Week in Review 11.10.18

Photo credit: Kelsey Moll
www.kelseymoll.com

It is amazing how preparing for a trip can literally take up one's entire week. I've spent the week getting things together for our trip to Sydney and we are finally ready to go! The entire family is super excited about our adventure. 

Exercise

I kicked some butt this week in the exercise department! I am 40 rides into my 100 City Cycle ride goal. I got in two boot camps, one barre3 class and four City Cycle rides.

Food

This week's menus were focused on clearing out the pantry. We were helped with this project by a food drive with Molly's school. We also went shopping with the money from Molly's Give allowance jar to stock up on extra food. She was quite adamant that we donate cheerios to the food drive so I made sure those were on the list. 

The Girls

The girls spent the week going to school and packing for the trip. They were ready to go on Friday! 

Other Goings On

We got our photos back from our photographer, Kelsey Moll and I love them! I quickly jumped onto the Kodak Moments site and ordered our Holiday Cards so they will be ready to be sent when we get back from our trip. Here are a few of my favorite shots!

Reading, Listening, Watching and Making

Reading

Lifestyle Photography for the Holidays

How to Become a Writer

Listening

Natalie Singer on Finding the Time to Write and Living a Creative Life Around Day Jobs

Watching

The Brain-Changing Effects of Exercise 

Making

Molly's Birthday Sweater

2019 WCCPBA Nominees

We are a true lover of books in this family so when Molly's school librarian sent home a list of the 2019 WCCPBA Nominees, we quickly got reading! 

Here is a list of all the books! Give yourself the challenge of reading all of them! 

Alfie: The Turtle That Disappeared

Author and Illustrator: Thyra Heder

 

The Bad Seed 

Author: Jory John Illustrator: Pete Oswald

Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished 

Author: Camille Andros
Illustrator: Brianne Farley

Giant Pants

Author and Illustrator: Mark Fearing  

Great, Now We've Got Barbarians!

Author: Jason Carter Eaton
Illustrator: Mark Fearing

The Great Pasta Escape  

Author: Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Javier Joaquin 

Ice Boy 

Author and Illustrator:  David Ezra Stein

Jabari Jumps 

Author and Illustrator:  Gaia Cornwall

The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors 

Author:  Drew Daywalt
Illustrator: Adam Rex  

Life on Mars

Author and Illustrator:  Jon Agee  

Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey 

Author: Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes
Illustrator: Sue Cornelison 

My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis 

Author and Illustrator: Paul Meisel
Publisher: Holiday House

One Proud Penny  

Author: Randy Siegel
Illustrator: Serge Bloch 

Poor Louie 

Author and Illustrator: Tony Fucile

Rules of the House

Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Matt Myers

Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse that Became a Hero

Author: Patricia McCormick
Illustrator: Iacopo Bruno

Shawn Loves Sharks 

Author: Curtis Manley
Illustrator: Tracy Subisak  

Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar 

Author and Illustrator: Emily MacKenzie  

Woodpecker Wants a Waffle  

Author and Illustrator: Steve Breen 

You Don't Want a Unicorn 

Author: Ame Dyckman
Illustrator: Liz Climo 

October Goals

October was packed full of fun! The holidays are upon us now. I'm gearing up! 

Here is how I did on my October Goals:

1. Exercise 22 times - I got in 26 workouts and hit my 218 in 2018 goal! 
2. Write daily for 20 minutes - I did ok on this. I didn't do it everyday but I did it most days. 
3. Hang Wallpaper in the Basement hallway - I did not do this. I'm not sure if I want to? 
4. Knit my October hat for charity - Done with some luscious yarn I found in my stash. 
5. Knit 5 miter squares for my blanket - Nope! 
6. Paint and organize the garage - I worked on this some but did not finish. 
7. Paint the upstairs bathroom - Did not get to this. 
8. Work on TKGA Master Knitting Level I - I worked on this some. 
9. Work on Yearly Photo Books - Nada! 
10. Work on Holiday Calendars - Nope! 

Here are my goals for November! These include some 2018 goals and some specific goals for the month. We're gone for two weeks so I'm hoping to crank through some of this on our 18 hour flight!  

November Goals

1. Do 8 City Cycle rides  
2. Install deadbolt in Basement Door
3. Knit my November hat for charity 
4. Knit 5 miter squares for my blanket
5. Finalize Holiday Calendars
6. Order Holiday Cards
7. Finish a Tale of Two Cities
8. Work on TKGA Master Knitting Level I
9. Work on Yearly Photo Books
10. Work on Nanoo

Sunday Favorites

Happy Sunday! Today with that extra hour we all got by falling back, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites items right now. Of course, it has taken all day because my children have not honored the gift of an extra hour by helping me be productive.

I've been stealing snippets of time to read Transcription: A Novel and loving it. I always enjoy a good Kate Atkinson book though.

I love using this New Anti Aging Jade Roller for Face with Gua Sha Scrapping Massage Tool - Facial Massage Tool - Eye Roller - Quarts Roller - Anti-Aging Eye Roller - Skin Rollers Best SPA Tool Dark Circles Puffines to cool my tired eyes. 

I picked up a new pair of the Brooks Women's PureFlow 7 Black/White 10 B US for our upcoming trip. I love how they are awesome for walking (and running) in and yet look stylish enough for roaming around. 

*These links are affiliate links and I make a small percentage if you buy something directly. 

Week in Review 11.3.18

We did a lot of reading this week, a lot of Halloween celebrating and spent some good time cuddling. Maggie was sick at the beginning of the week so she kept me company and I kept her snuggled!

Exercise

This week was another one for the exercise books! I officially hit my 218 workouts in 2018 goal and am 35 rides into my 100 City Cycle ride goal. I got in two boot camps, one barre3 class and two City Cycle rides.

Food

I have little to say on Food this week other than to point out it is prime squash season which makes me so happy! I'll have a Honeynut Soup recipe for you next week. 

The Girls

The girls spent most of the week completely hyped up for Halloween. It was (as it always is) and exhausting day. There was the preschool parade, the classroom party, the dance class in costumes and the neighborhood trick or treating session. I was worn out but they were so loaded up on sugar, they were like energizer bunnies! 

Today I took the girls to a Dias de las Muertas celebration which they loved! They are pretty obsessed with the holiday and talk about celebrating it all the time.

Other Goings On

I decided at the last minute to dress up for Halloween and brought Betty Lou back! The kids were so excited and it was fun to dress up even if the wig was itchy and I couldn't see well through the false eyelashes! 

100 Rides

A few weeks ago a friend challenged me to 100 rides at CityCycle. I admit that it feels like an enormous amount of rides but she did the math and figured out if we rode 2-3 times a week, we'd have this goal conquered by the end of June, 2019. She also noted that we had some rides under our belt so we weren't starting from scratch.

Earlier this week, I completed my 34th ride! And the 100 rides goal feels awesome and daunting, the best part of the rides are the random friends joining me for spins. I announced my 100 rides on Instagram and now people are asking to go to classes with me. LET IT BE KNOWN that I will totally go to a cycle class almost anytime with you. ANYTIME! I have a goal to crush, I love working out and most importantly I love working out with friends.

Maybe the best part of this challenge is that I'm connecting with more friends and getting them to exercise more too! I have to also say my fitness level has totally increased since I started riding more.