Coffee Date?

I thought I’d invite you on a coffee date today, but then I remembered that I’m on a coffee strike. Because, creamer. Apparently that’s a no-go on Whole30, even though I only have coffee once a week or so. Instead, I thought I’d share this fun list of things I’m doing (inspired yesterday by Meg at Whatever).

READING: Books have been a little slow going for me this month and I’ll blame that on my love/hate relationship with digital devices. I love paper books, although I rarely ever read them, but the convenience of having your book with you always is pretty much amazing. I started reading the Maze Runner trilogy/prequel after watching the movie during the holidays, but I’m having to get used to holding a book again. The book is so good and Josh keeps chastising me about how long it’s taking me to read, but it seems I’ve permanently damaged my reading speed by living on the Kindle?! The only book I’ve finished this month is The Law of Moses (another YA romance novel, but surprisingly great!) and I’ve already gotten Eleanor & Park downloaded and ready to go. If only there weren’t three more books in this series to tackle first…

LISTENING: One of our favorite things to do in the evenings is to play good music while we cook dinner and work together in the kitchen. On heavy repeat lately is the Houndmouth album and the few singles from Drew Holcomb’s new album that FINALLY comes out later this month. We’re a little sad because Houndmouth is playing at the Hangout Festival this year, but that’s a pricey ticket for these two parents. In better news, we DO have tickets to see Drew at the Hoover Public Library next month and we are super excited. It only holds 250 people, so it should be a pretty cool show! You might be familiar with this song, it was the theme music for a Dick’s Sporting Goods commercial over the holidays!

WATCHING: Oh, Don Draper. How did I not know you were so amazing before last summer? We started watching Mad Men back in August, but then fall television came back on and we got sidetracked. We picked up with season four over the Christmas holidays and we’re mid-way through season five now. I want to fit them all in before the final season premieres on April 5th! I swear we spend every episode fussing at Don Draper – he’s the kind of guy that you love to hate. We also devoured the entire first season of Marco Polo (available exclusively on Netflix) the week after Christmas. I can’t believe season two is an entire year away. Josh will randomly call out “Marco” to remind me of what I’m missing. I’m seriously weepy. Who knew I would like a history series so much. And in other YA news, I’m also watching Pretty Little Liars. I’m on season four now and would like to *eventually* be caught up to the current season, but I only get to watch an episode or two a week, so it will likely take a lifetime. Anything else I should be watching?

TRYING: To eat better. Really. Week one went so well and we have week two planned out, but we always say that the third week is the hardest. I’m trying not to be tempted by bread and sweet tea and restaurants. It’s so much easier when your significant other is doing it with you and I’m hoping that is the key that keeps me on track this time around.

EATING: See trying up there? I’ve made lots of yummy meals this week, but none were as well received as Monday night. I baked sweet potatoes in the oven with some garlic salt, put a roast in the crock pot with beef broth and a few cloves of garlic and made a huge batch of fresh pico de gallo.We piled it all on the plate and ate it kind of like loaded nachos. It would have been spectacular with cheese, but it was pretty amazing without. Even Ella went back for seconds.

DRINKING: Water and lots of it. I’m carrying around a plastic water bottle and keeping it filled all day. I’m surprised with how well I’m doing on this front — it is usually the hardest for me to conquer!

CALLING: I’m making all kinds of terribly riveting telephone calls today. Customer support for some software issues. The oral surgeon to confirm my appointment for this week. Realtors and mortgage agents to see if we can ever get ourselves into a new house. My to-do list runneth over…

TEXTING: Always Josh. He sends the best text messages whether clever or embarrassing in nature. I can usually depend on him to send me a mid-morning pick me up and today will be no exception. He does get frustrated with me when I won’t stop responding, though. I think every text (no matter how short, insignificant or lacking in the necessity of a response) deserves a response and he will eventually attempt to end the conversation with something like this (which is code for “okay, I’m tired of talking to you now”):

PINNING: I’m usually either pinning on one of two boards: Holiday Kid Crafts and In My Next House. I’m both gearing up for Valentine’s Day and Easter ideas and brainstorming how to decorate our next house. If we ever get one.

Follow Kristin Fields’s board In My Next House… on Pinterest. Follow Kristin Fields’s board Holiday Kid Crafts on Pinterest.

