Hi all! I’ve kept it a little hush hush because I wanted to just enjoy my first few weeks without any outside pressure, but I recently started a new job. After enjoying an early retirement the last year and some months, I’m eager to get back to work and back into a routine. The first few days were hard, physically and mentally. Not being used to setting alarms or a structured eating schedule put my body into shock. My body was tired but eager to get up the next day and do it again. I’m keeping my new job private but to be intentionally vague… I work with kids in a classroom. Already my responsibilities at work are multiplying and I’m excited for the challenge. That being said, I’ve been wearing a lot of cute outfits lately! I’ve been having fun sharing my #ootd’s on Instagram each day but also thought it would be fun to do a round up on the blog too. Like many other people, my work clothes don’t fit like they used to and that has been tough to face. So it’s back to daily workouts and eating healthy to get those pants fit again! Since it’s a new job, no one has seen my clothes before so I’m trying to be smart with my money and only using what I have in my closet to get dressed. I will try to link the item or something similar if I can.
Casual Friday Look Top (Loft) // Jeans (American Eagle)
This week has flown by so fast that I blinked and all of a sudden it was Friday. I’m still adjusting to working and balancing other responsibilities but I am sure I’ll adjust… soon! I’m looking forward to a relaxing and fun weekend. This weather is a little odd because it feels like summer but I reallly want to start wearing my fall sweaters. Not much going on for me this week besides work but I have really enjoyed working again. Spending time in the classroom has become the highlight of my day!
I stayed up past my usual bedtime to watch this weeks Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion live and while texting my friends because the drama is going to get good. Don’t have much time for tv lately but I am rewatching Bones for some white noise while I unwind at night. On Sunday, we saw the new James Bond movie and it was a really good way to end the Daniel Craig chapter. No spoilers – but you will not be ready for the ending!
Spontaneous decision to get lunch at a pop up at Love Park on Saturday The Harvest Festival in Dilworth Park was the best way to get into the fall spirit Walking around the art show in Rittenhouse Park on Sunday Our mums and pumpkins on our front stoop Seeing a movie and getting popcorn on Sunday made me believe we are going back to normal Our tomato plant is still giving us delicious tomatoes I want to complain but I am secretly loving this warm weather lately Working on fun projects at school with my kiddos Decorating my classroom has been a challenge but it’s looking so much better These pajamas I bought over the summer are so soft and perfect for lounging after a long day Caffeine. Lots of caffeine this week!
I’m ending this week on such a high note. It was my second week at my new job and first week in the classroom. I thought I would feel exhausted with this career change, new job, new routine, etc. but I have such an adrenaline rush. It is so nice to be in a job that I love this much. I’m excited to get out of bed in the morning and the day goes by so quickly because of all of the fun I’m having. This weekend we are headed to a fall festival in the city and I’m excited to celebrate fall… if only the weather would get cooler!
There has been very little time for tv this week but I have been able to catch up on Real Housewives and watch the first episode of the new Grey’s Anatomy season. While getting ready for work, I’ve been rewatching one of my favorites, Bones. We are doing a quick binge watch of the James Bond movies before we see the new Bond movie, No Time To Die, this weekend.
Wearing makeup everyday again means I’ve been using micellar water at night to get my makeup off after I wash my face with my face cleanser.
Halfway done with Outlander book #4, Drums of Autumn.
Not including all of the classroom supplies I picked up this week, I was able to pick up a few fall themed goodies at Trader Joe’s. Last weekend we picked up mums and pumpkins for our front steps. The mums are slowlyyy starting to blossom and I’m eager to see what color they will actually be since we couldn’t really tell when we bought them. We also went to Homegoods to browse and found a lot of really cute pieces that we totally would have purchased if we had a bigger house ha!
Getting dressed for work. Slow mornings reading the newspaper while I drink my coffee. Ed has been so cuddly lately since J and I are back in the office full-time. Our tomato plant is still blooming so we’ve been enjoying them with every meal that we can to enjoy them. I shared what steps I’m taking to keep my skin healthy while we transition into fall.
