Weekend Dispatch

What a year it has been, and we are only 11 days in. Sheesh! Not off to a good start, but I have hope that the year will get better. It's been hard to focus on anything this week. For the first time in months, I actually watched TV. On Wednesday one of my Facebook friends posted that protestors had stormed the Capitol and managed to make it inside. Immediately I turned on CNN. I don't think I've watched an actual TV in over a year. I stick to Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video. So, you know it was a thing when I watched TV. Anyway, how is everyone doing? I know things are pretty heavy right now. Just want to check in to see how everyone is handling our current state of the union.

If you need a distraction, here's how I've been spending my time lately.

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Weekend Dispatch

We are in the holiday home stretch, and if you haven't felt it yet, the pressure is on. It's time to get the shopping, baking, wrapping, and decorating finished. I have to say, it feels nice to know that this Christmas things will be a little slower, calmer. No rushing around on Christmas Eve to beat the crowds at church. No big group for Christmas dinner. No pressure to have the house impeccably decorated. Most of my shopping is finished. The presents I have are wrapped and ready to be placed under the tree. I'm waiting on a few more to be delivered, but other than that, we are ready!

Now I need to sit back with a cup of tea and make my list for how I plan to spend the week between Christmas and New Year's Day reading, binge-watching, listening, etc.

In the meantime, here are a few of the things I've been devouring lately.

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Weekend Dispatch

We're at that point in time where politics is at the forefront of EVERYTHING. Between debates, TV ads, yard signs, and countless articles online and on paper, it's hard to get a break from it. I follow politics, but I wouldn't consider them a passion of mine. But since this is a presidential election year, I've had a piqued interest in them. Plus, this is the first presidential election that Emma can vote in, so I've been hyping it up and creating momentum around it. I want her to know how important her role in this election is and that she should take that role seriously. (And she does!).

Anyway, on a lighter note, here are a few of the things I've been enjoying lately.

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Weekend Dispatch

photo taken after a morning run in Manasquan, New Jersey

As I am writing this, a chill has set in, and I'm not happy about it. One of the things I love about the Jersey shore is the month of September. Locals call it our "local summer". The weather is warm, and the tourists have long gone home, and it's finally our time to enjoy our beaches. But when you wake up to temps in the high 50s, it's not a local summer. Maybe next week...

In other news, the girls are in their second week of school, and so far, so good. Emma just submitted her first round of assignments that were due for college, and Harper's classes are moving right along. Some days it feels as if I've reversed the clock with Harper in school only two mornings a week (taking me back to the pre-k days). Anyway, I have to commend them. Remote learning isn't easy, and especially when you are beginning your freshman year of high school and college that way.

Here are a few of the ways I've been spending my time lately:

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Weekend Dispatch

I've finally managed to get back into the swing of things after our week in Rehoboth Beach. Our vacation certainly was different this way, but it was also different in all the good ways. We spent more time together and less time out. We eat many of our meals together at home rather than either going out or running out in small groups to grab something to eat. These little things added up to more quality time together, and isn't that the goal of any vacation?

Now, it's back to business as usual (or as usual as it can be right now). The girls start school next week, so this is our last summer hurrah before they'll be hitting the computers. Emma is starting her freshman year of college at home studying remotely, and Harper will have a hybrid schedule for her first year of high school where her time will be divided between home and school. It will be interesting to see the outcome. And, of course, we are keeping our fingers crossed that a second COVID wave doesn't hit.

Here's what I've been up to lately.

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Weekend Dispatch

It's something like week 1,647 of quarantine, and it's really starting to suck all my mojo out of me. Today was one of those days where I just couldn't seem to get and stay on track. I felt off all day long, and eventually just gave in to the feeling and went with it. I was dressed to work out but that never happened. I didn't feel like making decisions about food, so I barely ate all day. I didn't drink enough water and decided to try to play catch up a few hours before going to bed (not one of my better decisions). But tomorrow is another day and hopefully a better one.

