Due to a series of events, some planned and others not, last weekend was a five-day weekend, followed by one day of school, and now we have begun a three-day weekend. Keep in mind that our two-week winter break ended a mere two weeks ago.
I adore my child. And yet. This is not ideal.
- Do you have a planner you love? I think I might need to become A Person Who Uses A Planner, and I don’t really know where to start. I have looked through planners on recent trips to Barnes & Noble, Target, and Joann Fabric. There is no dearth of options, which is probably what’s tripping me up. All I have been able to settle on is that I don’t want a bullet journal. I have a feeling the people in our blogging community have Strong Planner Feelings, though, so I am hoping you will direct me to The One True Planner.
- Speaking of planning, I am floundering when it comes to finding a workable structure to my days and I keep wanting to post about it (and beg you for advice) but I worry it is too boring a topic?
- I can now add “dismantling a doorbell” to my list of skills I never thought I’d need. A month or so ago, our doorbell started making a weird buzzing noise. It did this intermittently for a day or two and then stopped. But then it started again on Monday! And continued buzzing every ten or so seconds, directly outside my office. Fortunately, my doorbell was very low wattage, so it was easy to disconnect the wires from the buzz-causing things they were attached to (I added “doorbell dismantling” to my skillset, not “doorbell understanding”), wrap the exposed wires in electrical tape, and close the whole thing up again. I suppose I will soon be adding “replacing a doorbell” to my list of skills.
- Snow days are kind of boring these days. We used to do a LOT during snow days of yesteryear – probably I whined, then, about not being able to have time to myself; am impossible to please – Carla loved the snow and seemed entirely impervious to the cold. We’d play outside and make snow angels and build things out of snow and she’d climb up the snow mountains formed by the snowplow. Now, she has no interest. And also it is QUITE chilly so I’m not really pushing for outdoor time. She is similarly uninterested in: watching movies, baking things, playing games, reading, doing chores/homework/instrument practice. So. Screens it is, I guess? “More screens,” I should say, since this is – checks notes – Day 6 of being mainly inside. Maybe there’s a craft we could do together? But that requires having the appropriate tools/materials on hand. Or maybe I just need to lean into the screens thing and read some of the blogs I’ve been neglecting????
- To counteract the cold this week, I made a really good lentil soup. It was based on this recipe, with some major modifications. Instead of crushed tomato, I used a 4-ounce can of tomato paste. I didn’t have much paprika, so threw in a half teaspoon of cayenne instead. I tripled the garlic because that’s how I roll. I used an entire bag of lentils, rather than 2 cups (I think it was about 2 ½ cups, but I didn’t measure; I just didn’t want a little useless scrap of lentils lying around). And I used two 4-cup cartons of chicken stock to compensate for the lack of tomatoes and the additional lentils. It is delicious and hearty.
- To pair with the soup, I toasted some store-bought sourdough. Except our toaster has joined the throngs of quiet quitters and is now declining to toast, so I broiled the bread in the oven and it got all black and smoky. Clearly I need a new toaster. I am tempted to replace our toaster with the exact same model – this one lasted at least a decade, after all – but maybe you have a toaster you are gaga about?
- As long as I’m dabbling in some online shopping, I would also love to buy a travel mug for my tea. This has never been a thing I’ve wanted before, as I drink my tea first thing in the morning and I gulp it down so fast it barely has a chance to cool. But for various boring reasons I think I might prefer to drink my tea while driving Carla to school. I’ve borrowed one of my husband’s to-go mugs for this purpose, and it’s fine – it keeps my tea warm, it fits in my car’s cup holder, it holds the enormous volume of tea I drink – but I want my own mug. Perhaps more importantly, I’ve found that unless I’m very careful, the tea will slosh up over my face when I’m lowering the mug after taking a sip. I do not care for that. My main criteria for a travel mug, in addition to the above, is that it is dishwasher safe. And I don’t mean the wishy-washy “well, you can dishwash it, but we don’t recommend it.” I mean, it is MEANT for the dishwasher. This one looks good, and it comes in purple and doesn’t seem to have any tiny parts I have to dismantle before dishwashing. This is the one my husband has used for years – and has repurchased several times when one mug goes missing or gets dropped one too many times. But I don’t like the lid and I can’t explain why. This one is so pretty, and I feel more kindly toward ceramic as a material than I do toward stainless steel… but the dishwashability seems a little suspect. (How can the product care instructions be “machine wash” but also “hand wash only”?) What is your hot drink to-go mug of choice?
