Happy weekend to everyone. Thank you to all who read my latest post. I appreciate your kind comments, validation, and understanding.

I had three posts in drafts and just couldn’t get to them… So I will throw it all together here. I want to do a weekend recap from last week, a weekly reflection on this past week, and anything else that comes to mind.

last weekend recap

Saturday was a gorgeous fall day. The kids had gymnastics in the morning and I went to the Y to lift.

My husband then had an appointment with a tattoo artist for his second tattoo while the kids and I went to the playground and grocery shopping for the week. We went to Aldi and bought a LOT because… school lunches and my work lunches.

On Saturday I also dyed my own hair!

I used to go to a colorist, but it got expensive very quickly. Last time I went, my haircut was $100 (!) and my semi-permanent (!) color was $95 (!!). Plus the tip, of course.

This time I bought a bottle of semi-permanent Clairol BC in golden chestnut and 40 minutes later I had no grey hair. Total cost: USD 7.40

Some may wonder why I can’t just turn grey naturally. The honest answer is… I don’t like how I look. My skin has yellow, warm undertones so I look better in warmer shades. Yellow, olive green, brick red, brown, beige. I like to wear brown or bronze eye shadow, for example. Coral lipstick or gloss. Cool colors do not work well on me. Shades of blue, stark white, or black… Grey hair has cool undertones and that doesn’t go with my skin tone.

On Saturday we also went out to dinner as a family with good family friends. They kids talked Minecraft, the adults talked shop, current economy, parenting. I really liked this restaurant; it was cozy, with nice lights all around, and not too busy,

On Sunday it rained buckets. I took the kids to their first swim lesson at the YMCA. Then sat in my office and took some time to get organized for the week and do some planning. I think I prepped well for the week but then again, a lingering sense of anxiety was/is still there. T was going away on business to Edmonton, Canada.

weekly reflection

I held it together okay this week. On the weekend I decided to get to the absolute basics when T is away for work. My non-negotiables were:

1. my work, 2. kids’ school, 3. self care (exercise, mental space, my book), 4. basic house maintenance (dishes, clutter), and 5. proactivity (packing lunches the night before, not lingering, or waking up a bit earlier so I CAN linger with my coffee if I wanted to). I continued to take showers at night.

!! The YMCA aftercare opened (thank goodness) and I did not have to stress anymore about that aspect of our routine!!

Monday: I went to work, then lifted at the gym after work, even had some time alone at the house before pick up at 5:45PM.

Tuesday: work, Brazilian jiu jitsu for my son where I caught up with my Russian friend at BJJ (she also brings her son to BJJ). Dinner was pork chops Murphy (porkchops, baby potatoes, peppers and onions).

Wednesday: work, drive down to the Y -> swam at the YMCA (delightful), came home, cleaned the house with joy. Picked up the kids at around 5:45PM.

Thursday: work, then home. T returned from Canada at 4PM! I had back-to-School night at the school where I teach, from 7 to 8:30PM. A late night.

Friday: work. I felt tired at work because see Thursday. After work, GYM for a lifting session! Go me. After gym, T and I go to two different directions: he brings R to BJJ, I bring L to gymnastics. Everyone is home by 5:30. Dinner, TV time, play, baths, books, and sleep. T and I were going to watch a movie but I was fried so I bailed on him. Read my book, listened to my audio book and went to sleep.

Whew. So, yes, the absolute basics. Work, self care, kids’ school, kids’ activities and some alone time. I did not socialize, I did not do anything extra – no concerts, no movies, no plays, no friend time, nothing social… I mean…if you count our back-to-School night as a social event. Parents were lovely. Just survival and keeping my head above water. Thus is life at the moment and I accept it.

this weekend

I have Saturday, Sunday and Monday off (the day of Atonement, so school is closed).

I just want to catch up on life…

For me: lift, swim, take a walk or two. Finish my book. Listen to my audio book. Catch up on blogs (I’ve been a terrible blog friend). Go to a cafe – alone. Call mom (I did this morning 🙂 Write a blog or two… Listen to some more podcasts.

For family: gymnastics and swim lessons. Neighborhood kids stopping by.

For the house: put up Halloween decor, inside and outside, some laundry, some clean up. Change bed sheets. Vacuum the main areas.

For T: watch a movie, catch up on stuff, quality time. By the way, his new tattoo looks amazing.

Food for thought:

What are you feeling behind on?

Are you cool or warm?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.