A “quick” recap of recent life happenings:
WHAT I’M WATCHING…
Sports documentaries. So. many. sports. documentaries. We started with Unchained (Tour de France) early in the summer, moved on to Quarterback (football), then Top Swing (golf), and now I have officially taken giant gulps of the Formula 1 Kool-Aid with Drive to Survive. I had zero (sub-zero, actually) interest in racecar driving and I am now obsessed with that show.
Note: all of these series contain quite a bit of “colourful” language (if I crashed a car while going 250+ mph, I suspect a few expletives would sneak out), so we have not been watching these with the kids. Mileage – pun intended – will definitely vary, but I have really enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at each of these sports. The dedication is pretty incredible and it definitely take a unique personality to make it as a professional athlete.
WHAT I’M READING…
- The Longest Race by Kara Goucher. 4/5 – It was a maddening look at systemic abuse within an elite Nike training program. Lots of trigger warnings.
- You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith. 3.5/5 – I don’t know how to rate this book. It’s pegged as a memoir, but focuses exclusively on the pain Smith experienced in the sudden breakdown of her marriage (her husband was unfaithful and left the relationship). She is an award-winning writer and that definitely shines through in some truly beautiful passages…but she used repetition as a literary device far too frequently for my liking which got tiresome.
- Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. 4.5/5 – This book is making the rounds and I can see why; some people found it too on-the-nose with regard to Little Women, but those parallels went over my head. I actually kept thinking of how much it reminded me of Ann Patchett’s masterfully-written The Dutch House. This novel covers decades of a complicated family narrative including loss, grief, sibling dynamics, and all sorts of other relatable tensions.
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. 4/5 – I know I’m going to flak for not giving this 5/5, but I’m a big girl and can take the criticism. When I first read this book in my early 20s I adored it and quickly proclaimed it to be One of my favourite books ever. Reading it this time as part of Engie’s online book club…I really struggled with some of the material in the book. All these years later, I see through the veneers in a different way and relate to the character’s struggles as wives/mothers/daughters completely differently. It’s wonderfully written but this book felt very heavy and tragic for me this time around.
- The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin. 3.5/5 – Meh. This was okay. I can’t remember how this book made its way onto my holds list – I mean I know I added it but on whose recommendation? Can’t remember. Anyhoo… it’s a memoir about a wife and mother who lives in an upscale neighbourhood and gets addicted to a prescription pain medication; her drug addiction spirals, and she starts committing fraud to fund her addictions and winds up in jail. It provided a sad/fascinating look at the inner workings of the criminal justice system (though, to be fair, she was a white, previously affluent/highly educated woman). Years after her release she ended up being an accomplished ghostwriter. It was fine. I wouldn’t read it again…
The final book I read (and loved) I don’t have a picture for – it’s so obscure Goodreads didn’t even have cover art!
- The Book of Seven Truths by Calvin Miller. 5/5 – This is a Christian novella that is packed with all sorts of quotable gems like:
“Follow only the guide who’s been where you want to go.”
“You cannot help people if you are always with people.”
“Life is a trip we have to take into a land that’s never been mapped.”
“…we have much to do today. To get it all done, I will have to spend a lot of time with Jesus.”
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO…
Spotify playlists. I love Spotify, use it every single day, and it is the most frequently touched app on my phone. For the last week I’ve been rocking out to a playlist I’ve called Elisabeth’s Anthems – all upbeat worship songs that get me pumped for the day and help me center my mindset (life has been…pretty intense/sad lately).
WHAT I’M DREADING…
One word: Winter.
WHAT I’M ANTICIPATING…
Fall. I love the crisp mornings, beautiful foliage, brilliant blue skies, and delicious food.
Christmas. As much as I loathe winter, it does bring Christmas. I have exactly zero things prepared for Christmas which, for a planner like me, feels like I’m already behind…but I’m looking forward to taking things a bit easier this year and IT’S CHRISTMAS. How I love Christmas!
WHAT I’M LOVING…
The return to extracurricular routines. Drama club, basketball, cross-country, youth groups – they’re all either starting soon or have already restarted.