Here's what I've been up to lately and what I have planned for the weekend:

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Weekend Dispatch

It's hard to believe this coming weekend is Memorial Day weekend. It hardly feels like it. In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day weekend, the Jersey shore is usually buzzing with activity and seasonal businesses gearing up for a busy and prosperous summer season. But this year, things look a bit different around here. Although many businesses are gearing up to open, they are doing so amidst many restrictions. Local beaches are opening this weekend, but access is restricted, and once capacity is reached, others will be turned away. We ordered our beach badges online last week (a first for us as we usually get them in person at the beach) and have to pick them up tomorrow via a drive-thru process. In addition to badge pick up, here's what else I've been up to lately.

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Weekend Dispatch

Today marks the first day of our second month of coronavirus quarantine. We've had 4 full weeks of working from home, schooling from home, working out from home, and learning to love being home. Who thought we'd say that life is stranger than fiction? Honestly though, this is the stuff a good fictional novel is made of.

Each week is starting to feel weirder than the one before, but oddly normal as well. We've fallen into a sort of routine, but this week the girls have spring break, and I'm a bit worried about boredom setting in without school work and any outside activities to do. I'm still trying to find an indoor workout routine that I love. I miss my gym and the routine I had there, and finding something that clicks here at home has been a struggle. Last week, I started running outside instead of walking. It was an adjustment and quite a struggle initially as I only run on treadmills in ideal indoor temperatures. But I still need an alternative for colder or rainy days.

Anyway, here's what I've been enjoying:

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Weekend Dispatch

Today marks the beginning of our third week being self-quarantined. It's a surreal feeling. One moment everything feels normal, and the next moment you are painfully aware of how different life has become. Here in New Jersey, things are getting intense as our number of cases and deaths escalates. I feel like this sickness is closing in on me, and it's not a good feeling. I'm trying to remain positive and keep in mind that the safest place right now is in our homes. Since we will most likely be doing this for at least another month, and quite possibly, longer, I've decided to beef up the Weekend Dispatch posts. So, here we go. I'll be including things I've watched, ate, read, listen to, etc. as well as some suggestions and/or what's on my list for the week ahead.

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Weekend Dispatch

Is it just me or is this month flying by? I know it's a short one, but February seems to be whizzing by. Last week was a whirlwind. We celebrated Harper's 14th birthday, and while I was out running errands to pick up a few things for her birthday, I ran into my boss when I wrote for Meridian Momtourage. What a fantastic surprise it was! I hadn't seen her in forever. It was so serendipitous. We ran into each other at a Starbucks that neither of us ever goes to. We ended up chatting for two hours. It was so great to catch up with her and was a wonderful reminder to enjoy a spontaneous run-in rather than let it stress me out thinking about what I had planned to do in the time I was enjoying our chat. Anyway, I miss seeing her regularly, and since we live so close, we have committed ourselves to getting together regularly.

Other than that, here's what else I've been up to:

I've been listening to the podcast The Daily  from The New York Times practically since its inception two years ago. When I recently did a Google search to find out more about the team behind The Daily, I found that The New York Times has a spinoff TV show on hulu called The Weekly. In the same vein as The Daily, The Weekly is a narrative documentary series that examines a hot topic for 30 minutes each week. Topics range from Johnson & Johnson's baby powder and whether it contains asbestos to Rudy Giuliani's rise to popularity and fall from grace.

When you are in the mood for a short podcast (under 10 minutes) that seems like a quick chat with a friend on a pop culture topic, The Hottest Take podcast is your go-to. It's like an op-ed in podcast form. With topics such as children on airplanes to breakfast to the tradition of bridesmaids, The Hottest Take touches on movies, food, TV, the internet, and life in general. We all have opinions, and chances are one of the host shares yours. Listen here.

Do you journal? The topic of journaling came up in a private Facebook group that I belong to. I've always expressed myself more effectively using the written word than the spoken one, but those written words have always been for others. When you journal, those words are for you. Many people in the group use journaling as a means of self-care and as a release. Others use it as a way to preserve memories. Whatever your intention is, journaling can be very therapeutic. I've recently started journaling and bought this journal as a guide. It includes prompts for times when I want to journal but am at a loss for something to write about and included a guided format to keep you on track.

