the Weekender

Bright-eyed greetings from Rogersville, MO. We are officially in an Extreme Heat Warning. I’ll be hunkering down wherever the air conditioning is. Haha.

Pull up a chair, let’s dive in. 😉

Miscellany:

1. Last weekend, Steve and I headed to one of the many Farmers’ Markets in Springfield. I wanted to get some of my Cranberry Pecan Chevre and Squash. We haven’t fried up squash in a looooong time, and there’s no better time than the present. Right? It was so good — nom nom nom.

2. On Tuesday night, we went and played some trivia at a coffee shop in Ozark. We had no idea what to expect, but it was a lot of fun, and we came out on top. Booyah.

Steve and I are home a lot — I guess that’s just the case when you work from home. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love home (probably too much).

Anywho, all that to say, this seemed like a fun idea, and Steve is very good at Trivia. I mentioned it to my sister, and a friend of hers decided to join us as well. We were the “Java Junkies.” Steve picked our team name. He’s a Java programmer, and we’re all coffee lovers (plus it was a coffee shop, duh). HA!

3. These 5 Retro Trends are Making a Comeback this year! A couple of them would be in my wheelhouse. How about you?

5. Prime Days have come and gone, but did you happen to take advantage of some of the sales? I bought a lot…. GULP. The packages are still rolling in, and my credit card statement almost knocked me off my socks (being a wee bit dramatic). I couldn’t help but chuckle because I knew this was a rare situation (especially for me).

A few things I bought for the first time and LOVE:

• These Window Fly Traps. Flies are such nuisances.
• Loving this Hydrating Facial Mist.
• Faux Leather Oversized Tote. Looks like leather!!
• These Shower Steamers — smell AMAZING!
• This Eye Balm.
• These Energizing Eye Masks (see below).

Apply the eye balm, then the eye masks. Pro Tip: Store the patches in the fridge. OMG. Feels so good. I’m obsessed.

5. Weight Loss Update. Over the last few weeks, I didn’t see much movement on the scale. However, I probably ate a little too much cake over the July 4th weekend, and one weekend I didn’t even weigh.

Nevertheless, I’ve been consistent with the gym, going three to four times a week. I am very proud of that. This week, I finally lost a pound. I’ve lost 22.3 pounds since January of this year.

My Daily Reminders:

• Slow and steady.
• Progress, not perfection.

6. Did you know there’s a decline in Monarch Butterflies? I’ve seen them in Alabama and here in Rogersville over the past few years. They’re so beautiful.

I found this article to be a great read and incredibly informative. I learned a great deal and was surprised to discover the one perennial herb that we could plant to help mitigate this decline.

Check what milkweed is native to your state or region. Then purchase milkweed seeds.

7. Y’all know I love my Seint cream makeup — and they’re double-sided brushes. Despite that, I found a contour brush that has surpassed all others. If you’re a contour gal, this contour brush is a must-have.

Around the Web:

Who wouldn’t love getting some ‘Prescription Confetti?’

This Nature Scavenger Hunt (free printable).

These Air Dry Clay Bells (Instagram Reel).

Fun Camp Craft Idea — Feather-Topped Pencils.

These Pressed Flower Candles.

This Whipped Pink Lemonade sounds delicious.

This Slow Cooker Greek Chicken. (High Protein, too!)

Summer Garden Pasta, anyone? Yes, please!

My favorite Dry Volume and Texture Spray.

This Conical Flower Tote — great for gifting flowers!! 💐

These Thought Cards are great for snail mail, lunches, and more.

One Last Hoorah:

I saw this quote on Instagram earlier this week. And let me tell you, friend — I needed to read this, feel this, and think on this. I am in a chapter (or season) of life that is HARD.

While I’m working on getting healthier both physically and mentally, I’m not thriving. So, reading that there’s a thread of grace running through this season was a beautiful reminder.

I’ve always been transparent in this space, and if this allows one of you to feel less alone in your chapter or season, it’s worth it. You are seen and loved.