My son is doing a 6-week golf program through school and a neighbour had offered us a set of junior golf clubs. I walked into the living room one evening last week and saw a pint-sized bag full of clubs sitting in the middle of the living room and my heart just about burst with happiness (I’m not even sure why seeing that golf bag made me so emotional, but I almost cried). It’s uniquely heartwarming to see your kids exploring their interests.
My daughter’s updated bedroom. We’ve made a few more tweaks and I would say the room is 90% done; it makes me so happy to see this finished space which feels absolutely perfect for a tween. (Pictures coming soon!)
Coffee. I give up. No more demerits. I love coffee – the act of making a cup, the warmth of the mug, the satisfaction of that first sip – and I’m going to drink coffee. I have made the concession of switching to decaf. It really does bring me daily joy.
Memes. They make me laugh and since there has been a lot of really tough stuff happening lately – laughter is one of the medicines. I love trading memes and it immediately buoys my spirits.
Having a blog space again! I’m trying to figure out a few things that already need fixing but it’s okay BECAUSE I HAVE A PLACE TO WRITE AND I MISSED THIS SO MUCH!
WHAT I’M UP TO THIS WEEK…
I’m on a “solo” retreat!!!! I’ve come to my parents’ home for almost a whole week. I packed a bag on Saturday evening and WALKED OUT OF THE HOUSE the next morning without having to prep or plan anything. This is the first time I have done anything like this since having kids (when John and I have gone on trips together there are so many logistics to arrange before we leave) and it feels…incredible. I know the kids are home living their best lives with John for the week and I am soaking up the peace and quiet. The lake is such a happy place for me.
I helped my dad split wood this morning, and have worked alongside my mom in the kitchen…but mostly I’ve plugged away at work tasks, gone to bed early, and enjoyed every minute of this much-needed mental vacation.
WHAT I’M EATING…
Two favourites:
Quinoa-based salads. We recently bought a rice cooker ($5 at a thrift store; it’s amazing!) and I use it to cook up a batch of quinoa several times a week. I line a bowl with a few big spoonfuls of quinoa and build out with whatever greens or veggies (crunchy cucumber chunks are my current fav) I have on hand; then some hard-boiled egg for protein, a bit of tuna, and top it all with a generous glug of EVOO Italian dressing. It is so filling and flavourful. Yum.
Protein balls. So I made one protein shake with just powder and water and decided life is too short to drink chalk. Blech. So then I started mixing it with a bit of oatmeal for breakfast – much better. Then I started mixing it with fruit in smoothies – even better. But I struck gold with protein balls. Oats, coconut, coconut flour, maple syrup, peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, protein powder and oat milk. I don’t actually have a recipe I follow, I just mix and match based on the ingredients I have on hand. These things are DELISH and I often have one with coffee as my breakfast. Very satisfying.
When I drove up to my parents solo (pure bliss) I wanted to do something that made the trip feel especially memorable. I had listened to music on full blast most of the way, but I wanted a true anchor point. About an hour from their house, I pulled off the highway and went to Dairy Queen. I have not had anything from DQ in over a decade, but when I was young we used to occasionally stop en route to the lake to get a dipped ice cream. In a household where everything was homemade or sourced for the lowest possible price, getting a soft-serve ice cream was a Very Big Deal. And dipped?? I have not had a dipped DQ cone is 20+ years…so I got one.
It was very forgettable. Somehow, as an adult, the dipping chocolate tastes like sweet wax and I don’t think I ever need to have another dipped cone again, but I’m still really glad I stopped and made that memory (with its clear link to my childhood)!
And that’s…life lately from my end (skipping a few of the less pleasant events!).
Your turn. What has life been like for you lately? What are you dreading? Anticipating? Loving? Eating? Watching? Reading? I can’t wait to hear all the details! Did you have any special ice cream traditions as a child?
SHU
Welcome back!! Your fall must be amazing and the retreat sounds restorative. DQ: next time get a blizzard 🙂 my favorite totally indulgent treat.
Elisabeth
Thanks, Sarah!
Fall in Nova Scotia is beautiful (you should come do a race here some year!).