CRAFTING: I do love to make things, but I’m not sure “crafting” is what I would call it. Either way, I did have a really fun project to finish for a client this week and I can’t wait to share the details with you on Friday! Here is tiny sneak peek…

DOING: Trying to convince myself to go run. That half-marathon is looking less and less likely, but I will be ready for the marathon relay either way. The weather here has been so gross lately and I am not a big fan of the treadmill, so it’s hard to make myself get out there when it’s 40 degrees and wet.

GOING: We aren’t going anywhere this week and I’m looking forward to it, but next week is our big Circus weekend! We love getting tickets from Josh’s parents for Christmas every year and our kids are super excited. I’m trying not to think about the fact that I won’t be enjoying a circus snow cone because, Whole30.

LOVING: Ummm, Groopdealz. How did I not know it was so amazing?! My sister-in-law, Caycie, always looks adorable and I swear that every single time I ask her where she got a top or jewelry, she says “Groopdealz. $5.” I signed up a few weeks ago and I’ve ordered like ten things. I got some cute bracelets, $12 piko tops, a sweatshirt, a fox-print infinity scarf and new iPhone cables. Thank you, PayPal balance.

HATING: See also, weather.

ENJOYING: I am definitely enjoying the freshness of January and a new year. My calendar is in full use, the budget is up to date (and working) and the closets are all cleaned out. I’m sure it won’t last a full twelve months, but I’m going to enjoy it while I can. Everyone seems to have a better attitude in January and things that would normally ruffle my feathers seems to roll of my back. Here’s to embracing a new attitude for myself this year, too!

HOPING: That we’ll feel settled in a new church very soon. Leaving my childhood church home has been devastating, but we are entering this new year and new season of worship with an open mind and heart. I’m hoping to share a little bit more about how things are going next week, but the good news is I can hear God moving again.

CELEBRATING: Josh turns the big 3-6 later this month and we’re having family night dinner with my parents, sister and some sweet friends that we don’t get to see nearly often enough. It will be a calorie laden meal full of grains and dairy and we can’t wait. After watching Don Draper’s surprise 40th birthday party episode on Mad Med a few days ago, Josh glared at me and said that surprise parties were off the table. He said he’ll be wallowing in self-pity that year anyway.

DREADING: Wisdom teeth extraction. Yes, that’s happening on Friday. I’m having x-rays this afternoon and then having one pulled and three cut out on Friday. I am 35 years old and I’ve never had it done! I am beside myself with worry — how much will it cost, can I eat anything after, am I going to look ridiculous? I’ll check back in early next week and let you know if I’m still alive.

CONSIDERING: These three cookbooks. I hate to spend $65 all at once on something like cookbooks, but I’m thinking I’ll order one a month for the next several months. One of our biggest problems with sustaining a healthy diet for more than several weeks is boredom. I’m hoping that a few new recipes will help keep things interesting.

FINISHING: I’m hoping to finish up our home door project in the next several days. We’ve gotten the front door completely finished and three other interior doors painted to match, but now we need to do a few touch ups, repaint the door trim and hang our door knocker back out front.

STARTING: As home projects often do, one thing leads to another and our list gets longer by the day. After finishing up the doors, we plan to move outside and start scraping and repairing the trim around our hundred year old windows. We’ve picked out a new trim color for our house, so eventually we’ll be painting the eaves and corbels, too. We love our little rock cottage, but there is ALWAYS something else that needs to be done.

BUYING: After seeing in on Jennifer’s instagram feed earlier this week, I had to order this New Year’s Clutch from ErinCondren.com (it’s on sale for $25!). It’s full of things to help plan for the new year and I’m especially looking forward to the meal planning insert and the wellness journal. Do any of you have this?

WEARING: It has been so gross and cold here, so all I want to do is bundle up in sweats! I’ll take leggings and a long-sleeved t-shirt any day. Over the Christmas holidays, I went on a little shopping excursion with my mom and pretty much all I bought were comfy, cozy sweaters, a denim tunic and colored, opaque tights. I love to throw on a spring dress with tights and booties and top it off with a chunky knit sweater. Fortunately, I don’t have any court dates this month, so my suits and “business casual” are getting a break.

What about you? What are you up to on this Wednesday morning?!