I love the summer months because the sun gives my face a hint of color. Any imperfections are hidden by that sun glow I get even when I wear SPF. We spend more time outdoors in the summer and get a good daily dose of vitamin D. Then fall comes around and we slowly start to turn up the heat, spend more time outdoors and our skin is exposed to harsh cold winds. Naturally, your skin is going to react to this big environmental change so be sure to be prepared this year with the right tools to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy.
Drink Water All Day
My first sign that my skin was feeling the affects of the seasons changing was that I was thirsty all the time. My lips felt chapped, my mouth dry and I could tell that my body needed more water intake. During the summer months, I am constantly drinking water or some beverage to keep cool in the heat. But during the fall, I just forget to keep a water bottle around me at all times. Now I fill up a big tumbler of water and keep it with me throughout the day as a reminder to keep drinking water.
The Lazy Version of an Organic Diet
You won’t find me shopping exclusively in the organic section of the grocery store, but I do try to buy fresh food always. If 2020 taught me anything, it’s how to cook with fresh ingredients because I had the time to experiment in the kitchen. Now we cook almost all of our meals from scratch and stay away from processed foods. To stay healthy, we also limit our dairy intake and use dairy alternatives whenever we can. Our fridge has chopped up vegetables for easy snacks and always have a stocked fridge so we have easy dinner options instead of ordering in.
Moisturize
I go to bed every night with dewy skin because of the amount of products on my face to keep it hydrated and healthy. It took a while but I finally found a nighttime routine that got me ready for bed in under 5 minutes that worked for me and my needs. At night before bed, I wash my face, brush my teeth and apply toner, serum and a moisturizer before bed. A lot of this is for preventative care knowing I will appreciate this 5 minutes of self care a night in 10 years. It’s a lot more difficult to correct skin damage and make it healthy again than a few minutes a day of preventative care. Create a routine that works for you to apply a face moisturizer at night on your face, neck and chest and your future self will thank you for it!
Create a Healthy Lifestyle
Lack of sleep, stress, anxiety are just a few things that can make your face look tired and dull. A few years ago I started to set an alarm at night as a reminder when I should be getting into bed. Some days I need that little reminder that it’s time to unwind and get into bed. Sleep is so important for skin health and for calming anxiety throughout the day. (Almost) Everything is possible when you are well rested! Change your sheets weekly, use the Calm App to become less anxious and journal to release those strings of thought that can add to a stressful mind.
Supplements
Besides taking my daily vitamin, I also have a scoop of Vital Proteins collagen in my morning coffee every day. If I have the time, I love to make a fruit and spinach smoothie in the afternoon to get my daily dose of fruit and vegetables. We need to be mindful of what we put into our body and I have seen big drastic improvements in my skin when I take certain supplements. However, always do your own research and do what is best for you and your lifestyle.
Lately, I’ve been staying up way past my bedtime even though my eyes get heavy at around 1am. My body wants the sleep but I just cannot give in just yet. At night, I get into bed at a reasonable time and get all cozied up in bed before I open up my book and enter a fantasy world. Before I know it, hours have passed and I keep telling myself, just a few more pages. After spending the last year watching too much television, my eyes needed a break so I started to set time at night to read before bed. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten lost in a story, the characters, an imaginative world put together with words on a page.
The world outside my bedroom has a lot going on at the moment and I don’t predict that things are going to calm down anytime soon. I love the feeling that time stops still when I read a good book. It’s so easy to get lost in a fantasy world. These days the tv is on a lot less, I spend less time at my computer and more time on the couch sneaking a few minutes here and there or in bed at night to find out what happens next.