I haven’t had a blizzard in years and years, though the Reese’s Peanut Butter Pie one was VERY tempting the other day. Alas, I went with the sub-par dipped cone but it was more for nostalgia sake – definitely going with a blizzard if I happen to be at DQ again sometime soon!
J
I’m sorry to hear that your dipped cone was not as good as you remember, but glad to hear that I am not alone in this! I wonder if they changed the recipe? I had one maybe 10 years ago, and I also will never be tempted again.
I’m in the middle of Hello Beautiful right now, and I’m enjoying it. Glad you liked it too.
Enjoy your grown up time! Totally delicious, and to be with your parents at the lake? Swoon.
Elisabeth
It is hard to beat the lake in early fall. The leaves are just starting to change and it’s just…lovely. I hope this is the start of an annual “retreat” for me?!
The dipped cone was definitely a disappointment! The chocolate just didn’t taste right (then again, I don’t know if I would have noticed it as a kid, so maybe the recipe is the same and I’m the one who has changed?!)…
Jenny
Yes, I’m getting excited about Christmas as well!
I’m so happy you’re having a solo vacation! As a mom I know how rare that is. I hope you have an amazing and relaxing time (somehow I know you will!) You deserve it after all the stress.
My version of the DQ cone would be a Coke Zero. I definitely have them more frequently than once every 20 years, but it’s still a treat, and I like to get one when I’m on a trip.
I made the protein balls tonight- I just used the second recipe you sent, and YUM! I love them, and I’m going to try some of your variations next time.
Elisabeth
It has been a lovely week so far. I’m just soaking up the relaxed pace (I often have to check the clock to figure out what time it is; unlike at home when I feel like I’m looking at clocks and figuring out schedules constantly!).
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the protein balls. They have been a big hit at my house though I’m kinda a mix-and-match sort of chef with them in terms of how I make them/ingredients.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Welcome, friend! I am so glad you are taking some time to yourself at the lake. Sometimes we need a change of venue or a change of pace or a reset like that and I hope that it gives you all of that! Your time with your parents sounds like mine…chopping wood etc. My Dad always puts us to work, which I hated as a kid but now embrace and even volunteer for. I helped him roof a house the last time I stayed with them for an extended period of time. It was hard but satisfying and I got in better shape without even realizing it!
I have a beta tester comment about your new blog….there is a box that says “save my name” etc. for the next time I comment, which used to not actually save it on your old one, but this one does! Yay! I was having to type in my info every time before but now it already knows who I am!
I just finished Mama Love and enjoyed it but I also would not read it again! Although there are not many books I think I will need to read more than once. I am currently reading a book about a woman bike racing across Europe (Transcontinental race) called Where There’s a Will. It is interesting; I am learning about bike racing and of course it is nice to hear things like this from a woman’s perspective. Side note, I also read the Kara Goucher book and was appalled. Where was I when all of this was happening? I think I heard whispers but never really got the full story on some of that stuff. Yikes.
Elisabeth
It has been an absolutely lovely week (definitely not ready for it to end – the time is flying, but it has also been so relaxing and wonderful). I have done several roofs with my father, too!
Yay about the comments; I know some people have had some issues with commenting already so definitely kinks to work out…but I’ll get things sorted eventually!
Kaethe
SO happy to have you back! I really enjoyed”Hello Beautiful” too and appreciate your thoughts on it. Enjoy that sweet time at your parents’ house!
Elisabeth
Thanks, Kaethe. It has been a great week so far; a very special time and I’m just soaking it all in. Mom’s homecooked meals, sitting in front of the fireplace, VERY relaxed mornings. It’s bliss…
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie
YESSSSS!!!!!! Having you back is the best thing that’s ever happened to the internet!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful week at your parents! I love my family, but I also love the time to myself that I get on my solo trips. I think it’s good to have a bit of time apart. Let’s just call it PTO.
