the Weekender

a mug filled with coffee or hot chocolate sitting amongst autumn leaves. text overlay with the words: “If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour.” -Victoria Erickson

Howdy, friend! I’m so glad you’re here. We’re having another heat wave here in Missouri, but I’m hopeful this is the last of it. What is the weather like in your neck of the woods?

Miscellany:

1. I want to start by saying that with so much heaviness in the headlines and the news of Charlie Kirk’s passing is heartbreaking. No matter where we stand on politics, moments like this remind us of something more profound — that life is fragile, and every person matters.

In a world that can feel divided and heavy, we’re invited to choose kindness, to treasure the people we love, and to look for the good around us. I hope that this space — even in small ways — can be a reminder that light is still shining, and that we can carry it forward in how we live, love, and encourage one another.

2. Steve and I recently went to a Springfield Cardinals game. Our estate lawyers offered their clients free tickets, and we rarely go to the games, so we took them up on the offer. The night we went was a bit cooler, which made it perfect. The game was terribly boring, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves.

3. It’s been a bit quieter around here lately — life has been full, and I’ve needed to give myself space to breathe. I’m hoping to gear back up for the holidays, being that it’s my favorite time of the year.

I’ve really committed to working on myself this year — mentally, physically, and in other areas. No regrets.

4. My gym is offering more classes! Woo-hoo. So the golden physiques class is twice a week, and now they’re offering yoga twice a week too. I’ve gone to yoga once a week for the past couple of weeks. It’s a little harder than I expected, but I do love the challenge.

I even bought a yoga mat and a yoga mat bag! I’m in my yoga era (sort of). Haha!

Truth be told, the scale’s been inching up these last couple of weeks. Gulp. I’m hoping it’s just a plateau that I need to overcome, but I also know it could be that I’m actually gaining muscle. I need to lose another 30-35 pounds, so we’ll see how it goes.

5. I recently did some retail therapy at Bass Pro Shops. They really do have some cute fall clothes. Here is what I bought:

Denim Shirt Dress 😍
Denim Knit Shirt Jacket
Waffle Knit Long-Sleeve Shirt in Peachy Keen
Driftwood Wide Leg Pants in Lava Wash Denim
(I’d like to get the Cappuccino color, too).
This Vinyl Sticker.

6. Shows I watched/I’m watching:

Hostage (Netflix): very good, politically plotted mini series.
The Map that Leads to You (Prime Video): I absolutely loved this movie.
My Oxford Year (Netflix): Another great movie — a mix of romance and sadness.
Love Con Revenge (Netflix): I love seeing con artists/scammers get their justice, and in these episodes, that’s precisely what happens.
The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane (Prime Video): If you enjoy true crime, this was excellent. Kudos to New Zealand for how they handled the case of a tourist.

7. I forgot to post about Colorado Springs this past week — so stay tuned. I’ll be posting on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

8. Do you love a good game night? While Board Game Cafés are popping up, sometimes we want to stay home. Here’s a fun read on setting up a Cozy Living Room Board Game Café.