Each week I've been trying a new recipe. Some weeks it's been a dessert. Other weeks it's been a breakfast item. And others it's been a vegetarian recipe. This weekend I'm going to try this olive oil cake. I recently met a friend at her house for tea, and she served a variation of this cake (she made an orange olive oil cake), and it was delicious. Very light and airy and pairs exceptionally well with tea.

So, tell me. What do you have planned this weekend?

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Weekend Dispatch

Last week was rough after Sunday's news about Kobe Bryant's untimely death. I tend to do two things when I am upset: clean and exercise. So, on Monday morning, I went to the gym for my usual workout but hopped on the treadmill and ran for a whopping seven miles. I never run that far, but I was so jacked up and emotional that I just released it in the form of a good, solid run. I felt great afterwards and am going to try to make it a regular thing. Unfortunately, I expended all my emotional energy during my run that I had none left for cleaning. So, there's that. This week I am trying to finish up a book I am reading, and I'm trying to knock You off my viewing list, but this season has been difficult for me to get in to (anyone else?), and it's taking me a while to watch.

Here's what else I am up to this week:

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Weekend Dispatch

I can't believe Christmas is 8 days away. This holiday season flew by, and it didn't help that Thanksgiving was soooo late this year. That shortened time frame really puts the pressure on. I still have some shopping to do, and this weekend we have a surprise birthday party to attend in north Jersey. It's at a tapas and wine bar in Newark, so I'm excited for that. And then on Sunday, my nieces and their SOs are coming over for dinner since they won't be joining us on Christmas Day. And then Monday starts the mad dash to Christmas. I'm looking forward to a very chill week between Christmas and New Year's Day. My oldest was diagnosed with mononucleosis last week, so if anyone needs lots of rest around here, it's definitely her! Hope your week is off to a great start.

Here's what I've been up to:

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Weekend Dispatch

I am still struggling to get back in a groove after my vacation, blog break, and Thanksgiving. Add to that the fact that I am still coughing, and you've got a recipe for being unproductive. I've been back to the doctor yet again. He put me on an inhaler and Singulair, but neither is making much of a noticeable difference. And to top it off, the chest congestion I had has now moved into my head. My sinuses hurt, but at least I have some measurable symptoms that will hopefully require antibiotics, which just may clear up this cold and cough once and for all. Other than that, I've been trying really hard to steer clear of the gym so I can rest my body and my lungs.

Here's what I've been up to as I am resting.

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Weekend Dispatch

We are finally back home after spending 10 days in Florida. It was a restful vacation, and I was grateful to soak up some sun before settling in for a long winter. ☹️ I spent the weekend catching up and preparing for this week. On Saturday I finished a book that I started on Wednesday, caught up on a few weeks worth of episodes of the The Affair, and of course, laundry, laundry, and more laundry.

Here's what I am up to this week:

On the top of this week's list of priorities is to buy the cat advent calendar at Trader Joe's before they sell out. Anyone else? No? Just me? I was so excited when I heard that Trader Joe's was releasing an advent calendar specifically for cats this year. It comes complete with cat snacks and dried seaweed! The crazy cat lady in me is already doing flips!

When I made the switch to a plant-based diet several years ago, it was a documentary that influenced my decision. I had never been a big meat eater, but when I saw what took place deep in the depths of the meat industry, it was hard to have that on my conscience. I have since watched countless documentaries and still know that my decision was the right one for me. Over the weekend I started watching The Game Changers, a documentary about plan-based eating, diets, and finding sources of protein that are not animal-based. My biggest takeaway from this documentary was the alarming number of professional athletes who have made the switch to plant-based diets and perform better and faster. Plus, I liked that it wasn't preachy but had a focus on providing information and educating consumers.