- I am having a frustrating email communication issue with someone. The communication is not optional, but it feels very one-sided, with me reaching out and waiting for days and then sending a nudge and then also getting a third party involved to nudge from a different direction. And now the person I am communicating with has finally responded and said they would attach a document I need in order to move forward, but they did not attach this document and have not responded to my request to resend the attachment. I guess the only next step is a phone call, which I HATE, but it seems like it might be my only recourse.
- Trader Joe’s Italian truffle cheese is my new favorite cheese. It’s soft and truffley and pairs so well with a buttery Ritz cracker that I’m thinking of having some for second breakfast.
- Twice in the past three weeks I have borked my back doing strength training. The first time, I have no idea what I did to injure my back. I could barely move for the first day and then sitting and driving were agony for three or four consecutive days. I treated the pain with ice and Advil. This time, I think I injured it either doing squats with weights or back rows. My best guess is that I tweaked my back doing the squats and then the back rows exacerbated the injury to the point where I had to quit. I love squats so I feel quite bereft at the thought of not doing them for awhile. I’m guessing something in my form is off? Maybe I need to hold the weights at my chest instead of at my sides during squats? I don’t know. Immediately after my back tweaked out (I was in the middle of this routine, where we were doing 100 reps each of squats, pushups, kettlebell swings, and back rows. Very frustrating to have to quit at 50 of each! Will I ever know if I could have done 100???), I did a series of back stretches, then took Advil and iced my back. It feels much less painful today than it did the last time I hurt it. This is an extremely boring bullet point, but I am including it for Future Me, who is bound to repeat this injury at some point.
- Are you watching the newest season of True Detective? There’s only been one episode so far, but I keep thinking about it and eagerly awaiting the next one. It’s got Jodie Foster and Alaska and supernatural elements and mysterious deaths and disappearances. SO GOOD. I haven’t felt this excited about a TV show in a long time.
That’s all I have for today, Internet. I am going to try to cajole Carla into doing some sort of screen free activity with me. Brownies, maybe? Who can resist brownies?
I hold my weights on my shoulders when I squat (well they just kind of rest there) because otherwise it hurts my back too, and I’m sure it’s my form that’s off but the shoulder resting technique works for me! Thanks for the rec for True Detective…we just finished both seasons of Dr. Death and wow that was intense. I needed to watch a funny show after each episode!
I am going to have to try shoulder resting! Thanks for reminding me that’s an option, I had completely forgotten!
Dr. Death sounds intriguing – I will look into it. 🙂
Oh also, I think your ideas for snow days are so fun! I always use them as a deep cleaning day (think closets or cabinets) so tell carla it could be way worse 🙂
Speaking of planning, I am floundering when it comes to finding a workable structure to my days and I keep wanting to post about it (and beg you for advice) but I worry it is too boring a topic?
I feel as though nothing is too boring a topic, as I think the response to your sock post illustrated. I would love to discuss how to add more structure to my day and what exactly that would even look like in the first place!
Thanks for the support, Kate! I will probably try to write it and hope it doesn’t bore anyone to tears. 😉
I feel you on the snow days- we are on our 5th- only 3 days of school since winter break2.5 weeks!) Ended. We shoveled a lot the first few days, and the kids baked some, but I am tired of being activities coordinator. So they can play on screens today.
My school district will rue their decision not to allow virtual school.
I hope your back feels better soon!
“I am tired of being activities coordinator.” YES. That is exactly what it feels like after so many days. I feel like an activities coordinator whose client has no interest in the activities I recommend, so I should probably just stop trying.
I hope ALL our kids get back to school soon.
I had to do a double take–you love squats? 100 reps? Yikes. I loved my teacher planner but it wouldn’t work for your purposes. It had big empty spaces for each day and I could ramble, list or bullet, as I wished. It’s easy to hide/ignore behind email so you’re right, a phone call might be necessary. I hate them too! I would prefer to text these days. One snow day is fun–too many, tedious.
I do love squats! I feel like I could do squats all day long.
I ended up making the phone call and it wasn’t terrible AND it got the job done.
By the way, if you like your tea to stay hot, I recommend anything Yeti. I use one for cold drinks and leave ice in it overnight sometimes. In the morning, the ice is still there!
Thank you! Yeti seems to be a really good option.
I’ve not seen True Detective but I want to. I need a good new show to keep me entertained during the dreary winter months. My husband swore by the Thermos brand insulated travel mugs when he was working downtown. They’d keep his coffee hot for hours, so he said. I’ve borked my back this week, too. I haven’t done anything strenuous other than stand in front of my computer and read blogs. Is that strenuous? Is that enough to send it into spasms?
So strenuous, Ally! I feel like the older I get, the easier it is to bork my back or some other body part. Move wrong in bed and I’m in agony! I hope your back feels better soon.
