Currently… September 2024

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It’s time for my quarterly “currently” post, so it’s time for some randomness!

I’m currently…

Making: Lots of plans!  I just finished planning and implementing Grandparent’s Day at the kids’ school, we’re planning our trip to Chicago for fall break (or, well, we need to anyway!!), I’m planning upcoming holiday blog content, and I just planned the week ahead this morning!  I’m also starting to plan for the holidays… Christmas is going to be here before we know it, so I have already started doing some shopping.  Oh, and we’re planning Halloween for the kids as well… the kids are both trying to decide on costumes and we’ll be doing our Halloween dinner, I’m sure.

Cooking: Last week, I cooked things that were easy!  We had a busy week last week with lots going on during the day while the kids were in school, and we had tons of stuff going on after school last week, so I needed quick and easy!  This week, I’m honestly not sure just yet as I haven’t made my meal plan and grocery list!  I guess I need to add that to my list above of things I need to plan.  ;o)

Drinking: Tons of water, a couple of cups of cinnamon black tea, and a green protein smoothie every day… plus a glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail on the weekends.  Oh, and let’s not forget the pumpkin spice latte… I did enjoy one of those recently as it made its comeback for fall.  I’m sure I’ll be enjoying a couple more as the season progresses.

Eating: So much protein.  I finally started working on one of my goals that I made at the beginning of the year to get more protein, and I’ve been very diligent about it.  I’m averaging 80-100 grams per day most days, which is way more than I used to get.  A few things I added to my diet to do this?  Low-fat cottage cheese (I add it to my eggs, and it takes them to the next level, y’all!), Kodiak protein flapjacks and Kodiak protein oatmeal (for mornings where I’m in a hurry and need something quick), Kind protein breakfast bars (for protein-filled snacks on the go), and Vital Proteins Collagen in my green smoothies.    

Reading: I just started Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore, and, of course, I’m still reading my Bible daily and doing my Bible Recap study guide.  I’m also still reading my daily devotional, New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp. 

Wanting: For this nice weather we’ve been having lately to stick around forever.  I know we’re probably just experiencing “fake fall,” but it’s been so nice that it’s been in the 70’s and 80’s rather than near 100 degrees every day.  I have also been enjoying the cloudy days as well as the rainy ones since we haven’t had much rain all summer.  It has pretty much been sunny and blazing every single day for the last two months, so it’s been nice to have a break, even if it’s only temporary.     

Looking: Forward to all of the wonderful things that these next four months bring… college football games, outings to the pumpkin patch, cooler weather, sweaters, fall décor, pumpkin spice lattes, boots, bringing our skeleton back out of storage, trick-or-treating, our Halloween play list, putting together my fall puzzle that I started two years ago (LOL), cozy time on the couch with my babies, fires in the fireplace, Christmas music!!, Christmas lights, cinnamon in my diffuser, and every single cozy thing imaginable.  Contrary to popular opinion, I’m also looking forward to the time change because my body will finally feel like it’s back on the proper time again.  It will be nice to wake up at 6 AM with my body feeling like it’s 7 AM.  I will miss my evening walks and jogs so much, though. 

Playing: Lots of music, as always.  No matter what kind of mood I’m in, there’s always a play list that I can turn on to either amplify those feelings or squelch those feelings depending on what I need at the time.  Whether I need to be cheered up, pumped up, soothed, reminded of sweet memories of the past, reminded to forget regrets from the past, or if I need to work through challenges, music is always there.  It’s truly live giving.  Lately I’ve been listening to Abe Parker on repeat, and I’m also loving David Kushner’s new album.  And of course, Dave and Taylor are always in the shuffle.  :o)

Wasting: Time scrolling through Instagram and Threads in the evenings after the kids go to bed.  I’ve been doing more scrolling recently due to the fact that it’s an election year, and it has been equal parts appalling and hilarious this year.  Appalling because of some of the things that have been said, and hilarious because of the memes and videos that have come from all of it.  I’ll be glad when this election year is over so we can all move on with our lives and *hopefully* not have to deal with a three-ring circus the next time we have to vote in 2028.

Buying: Honestly?  Not much.  My spending has been way down the past few months aside from Amazon Prime Day back in July.  This is the time of year that I really don’t shop much, but that will all be changing soon as I start Christmas shopping!  A few recent buys have been more pairs of these leggings because they are the GOAT, my new planner for 2025 (and EEK, it’s so gorgeous!), this new Pumpkin Spice oil from Young Living (yes, they have pumpkin spice now!!!!), and some mirror ball pumpkins from the Target Dollar Spot because a) how could I not, and b) could they be more Lindsay?!