Recently on my trip to New York, I spent most of my time on a park bench reading my book. As I sat there with a book in my hands, I got some bizarre looks as people walked by. Apparently reading an actual book and not scrolling on a phone is a foreign sight for others to see. As I sat in the famous Central Park reading my book, while a man played familiar songs on a violin down the path, with the warm sun on me, I felt indescribably happy. I wish I could have put that happy feeling in a jar to keep in a safe spot for me to use later.
As I walked through the aisles of a Barnes and Noble to pick up the next book in the series I’m reading, I couldn’t help but get a skip in my step. Turning my head to the side as I scanned the books all perfectly lined up for the authors name I was looking for. I sat on the floor and flipped through the pages. Feeling the crips pages of the book excited to get home and start reading.
That’s it for now. I’m heading to the couch with a cup of tea to read a chapter or two… or a few!
“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” ― Jane Austen
Happy Fall y’all! I’m cozied up in warm pajamas as I write today’s blog post. Last week, I started a new job and forgot how much work it is to balance work and life. I was going to bed before 9pm because my body was not used to waking up early and working all day. It was a long week but I had a lot of fun getting to know everyone and I’m looking forward to getting back to work. On Friday, we celebrated by going out to dinner at Thai Square and then I went to bed early. Is this what my thirties are going to look like?? It was so nice to sleep late on Saturday with no alarm. I threw on some comfy leggings and hung out with a friend I haven’t seen in over a year because of the pandemic. I feel like I blinked and we went from living in quarantine and the next minute things are kinda like back to normal? Sunday morning we were up early to take a train to New York City. Jake had to work out of the New York City office so I went with him for a few days. I shared what we did, where we stayed and a delicious restaurant recommendation in this blog post . I’m looking forward to a slow weekend at home. Hope you get out and enjoy this nice fall weather!
Only Murders in the Building on Hulu has me laughing out loud and the casting is genius!
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is back and I’ve been texting my friends to talk about it while I watch. The drama this season is goood!
LuLa Rich on Netflix is a documentary show about the rise and fall of Lularoe. I started to watch it and then restarted it when Jake walked by because I knew he would love the drama.
Since I got back from our cruise, my hair has felt dry and brittle so I’ve been going longer between hair wash days and using Redken shampoo and conditioner to get my softer hair back. But going back to work means that I have to style my hair every morning. For an easy blow out, I’ve been using my Conair hair dryer brush. It takes less than 5 minutes in the morning to turn my bedhead into a salon blowout. I am constantly rotating my mascaras and this week I’ve been using Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. Last week my Tarte Sex Kitten Eyeliner ran out so I picked up L’Oreal Paradise Eyeliner. It’s easy to use and love love love it!
Loving this new line of OPI nail polish called Nature Strong. It lasts a lot longer than my other nail polish and it’s vegan.
I stayed up way too late last night to read my book because I am almost finished reading it. When I was reading the first two books of the Outlander series, I read them within days and now that I’m back home from vacation I’m enjoying my time and making them last a while. I have less than 100 pages left of Voyager so I went to Barnes and Noble and bought the rest of the books in the series so I wouldn’t have to wait for them to arrive by mail anymore.
Finally did the thing and bought the Lululemon belt bag. Bought way tooo much at the Harry Potter store in New York. Browse for yourself here. Since I’m reading the Outlander series so fast, I picked up the rest of the books at Barnes and Noble. I got a PR box of Pete’s Coffee Creme Brulee k-cups and they are the perfect afternoon sweet treat.
Finally got around to sharing pictures and what we did on our cruise last month on the blog.
Early mornings to myself.
Looking forward to a weekend at home.
This past week in New York was such a nice treat! I talked more about what we did in this blog post.
Starting to decorate our house for fall. All of our fall decor sat collecting dust on our dining room table for a few weeks but now pumpkins are being put around the house to get into the fall mood.
Still looking at pictures I took at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and planning our next trip back!
Almost finished with my book, Voyager – the third book in the Outlander series, and I’m eager to get started on the next one in the series.
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