I have THOUGHTS on planners – but I tend to neglect to use said planner much after I’ve bought it. So, if you can give me pointers on how to make myself USE the planner, I’d be delighted.
My favorite size is about 5×8 – mainly because it’s easy to handle, to toss in a purse or a laptop bag. I want one that gives me the whole month overview AND a weekly overview over a two page spread. And it needs to have a pretty cover. Bonus if it comes with a bookmark of some sort.
My biggest fear is that I won’t use the planner! That is why I don’t have one.
Thanks for the tip about sizing and other key planner points – I will keep those in mind.
My absolute favourite planner is the Passion Planner. It has some goalsetting prompts that I used the first year and now ignore,,, but the actual layout of the planner works SO well for me, with a monthly view and then weekly layouts with lots of room to write, and space for personal and work goals, and blank space on each two-page spread. The back has plenty of extra pages too which I use to jot down all sorts of things (quotes, planning for events, a list of Christmas cards received to save for next year, etc). I always order the sticker tabs to mark each month so it’s easy to flip back and forth. You can order it by calendar year or academic year (with kids in school, academic year works best for me!). I use the medium size (6×9).
Oooooh thank you! I will look into that right away!
We had the exact same pattern of school days last week: MLK day, snow day, snow day, school in session, snow day. I don’t worry too much about what’s North’s up to on snow days any more as long as they do their chores. And in addition to a small bit of the shoveling, they did make a snowman one day. But it’s irritating that we’ve gone over the limit for this year’s snow days all in one week and now the school calendar will have to be revised and it’s likely the school district will drag its feet about making a decision. I will be so glad not to have to deal with this stupidity next year.
I had a work-related email exchange that lasted A MONTH (mostly radio silence on the part of the other party) just trying to find out how many paragraphs the client wanted in one section of a document– it’s relevant because for this project I am paid by the paragraph. It was such a clear cut question and I got either long silences or information about the project that didn’t answer the question. After all that, they said one paragraph (which will clearly be inadequate for the concepts I am supposed to cover in it, but that’s what I will give them).
A MONTH?! Omg. So frustrating! And ONE PARAGRAPH?!? Weary sigh.
Glad that North is still of a snowman making age! But also still able to help with shoveling.
OMG–I felt so much in this post! Using up all of something so scraps aren’t lingering in the pantry? Yes.
Hurt my back while doing a new routine? Yes.
Loving the latest True Detective (although I haven’t watched or finished any of the other ones)? YES!
I use a planner, but planner choices seem very personal. I think there are whole blogs and channels devoted to planner usage. Do you think it would help to peruse a few?
Planner choices DO seem very personal! But I get so overwhelmed by all the options out there. I even read some articles about “the best planners” and it makes my head spin.
Can’t wait for the next episode!
ONE HUNDRED REPS EACH. I am just sitting here staring in wonder. Even fifty reps seems like a lot. Wow!
I do use a planner, I don’t know if I rabidly love it, but I like it well enough to have bought it many years in a row. Or, one like it. I like to have the kind where you can see a week at a glance and each day has enough room to write things in that I want to get done/ appointments/ etc. It doesn’t seem to have a brand on it, I usually just go to Indigo and look until I find one that suits me. I always have it opened up to the week ahead and it stays like that on the countertop in the kitchen, so anyone can look at it or write something in it in the very odd occasion that they need to.
It sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t. The video breaks it down into sets of ten reps each, and you get the whole thing done in about 25 minutes. I guess I can’t speak to the full 100 reps yet, but 50 was easy peasy.
Leaving the planner on the counter! That is really smart! We have a shared digital calendar but in some ways I think a physical one we could all consult would be more useful. We’ll see. It may be like my experience with any journal: I use it enthusiastically for five days and then never use it again.
100 push ups? What? I think that would kill me. I’m doing a challenge right now that has me at 17 pushups, and it’s hard. I’m doing full body though, which is new for me.
What are you looking for in a planner? I don’t use one for much, just a few appointments. I like keeping them and looking back for some reason. Mine is a Franklin Planner, pocket size month layout, so not a lot of room for more than ‘dr appt’, ‘lunch with x’, that kind of thing.
I loved the first season of True Detective, didn’t really pay attention to the 2nd and 3rd seasons, and am now LOVING the newest season. Of course Jodie Foster is perfection, so there’s that.
Posting about trying to figure out your schedule? Isn’t that what we WANT out of a blog post? BRING IT!
I am afraid this comment will be very long and also have zero useful content, just to get that out of the way.
Yes, lean in to the screens. It’s January. You can only do so much.