Books – I adored Hello Beautiful and sobbed buckets toward the end. I barely remember Little Women, but Beautiful makes me curious to revisit it. I can understand your take on ATGIB – for me it was a solid 5 star “I knew it was good but I didn’t remember that it was this good” but yes it has heavy and outdated stuff in it. Mama Love was another rave for me. I just felt that the writing was so good and that she filled in the blanks between: someone with issues==>drug addiction==>losing everything==>rebuilding everything==>oh hey I’m a successful author.
Coffee 4 Life!!!! My concession is to only drink one cup a day, although some days the “one cup” is pretty large;-)
Elisabeth
Well if that isn’t one of the sweetest things ever. I’m blushing! I’m so glad to be back.
The way I figure, I have been accruing 4 weeks of vacation annually for over a decade and finally got to cash in a week. I think I’m going to aim to make this a quarterly event. My parents are loving it and we’ve had such a great time together…but I’ve also been able to keep up with work tasks, go to bed early, and just sit around the table after a meal for HOURS to chat.
Mama Love DEFINITELY filled in blanks. I’m glad I read it, but some parts just started to feel like a bit of a slog for me? Hello Beautiful seems to get such mixed reviews, but I thought it was beautifully written and the title is PERFECT given the content of the book!!!!!!
Grateful Kae
So happy that you’re back!!
Your time away sounds PERFECT!! What a nice, easy, relaxing break. Keep enjoying! It’s so true that going on “normal” vacations with or without kids is just also a lot of work. This retreat sounds blissfully simple.
Elisabeth
It has been absolutely lovely – the first of its kind since having kids!!
Nicole MacPherson
Yay for solo trips! And quinoa bowls! And all the other lovely things! I haven’t had a dipped cone in forever (dairy and I are not friends, particularly that much dairy) but I used to love them.
I feel similarly about ATGIB. It wasn’t a five-star for me, as so much of it was upsetting/ weirdly racist and antisemetic/ misogynist, and yes, I know that was the times, but it really cut into my enjoyment. Also some parts I found really boring (the election stuff mostly). Still I did enjoy it, but not as much as I thought it would.
Elisabeth
I wonder if how slowly I read the book impacted my experience? I think I paid much closer attention to nuances of the book that I would have missed or skimmed over if I was reading it according to my typical pace?
I definitely enjoyed it, too, and I’m glad I re-read it. But it seems to be a pattern for me of not loving books nearly as much on my second read through…
Melissa
Enjoy your time away, it sounds fabulous. I think I’ll try making some protein balls too. They sound like a winner. I love my coffee too but I’m going to have an extended break. I had multiple bouts of vertigo over the last month and I know coffee makes my head funny sometimes so I’m going to see if avoiding caffeine, alcohol and dairy (which I’m intolerant to) helps at all.
Elisabeth
I’m really enjoying the decaf – I sometimes mix in a bit of regular coffee, but it means I can have a second cup in the afternoon which is delightful.
The time away has been incredible (I’m not ready for it to be over!!). Just a lovely time to reset and relax.
sarah
I want a solo retreat– this sounds absolutely DREAMY. Where can I sign up?
Seriously, this is a genius idea, and I think you deserve a lot of props for prioritizing yourself.
Elisabeth
Maybe this is my next goal – to organize a bloggers retreat!
It has been amazing and the first of its kind since I had my first child almost THIRTEEN YEARS AGO! I want to make this an annual thing (at least; maybe 2-3 times a year?!). And since I came to my parents it’s very inexpensive (just gas to get here). And they’ve been delighted to have solo time with me. A win-win.
Suzanne
Love your beautiful new blog! I always enjoy reading your take on life, the highs and the lows. xoxo
Elisabeth
Thanks, Suzanne <3
Lisa’s Yarns
I gave ATGB 5 stars but can see why it wasn’t 5 stars for everyone. It is shockingly heavy so it’s off to think of giving it to a middle grade or YA reader! I adored Hello Beautiful and plan to read Mama Love and the Maggie Smith memoirs. I love memoirs but they can be tricky to rate!
Your solo retreat sounds dreamy and so well deserved!!
Elisabeth
It was shockingly heavy! And I just didn’t remember that at ALL from my first reading of the book. I really do think so much of our response to books has to do with current lift context. I just didn’t relate to motherhood in the same way as I did this time around (now being a mother myself).