At the end of the day when I am doing my nightly skincare/bedtime routine, I typically listen to music or read an ebook. But I've found that reading is very distracting (it's hard to wash your face and read a book on your phone at the same time), and listening to music after pretty much listening to it all day just doesn't seem relaxing at night. So, I've taken to winding down my day with my nightly self-care routine which now includes listen to the Today, Explained podcast. The podcast is dedicated to one episode each day which guides you through the most important stories of the day. Since I start each day by listen to The Daily on my drive to the gym, adding Today, Explained to the evening seemed like a good way to bookend my day.

It's finally soup weather, and I am here for it! I've been pinning soup recipes like crazy because they are my favorite recipes to make in the cold weather months, and they are super easy and most don't require a ton of ingredients. This Mediterranean white bean soup recipe is on the menu this week. It's only a few ingredients and is super easy to make and is both vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

photo via

So, tell me. What do you have planned this weekend?

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Weekend Dispatch

We are two days into this week and it already seems like it's been too long. We're wrapping up field hockey today with the last game of the season. It's been rewarding to see Harper learn, play, and embrace a new-to-her sport. And I'm still trying to learn the rules so I can understand what's going on!

Early tomorrow morning, Harper leaves for a field trip to Washington, D.C. with her 8th grade class. So, we've been busy packing and prepping her for the trip. She's super excited, and I'm super excited for her. I can't wait to get her back home on Friday so we can hear all about her adventures. But for now, this is what I'm up to this week:

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Weekend Dispatch

It has become a sort of tradition for us to go out for breakfast on Sunday mornings. It's a great way to kick off the last day of and to bid farewell to the weekend. Plus, it ensures we are up and out the door on a day when we normally might be lazy and linger around the house until 2 PM. On Sunday, we tried Kitchen 35 in Manasquan. It was formerly the Atlantis Diner, which had closed its doors a while ago. I was pleasantly surprised. Inside, it looks like your typical diner, but the food is anything but. I had the goat toast (shown above), and it was delicious. It's a tasty combination of hummus, olive tapenade, roasted red peppers, and goat cheese on perfect toasted Italian bread. I'll definitely be returning soon!

Here's what else I am up to this week:

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Weekend Dispatch

Last weekend we participated in our sixth JDRF OneWalk to benefit type 1 diabetes. We began walking in October 2014 after Harper was diagnosed earlier that year. The walk supports fundraising efforts to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and was held in Avon-By-The-Sea, New Jersey. It attracts thousands of walkers who share a connection to type 1 diabetes. I love the walk for the camaraderie. This can be a lonely disease, and seeing the support at the walk and meeting other families who have type 1 diabetes is inspiring. This weekend I'll be writing thank you notes for all those who donated to our team's fundraising efforts.

Here's what else I'm up to this weekend:

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Weekend Dispatch

Last weekend was like summer revisited. The weather was perfect...low 80s and it was gloriously sunny and mild. Rather than hit the gym, I took my exercise outside and took advantage of the weather. Days like those are few and far between. Just last week I was practically shivering at Harper's field hockey game. Not kidding. This week, I am catching up on everything I put aside over the weekend to enjoy the weather.

Here's what else I'm up to this week:

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Weekend Dispatch

Last week was the first full week of school, and surprisingly, it was an uneventful week. Things ran smoothly each morning. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit that there's a little part of me that's disappointed that my girls don't need me as much in the mornings anymore. I used to do their hair, make their breakfasts, and re-check that they had everything they needed for their day. Now, they do it all on their own. It's bittersweet, but all in, I'm happy for their independence. I have Emma's back-to-school night on Thursday, and otherwise, we are trying to keep this weekend open.

Here's what else what I'll be up to this week:

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Weekend Dispatch

We returned from a week in Rehoboth Beach on Saturday evening. After unloading the car, I decided to unpack everything. This is a different approach than I normally take. In the past, I'd set aside Sunday morning to do all the unpacking. But this year, I wanted to go into my Sunday with everything unpacked, laundered, and put away. It was such a nice feeling to know that Sunday was completely wide open to decompress from vacation and prepare to re-enter reality come Monday morning. I'm definitely planning on using this approach when we go to Captiva in November.

Now that the unpacking is finished, here's how I'll be spending my week and weekend ahead:

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