I do not use a planner, but I probably should. I still just use a wall calendar because I need something I can look at without opening anything to tell me if I have something besides work on a given day. See, I just looked and realized I have lunch with some friends tomorrow.
I never came up with a workable structure to my days with kids at home, and go ahead and post about it because I feel like it would be a Really Good Thing.
Dismantling a doorbell is awesome and you are a badass.
I love my toaster but probably not enough to recommend it. We got rid of an ancient one, so a shiny new one that does all the stuff it’s supposed to feels luxurious.
The soup sounds really good.
I always tell myself I’m going to bring tea in the car, but I only drink tea at home and water everywhere else.
You are strength training in January which is admirable, and do only as much as you can without hurting yourself because hurting yourself is very against what strength training should do.
I haven’t even watched the FIRST season of True Detective and I DON’T KNOW WHY, it sounds perfect for me, and the season you’re describing sounds even MORE perfect, so I will now watch the first season, YOU DID THAT SUZANNE.
See? I was right about my comment. Sigh.
NO ONE can resist brownies!!! I hope you were able to convince Carla to make them, and I hope she’s back in school today.
About the planners- I think it can be trial and error. I’ve gotten planners that I felt really didn’t work ideally for me, and then the next year I’m like “Well I know I don’t want THAT feature…” I would say, really think about what you’re going to use it for and decide which features would be most helpful (like do you need a lot of space to write down daily activities, do you need a place to make lists, do you need a lot of blank pages in the back?) and then get one that’s not TOO expensive. You’ll make it work, and then next year you’ll have a better idea of what you want.
UGH on the back situation. I hope it feels better soon. Yes, I guess you need to change up your squat form, but I don’t know what to recommend. I either use the squat bar at the gym, or I hold the weight at my chest. But it still hurts my low back sometimes.
A little late to the party…but I made it! 🙂
I have used the Contigo mugs in the last 15yrs and I love them. I love that they are leak-proof and can throw them in my backpack with electronics and not worry (too much — because there is always a possibility of a leak, right? Or that I didn’t screw the top on properly?) about it. It’s good for the on-the-go use. And it does keep my coffee hot for hours…but it really helps if you pour hot water on it first to warm up the insides. It feels like too much work but I like my coffee hot! LOL
100 reps!! I’m very impressed! My workout classes do squats and they certainly burn! I’ve gotten better…and I realized the other day — after I got up from the floor to put something together — that I just did the Asian squat! I haven’t been able to do that in a very long time, either because of tight or weak muscles…but I was so proud when I realized I had just done it without intending to! But still….the idea of 100 reps makes my glutes hurt thinking about it — go you!!
I use Plum Planner and I really like it! You can customize almost every aspect of it to get the specific layout you want. I don’t use it as much as I promise myself I’m going to but that’s a me problem- the planner itself is great!
Well boo because this post only showed up in my Feedly late on Monday instead of Friday. Although hey, the advantage of being late to the party is that I get to see everyone else’s comments.
– I’ve been experimenting with a digital planner for the first time ever and yes it feels like it helps. It’s just an excel file of my own creation.
– YES OH GOD YES WE WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU SPEND EVERY MINUTE OF YOUR DAY. Speaking from experience, it’s hard to start a post like this but I feel like everyone loves them.
– It’s been so cold and so dreary where I live that the only sensible thing to do is stay inside and wait it out. The kids got two days off school last week. It is what it is.
– Thanks for the tip on True Detective! See above about not wanting to be outside right now and if Jodie Foster is doing it plus your recommendation the odds are that this is a good watch.
I hope my kids have a snow day tomorrow because we are supposed to get snow and freezing rain and I want to stay home all day. SCREENS FOREVER. Ben loves Yeti mugs. I hate the way SS makes my hot beverage taste so I mainly just drink at home and go through the Starbs drive thru
I love brownies! But our go to when it is cold outside or we are stuck together for a long time is GAMES! And if you are really stuck, you may even have time for an entire game of Monopoly or one of those ones that normally takes forever. I am a huge fan of Speed if you just want something quick, or Quirkle, Rumicub or Sequence if you have a bit more time.
I am late! It didn’t show up in Feedly until this afternoon but, thankfully, I don’t have any huge revelations to share.
This was a fun read and there is really no “boring” in blog land.
I use a Yeti to keep my tea/coffee hot. It sometimes works TOO well. If you want to drink it right away, you’re out of luck. It really keeps stuff hot for a looonnggg time, but I’ve worked out a perfect system in terms of timing things so I don’t burn my tongue off.
