hi Nancy, I love this!! Thanks for all that feedback. Yeah, I think Cyndi and I are a lot alike. In fact, I was thinking of asking her to join me in a beauty collab in the new year… 🙂 There are so many sales this weekend. I MEAN GOOD ONES. Like 50% off at GAP – and dangit, I just ordered christmas pajamas for all my kids. Boo.

  4. I’ve been reading your blog for a month or two, first time commenting. I originally found you when I was searching for ways to update my look. It turns out we have lots in common! Although I live in WA state, I am originally from the east coast, I have 2 daughters the same age as yours (older one was also Katniss for Halloween, so I had to chuckle when I read that post), I am also gluten-free, a SAHM, and a former teacher. Anyway, I really love your weekly menus, and have tried a bunch of your recipes, especially when I am burned out on our usual standards. Last night I made the bean and bacon soup – yum! I hope you continue with the meal planning posts (although I don’t really use the grocery lists, I still skim them.) I enjoy your humor, style and gets lots of inspiration from you! Cheers from Seattle 😉

  5. I too like the coffee talk and comments on an item you like as far as makeup and such, but don’t really pay attention to the beauty buzz. I have started Glossybox because of you and do love getting those! Trying to get my friends involved but they all think they won’t like them, silly girls.
    I like Fashion Fridays; I am 10 years older than you, but still like lots of the looks and can edit what won’t work for me.
    Never look at the”deals section”, you shop a little above me. I am a Kohls, Old Navy, sometime Macys kinda girl.
    And I am just coming off 2 days of sick, not good. Have to really try to not over do today to catch up today, but it will all get done eventually.
    Have only ever done one professional family photo years ago that didn’t work so well. My kids are now 20 and 24, maybe I should corral them this year and try again.

  6. Thanksgiving is at my house again, so we are decorated for that right now. No Christmas decorations or music until Friday! My hometown high school has their biggest football playoff game of the year, probably the last 20 years, on Black Friday, so my plans are a little different this year!

  7. I like your meals for the week but While I might make a recipe or two….I never follow it for the entire week so grocery list doesnt work for me. Your blog was the very first blog I started following….years ago. I always read all your posts but sometimes there are So many I dont get a chance to read them as they come out but try to take a look a couple times a week and catch up. I like seeing the weekly sales…..but dont shop weekly so that one is up to you. I have found some great deals thanks to you. In fact you I am going to jump over to the gap to look for pjs:)…. Thanks! I only follow 3-4 blogs on a regular basis…….just too many out there now. But yours is one of my favorite…thank you! I always love when uou are honest and so transparemt:)

      1. I have no idea if they will, but maybe try calling the store and ask if they’d do a price adjustment if you went int? Can’t hurt to ask.

  8. Love your Meal Plan and look over the grocery list. I really like it when you do specific reviews on any topic, and also it’s good to know about deals.

    Hope this helps 🙂

  9. I honestly never read the meal plans, my grocery list is overwhelmed with ingredients etc. from what I pin from Pinterest, and sometimes I buy stuff and have no idea which recipe it belongs too…lol. But I do start to stress if it’s noon here in AZ and I haven’t yet checked in on your latest post(s)

  10. Your meal posts always give me great ideas, but I don’t think it’s totally necessary that you do the grocery lists. Though they are adorable!

    I think the reason your fashion posts are so popular is because they are refreshing and REAL. The bloggers who wear $400 shirts and take photos posing in fields of grass is fun and all, but, yea.

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