Hello, friends! I’m popping in to share a few things I’ve been loving lately. I’d love to hear what you’re enjoying these days in the comments.
Things I’m Loving Lately
1) Festive fun!
We put our Christmas tree up earlier than ever this year — the weekend after Thanksgiving — because my daughter, Riese, asked. I didn’t mind at all; the house feels immediately cozier and more joyful.
Riese was incredibly into decorating the tree, which made the whole process extra sweet. Now that it’s decorated, my normally nonstop child will sometimes lie beneath the tree, tuck her head under the branches, and gaze up at the lights. It’s quiet and calming to join her.
Meanwhile, Wes mostly wanted to grab ornaments and toss them on the floor. After a few breakages, we quickly learned to keep fragile ornaments on the top half of the tree. Riese took that task very seriously and helped rescue the delicate ones.
This year I’m able to enjoy the holiday playfulness much more than last year, when Wes was six months old and I was exhausted and overwhelmed. I feel grateful to be in a better headspace for the season.
2) 6am hot yoga
Part of why I feel steadier these days is that I’ve started exercising first thing in the morning again, a couple days each week. I used to be an early-morning workout person, then COVID and a newborn changed that rhythm. About a month ago I decided to try a 6am class and was surprised by how much better I felt all day after.
The class is led by a great teacher and the studio is a short walk from our house, which makes the whole routine feel doable. Walking there in the quiet, dark morning is oddly peaceful. Starting the day with something just for me — instead of immediately diving into kid chaos — has been a game changer. I’m also enjoying the warmth of the hot class now that it’s chilly outside.
Another benefit: a 6am class doesn’t require childcare or preschool coverage, which is handy when my older child is unexpectedly home sick. I’m noticing that, now that Wes is 18 months old, I’m regaining strength and enjoying more challenging poses again, like forearm balance. Consistency is helping me progress.
3) Seeing Matt’s brother and his wife perform in Roanoke
Last weekend, Matt and I drove four hours to Roanoke to see his brother Drew and Drew’s wife, Morgana, in a production at the regional theater. Drew had a lead role and Morgana was in the ensemble — they were both fantastic.
We went with Matt’s parents and his older brother and sister-in-law, and even though our dinner photo was blurry, we still had such a nice sibling get-together. It felt wonderful to have some adult-only time; our kids stayed with an overnight babysitter, which was a first for us and went smoothly.
For dinner we tried Lucky in Roanoke. The menu was inventive — we shared a cheese board with a creamy pot of goat cheese flavored with lemon and honey that was outstanding. I had oysters to start and a Mexican-inspired chicken wing entree with a cilantro-based green sauce that I loved.
We kept the trip short — arriving Saturday for dinner and leaving Sunday after breakfast — but it was worth the drive. At the hotel breakfast I had an omelette and overnight oats that made me nostalgic for one of my longtime favorite recipes.
On the drive home we stopped in Harrisonburg and I had a salmon Greek-style salad with quinoa that I’ve already recreated at home. It was a delicious, lighter lunch to break up the trip.
4) Girls’ night sushi dinner
I also had a lovely dinner out with a few girlfriends from high school. It felt great to catch up with people who’ve known me for years. We went to Yume Sushi in Arlington and enjoyed some excellent rolls and conversation.
5) Cold-weather running
I love running in cold weather — to me it’s much more pleasant than running in heat. I have two regular running dates each week with friends from Riese’s school, which we do right after drop-off. It’s been helpful to build a consistent routine, and I appreciate being able to run in daylight on many of those days.
I’m signed up for a small local 10K holiday race in a few weeks that a reader recommended, and I’m looking forward to that.
Other random things bringing me joy:
- I’ve been enjoying a calming visual piece on a major news site that features falling oranges into water — oddly mesmerizing and soothing.
- I recently read Dr. Becky’s book and found it to be one of the best parenting books I’ve encountered. I highly recommend it to parents looking for practical, compassionate guidance.
- Matt and I listened to an engaging NPR podcast mini-series on our drive to Roanoke — even without following the sport it covered, we found the storytelling captivating.
- I’ve been sipping a calming herbal tea blend made with chamomile, lavender, passionflower, and other herbs. It’s become a cozy afternoon ritual as the weather cools.
- Two recipes from my site have been especially popular lately: a fall sangria that’s great for holiday gatherings, and a cranberry orange bread that’s perfect for the season. Both have been fun to share and make for festive treats.
Have a wonderful weekend, friends — I’ll see you back here next week!