I love using a paper planner. My favourite is Sprouted – I’ve used it 3 years now. It’s…pricey. For me, it’s worth the money because I just adore the layout and I’ve really made it my “own” so I have a very specific way I use all the different functionalities.
If you’re looking for a specific suggestion tailored to your needs, I think you can write Sarah Hart-Unger (she hosts the podcast Best Laid Plans) and she sometimes makes specific planner suggestions based on what someone is looking for. If not, she is a great go-to resource for planners.
And Amanda’s Favourites is a YouTube Channel where someone walks through different planner options. It can be VERY helpful to see a video/mockups. And I think she often has discount codes imbedded in the videos?
I mostly hate snow days. They’re exhausting and the kids fight and the house descends into chaos.
With my teens I LOVE snow days, when they happen, which is not often enough in my area. They do whatever they are going to do, but they’re so happy about it, and I don’t have to wrangle them or transport them or harass them. It’s very pleasant. So easier days are coming!
I’m a fan of the yeti cups, but mostly the cute, colorful yeti rambler 10 oz. They fit nicely in the cup holder, I always put them in the dishwasher and they are a nice holding size. Maybe not enough tea for you though!
I’ve also been experiencing back pain. I see the doctor today. It was the same back pain I had last summer, so I might be going to physical therapy again…YAY!
Umm, those brownies look HEAVENLY.
I am happy to help you pick a planer! It very much depends what you want to use it for. Feel free to email me specifics and I can generate some ideas!!!
I also had this show up late in Feedly! I definitely support you writing about whatever you want, planners or organizing or anything else that grabs you. It’s all interesting!
I have the Wonderland 222 planner. I think this is my 3rd year of using it? It has very thin paper but I like that because it makes for a more thin/compact planner. I found out about it from SHU’s blog!
We have not had a snow day yet! We have barely had any snow. That is way too many snow days in the tail of winter break! I would be losing my mind!!
Write about your routine! I promise that even the post you THINK is going to be so very boring actually isn’t. I wrote about CAR ORGANIZATION and got so many comments! I don’t really worry if a blog post is going to be too boring for people, ha. Sometimes I just need to write it out for myself!
I have been reading through the comments on the planner suggestions. I have yet to find one that really works well for me. Ugh.
I have used the Wonderland 222 that Lisa mentioned and I really like that… my only complaint is that it is a little “small” for all the various things we have going on on the monthly calendar boxes. I have mostly moved digital in the last couple of years! I’ve really leaned into all things “Google”- so Google Calendar, Tasks, Keep/ Drive etc. They all work together beautifully and I love being able to access from my phone or any computer. Sarah Hart-Unger actually just interviewed me all about this for her podcast Best Laid Plans and will be coming out sometime soon! I love the concept of paper planners- and I think they are wonderful- but the digital world is just making me sense for me these days. I like being able to add things to it at any time (I always have my phone!) AND my boys now have access to the Family calendar. This is becoming sort of essential as they get older. For example, my older son needs to manage his own work schedule, so he needs to be able to see the calendar (from his phone). If I just kept everything in my planner, it would add a big layer of complexity to our family. I also like for my husband to be able to see the family calendar- and anyone can add to the shared grocery list I keep in Google Keep as well. Google Tasks is my absolute lifesaver for managing all my to do items, too. It’s amazing. Anyway, I hope you find whatever is the best fit for you! There are tons of great paper planners out there, too! I’m also using the Spouted Planner Elisabeth sent me on the side, as a backup tool this year. (In conjunction with my digital planning)
100 reps. Wow. No wonder you hurt your back. Haha. But kidding aside, do you do a proper warm up? I feel like people neglect warm ups before strength training but it’s still so important.
I have feelings about planners. I like mine pretty bare bones = simple, which means no crazy colors and no crazy layouts. I want to have room to write. Oh, and I prefer spiral bound over disc bound. Disc-bound is so bulky.
My current planner is from Natural Life. Colorful from the outside, but simple weekly layouts on the inside.
I do use a planner. But than one of my clients is a planner producing business. I use a specific one I have to shoot photos for. This year though I shot different ones. I tried to make do with them as I didn’t want to waste resources (I never have to return items I receive for shootings) but I ended up ordering the planner I like better Friday. obviously that won’t help you in your search. But I’d love to see what you end up with.
Also I’d like to hear about your workable schedule and lay it all out. I love those things. Not sure I will have advice though.
I am not a Planner Person. I’ve always wanted to BE a Planner Person and purchased planners, but I failed miserably.
Snow days. So many of them, already. I think Screen Time is perfectly fine because your daughter won’t be addicted to them that quickly; I feel she has too much energy to make that last more than it would have to.
Why am I craving Truffle Cheese?