How is it October 31st?  This has been a total “blink and you miss it” kind of month.  I can remember at the beginning of September when activities started dropping into slots on the calendar like checkers in a game of Connect Four.  At first, I was kind of excited because we don’t usually have an overly full week-end social calendar.  Our week-ends are pretty rote:

• I try to sleep in, but inevitably get up at 6am.
• The girls get up at 6:05 because: week-end.
• The girls watch TV until their brains start trickling out of their ears.
• I feel badly about all the screen time so I send the girls outside to play and then promptly get on my own computer to fall down the Pinterest/Facebook/Tumblr/HuffPo rabbit hole.
• By 4:30, my guilt goes into hyper-drive, so we do some Mommy and Me type activity that usually ends with the girls going back to their screen time.

I know, it’s terrible.  Hence the enthusiasm over having something to do every week-end in October.  We were going to beat this week-end slump! We are going to be a family that does week-end things! The lack of downtime 5 week-ends in a row was sure to break the habit of doing a whole lot of nothing.  Let me tell you what I learned.

A lack of downtime 5 week-ends in a row is hella exhausting.

just leave me.

I’m the kind of tired where the thought of doing anything other than breathing makes you want to open the front door and just run out like Forest Gump. Of course, seeing as how tired I am, I might not even be able to turn the knob.  The circles under my eyes have circles.

It was a good run.  Fall is my jam, y’all.  The leaves start to turn, the air gets crisp and my wardrobe game gets strong.  I’ve got my wreath hung and comfort foods roasting in the oven. I went on a wine tour. I caught up with friends at a conference. We visited my parents.  There was Homecoming down in the ‘burg which M declared as the best week-end of her life.  I went to New York for the day — for.the.day!  M, C, and V helped me scout locations for upcoming photo shoots. I caught up with a dear friend while she visited from out of state.  I wrote the teensiest bit, but I still wrote! We went to the pumpkin patch. We’ve got Halloween costumes waiting to be slipped into for the neighborhood block party and trick-or-treat extravaganza.  The girls have been crawling up my leg about me dressing up this year, so I culled together a few things for a pretty simple DIY costume. Take a guess. With the exception of a trip to Carter Mountain for apples and cider donuts, our October was chock-full of fall festivities.

And would you believe that in all of this hither, thither, and yon, I have not had anything pumpkin-flavored.  No pumpkin bread, no pumpkin spiced latte, no pumpkin scones.  Nothing.  Technically, pumpkin season isn’t over; I’ve got until Thanksgiving at least, but still. I’m slipping on my pumpkin game.

I told a friend the other day that come November 1st, I’m hanging a do not disturb sign on my life.  Then I booked a photo shoot for next week, RSVPed to four different events between the 5th and the 13th, and am planning a date night with The Hubs.

Well, I guess there’s always December. . .

source

I know, I don’t even why I thought that was an option.

Where has October gone? Tell me in the comments about how you’ve been spending your time!

I can see the finish line! Summer is all but a memory. The first day of school is next Monday and we are all ready for that routine.

Last week, The Hubs and I took the girls to Busch Gardens and we did every ride that they were tall enough to ride.  10am to 5pm, almost a whole work day, traipsing around and around, waiting in lines.  I introduced the girls to the magic that is funnel cake. They rode Escape From Pompeii, C with her eyes closed the whole time and M with her hands in the air.  The Hubs was afraid we would be ready to leave by 1 or 2pm, but it’s been a while since he’s done the amusement park thing.  We were back in the car by 5:10, and that’s only because we had to meet my parents at 5:30.

Today, when I suggested we go to the pool and wring out every last bit of fun, M said she didn’t want to.  Didn’t want to go to the pool? Wow. I figured we have a handful of trips left before the whole thing shuts down after Labor Day. Guess not.

Not sure what else is going to be on the schedule for the next few days.  I’m trying not to cave, but there may be some movies running back-to-back tomorrow or the next day. There are a bunch of odds and ends that I’ve already taken care of with respect to Back to School prep, but inevitably, something additional will pop up and require my attention.

Speaking of odds and ends, here are a few things that I’ve been enjoying this week.

1. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I am in love, love, love with this YouTube Channel called “The French Whisperer”.  You all know that I am a francophile at heart. I truly must have been French in a previous life.  So, you can imagine my glee about reading an article in O Magazine that mentions “Hunky-Sounding Guys Explaining Things”, in particular, the “relaxation master” the French Whisperer.  On this channel, this gentleman discusses all manner of academic topics ranging from myths and history to black holes and exoplanets.  This is all at once hilarious, sensual and relaxing. I just listened to a lecture on the myth of mermaids.  I don’t know if I need a cigarette, a nap or to blot my eyes from laughing.  It reminds me of The Merovignian from The Matrix when he talk about cursing in French.

2. The Time Traveler’s Wife for like the billionth time, and I do mean the book.  I’ve had this impossibly long wait for some other titles to become available from the library waiting list. I tried not to buy anything either, because the minute I do, a book becomes available.  I was a bibliophile without a book! I might as well have been lost in a desert.  So, I reached for one of my all time favorites, falling in love with Henry and Clare,  finding something new in Niffenegger’s luxurious prose.   Clocking in at 546, it’s not for the faint of heart, nor is it for those who prefer linear boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy and girl get married sort of stories.  This ain’t “The Notebook”.  What it is is just an inventive, deliciously written love story bursting with references to art, literature, music and oh, time travel.

3. What to Pack for the Beach. The Hubs and I missed out on vacation this summer (and notice I said vacation, not a family trip), but we are looking to make a get-away at the end of September to celebrate our birthdays.  He’s having a milestone birthday on the 29th and while I was ready to invite a cast of thousands to a Pinter-iffic themed party, he surprised me by saying he’d rather just go away and relax.  Um, I can be packed in ready in like 15 minutes.  I’ve been scouring the Internet — really just Pinterest — for some ideas on how to pack for a long week-end.  I’ve talked about capsule wardrobes before and how I’m trying to make that part of my life.  I can now add capsule packing to the list.  I’ve tried a 7×7 challenge and it ended up being a 7×7 with like 5 extra pieces.  This time, I’m committed to sticking with the guidelines.  Truly, I plan on being in a bathing suit or pajamas the majority of the time, so really, what else do I need?

4. Christian Louboutin Allegra.  That’s what else I need.  As soon as I get the greenlight from the doc that I can sport some heels again, I know what I’ll be trying to make my own. I probably should have started saving back in April.  Oh well, #shoegoals.

5. And speaking of goals, I’m kind of proud of myself for the way I’ve been making little changes and being kinder to my body.  Remember how I said I talk so much trash about my bod behind my back? How I compare myself to others? I still do it, don’t get me wrong, but in way smaller increments than before.  If, for instance, I catch myself about to say something negative, I just say “Stop it!” either in my head or out loud.  The out loud makes for some interesting glances when I’m by myself in a public place.  I’m feeling better about myself and how I relate to myself.  I’m determined to keep this good thing going.

What’s been putting a smile on your face this week? Tell me about it in the comments!

No really, please comment. I think my comment moderation is busted.