I definitely preferred Keep Moving (written during her divorce) by Maggie Smith, but I’m glad I read the memoir!
The retreat has been amazing.
coco
hope he likes the golf junior program. I think it’s a great sport to start early. my girls are liking theirs despite pollution.
hope you enjoyed “solo retreat”, I’m going for mine next week.
Elisabeth
He is loving it so far. It’s nice to have an individual sport – he generally does team sports, so it’s a nice variation on sporting for him to try (the same with cross country).
It has been an incredible week!
Elinoora
I go to a sewing weekend twice a year – a whole weekend away just for me. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are served, I can sew however long I want… These kind of retreats really help with recharging! Glad that you’re getting one 😊
Elisabeth
I can’t sew to save my life – sewing on a button is about the maximum of my sewing capabilities – but this retreat sounds wonderful!
I came home today from my “retreat” and I really do feel renewed enthusiasm for all the day-to-day responsibilities. I’m hoping to make this a quarterly experience. After 12 years, I really felt like I earned it and truly savoured every minute.
Stephany
I am so happy you have your blog space back! You can see how much you were missed. <3
Second getting a Blizzard at DQ. I usually go for a Reese PB Blizzard with cookie dough pieces mixed in. SUCH A DELIGHT. I think we also have lower standards when it comes to what tastes good when we're younger because sometimes I'll eat something I loved in my youth and it just does not have the same magic.
Elisabeth
Before I read this comment…I actually DID go back to DQ and I got a blizzard. I definitely opted for the Reese’s peanut butter pie but I didn’t know the hack about asking for cookie dough pieces mixed in. That’s brilliant!
San
A one-week retreat at your parents’. My, that sounds like the most perfect little gift to yourself and I am glad you’re taking the time for yourself. I hope you get to blog and savor your cup of coffee and indulge in some silly memes and lots of laughter 🙂
Elisabeth
I did all of that and more and it was downright AMAZING. One of the best weeks of my entire adult life!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
What a treat to have a solo week and be at your parents. I think I want to do something like that this fall too. I can work from the country home and the weekends my parents will probably be there and we can go to the sauna or I can go to the workshop with my dad. I would like that.
I have finished a long (3 year) project last week. While I feel happy to have more flexible time, get a few things done that I had postponed it also feels a bit weird. Need to figure out a new schedule now.
I am very much anticipating the next weekend when my dad and I will get our boat license. A dream we both held without really know and once we figured it out decided to do it together. Even if I won’t pass the exams I have had three days with my Pa and. that is something really rare as an adult.
Elisabeth
Congrats on trying for the boat license and how incredible you get to do it with your Dad!
The solo retreat was incredible and I’m hoping to do one again in the winter/early spring.
Kate
Your lake retreat with your parents sounds wonderful! How freeing to just be able to walk out the door trusting that your kids will be completely fine. I had a similar experience last summer going to New York for a 4 day trip to see my sister. I kept feeling like I was forgetting something — I couldn’t possibly be getting on a plane with only my own small rollerboard and purse, with only the things *I* needed for the trip. I hope you can thoroughly relax and decompress during your time there — you’ve certainly had your fair share of angst recently.
Now you have me interested in Drive to Survive, which I never would have selected on my own (but I *did* shockingly like Quarterback!). I guess it’s the behind-the-scenes viewpoint that sucks me in.
Currently anticipating celebrating our thirteenth wedding anniversary next week (although we haven’t solidified any plans for exactly how to celebrate yet); dreading navigating the next few weeks of work since our childcare for Victoria fell through (!), although it’s supposed to be settled by next week but there are no guarantees; and watching New Amsterdam about the New York hospital. There are so many, many things that are completely unrealistic compared to how an actual hospital runs but yet I can’t stop watching.
Elisabeth
I can’t decide which I liked better – Quarterback or Drive to Survive. I will let you know the latter has A LOT of seasons, which I’m loving…but know that going in.
It was an incredible week and I’m wishing I was back there right now! It was bliss.
Congrats on your anniversary! I hope things work out for you to get away as planned <3