Sewing: Nothing… because my mother-in-law just handled my most recent sewing need since I can barely use a needle and thread.  Hahahaha. #NotMyStrongSuit

Wishing: That everybody could just get along, or at the very least, just be kind.  We don’t all have to agree on everything, but can we all just agree that we should all be able to have differing opinions and still be kind to one another?  Is it really too much to ask?

Loving: That we have SO MANY CONCERTS to attend before the end of the year!  Kaleo this month, Abe Parker in October, and Pentatonix (Brian snagged tickets for us in the FOURTH ROW!!!!  But the kids don’t know about this, so if you see them, please do not mention it!), Usher, and Straight No Chaser (another fun one with the kids that they do not yet know about) in December.  December is looking extra fun and festive this year, y’all!  Pentatonix at Christmas is going to be such a huge bucket list check for me!

Hoping: That we all stay well for the next four months because we have so much fun stuff planned, I can’t even begin to tell you about all of it!  I know somebody is going to get sick at some point, so I’m hoping it’s during some downtime when we don’t have anything terribly important going on… like one of the many concerts we have tickets for!

Marveling: At how my blog income for 2024 has already surpassed my income for all of 2023 and it’s only the beginning of September.  My income has been consistent year after year, so it has been a very nice surprise to see a dramatic increase this year.  I’m hoping Q4 ends up being better than previous fourth quarters to continue to widen the gap, but I’ll be happy if I perform similarly to previous fourth quarters because I’ll still have an overall increase for the year.

Needing: To start making some kind of loose itinerary or plans for our trip to Chicago in October!  We’ve never been (Brian has briefly), so there’s so much to research and figure out!  I also don’t know that much about Chicago, so I’m not even honestly sure where to start.  I did ask a couple of friends for recommendations, and they both gave us great information, so I’m sure we’ll use those as our main guide.

Smelling: Cinnamon and Clove in my diffuser and aaaallll the fall soaps!  Oh, and Young Living also released a new Pumpkin Spice oil that I’ve been diffusing and it is so good!!  I’ve been hoping for a pumpkin spice oil for years, so I’m glad it lived it up to my expectations!  It just needs a smidge more of cinnamon in my opinion, so I just drop a couple of extra drops of cinnamon bark in with it. 

Wearing: Shockingly, the past couple of weeks have been mild weather-wise as we’ve had a ton of rain, so I’ve already started transitioning to jeans and tees, and I’ve even worn boots a couple of times.  This might be the earliest in the season that I’ve ever worn them.  My favorite thing that I’ve been wearing lately, though, is these leggings.  I bought them in some new colors and I’m so excited to have so many color choices!  They are truly the best leggings I’ve yet to come across.    

Praying: For so many things… for a dear friend who is halfway through her first pregnancy after a long journey of infertility and loss… that her baby continues to grow perfectly and healthily and that she has a smooth and safe delivery in a few months.  For my cousin who is battling cancer.  For one of my aunts and one of my uncles who are battling Alzheimer’s/Dementia, and for their loved ones who care for them daily.  For Maui, who seems to be aging at a rapid pace these last few months after being diagnosed with kidney disease last year.  For all of the victims and their families as well as the other people affected by the school shooting in Georgia a couple of weeks ago.  For the unity of our country after so much division these last few years.  For the best possible outcome in November for the election.  For my vertigo that has subsided to occasional dizziness/boat rocking… that it continues to improve until it no longer exists.  And as always, I’m thanking God for our many blessings… for our good health, for our safety, and for His provision for our family.  I also have several unspoken prayers that I’ve been praying about for quite some time, and I’m hoping they are answered soon.  Right now, they’re still in the “not yet” phase, and even though the “not yet” can be frustrating, I am choosing daily to believe that God is working.  He never stops working.  <3

Noticing: That the leaves are starting to turn colors here, and it’s a beautiful thing!  We usually reach our peak around early November, so we still have a while to go, but I just love the whole process of fall and seeing all of the beautiful reds and yellows and golds and oranges as they eventually turn to brown and return to dust.  We didn’t have much rain this summer (until the last week or so), so I don’t think the colors will be as vibrant this year, but I’ll take what I can get.  ;o)

Knowing: That I will be going to vote as soon as possible.  I’m so ready for early voting to begin so I can go cast my ballot!  This will, by far, be the easiest vote for a presidential candidate that I have ever made since I turned 18 in 2000 and voted in my first election.

Thinking: Of how excited I am that Jacob decided to join Velocity this year.  Velocity is the middle school version of Teen Advisors, and they do some great things for their fellow peers and for the community, and I’m excited to watch him grow in his faith and do great things to help others.

Opening: Target packages!  I bought those new leggings and some new sports bras to replace a few of my old ones, and I’m loving all of them.    

Giggling: At videos that Brian and I have been sending back and forth to each other, most of which are about the current political climate.  Sometimes you just have to laugh so you don’t cry.  Haha.    

Happy Monday, y’all!