Linking up with Kelly’s Quick Takes!
1 // WE MADE IT TO NOVEMBER 12th BEFORE TURNING THE HEAT ON.
I’m a little bit of a crazy person about this, but there’s just this tiny sweet spot in Virginia where you don’t need the A/C or the heat. I take advantage of that electric bill savings for all its worth!
2 // WE HAD OUR FIRST SNOWFALL (AND FIRST POWER OUTAGE) ON NOVEMBER 15TH.
Don’t laugh, northern states, but this is pretty early for us! We probably got around four inches of snow and Mark and I had to shovel our long driveway in freezing rain. Fun. We were without power for 18 hours, but were thankfully more prepared than the last time.
3 // KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL. EVEN IN CHURCH.
We had an incident before mass at our church involving an unstable individual causing a disturbance. Police were called and it left me very shaken. (He was less than five feet away from my family.) Mark and I have since had hushed conversations about worse case scenario plans. It makes me so angry that you have to even think about these things in a place of worship.
4 // BEST MARRIAGE TIP AFTER 13 YEARS: LEARN EACH OTHER’S LOVE LANGUAGE.
We went probably seven years into our marriage before attacking this head-on and it’s been life-changing for us.
5 // NEVER JUDGE A RUN BY THE FIRST MILE.
I tend to hate running during that first mile. I come up with all the excuses – I’m tired, it’s cold, I’m needed in the house, etc etc. But if I manage to shut that voice off and get to mile two? I’m golden! My legs are loose, I feel great and I’m ready to finish the mileage I set out to do. Funny how that works.
6 // “FRAGRANCE” IS A WORD USED ON PRODUCTS TO AVOID DISCLOSING CHEMICALS.
I’m still slowly working my way through Estrogeneration and coincidentally came across a documentary on Netflix called Stink! that touches on the same topics. It really is mind-blowing to discover what exactly we’re putting on or in our bodies. The secrecy is astounding.
7 // YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW DEPENDENT YOU ARE ON AN APPLIANCE UNTIL IT BREAKS.
After the power outage, we discovered that our cooktop wouldn’t turn on. And shortly after that, our dishwasher died! I’ve scrambled to find recipes that can be 100% cooked in the oven (did I mention a certain toddler shattered the lid to my slow cooker as well?!) and it’s definitely helped me see all the things I take for granted. I’ll be so thankful to have my kitchen up and running again soon.
I can tell you that my most catastrophic appliances to break right now (in order) would be: the heater, the washing machine, and the coffee maker. Because this is Minnesota with a cloth diapered baby. These three things are essentially my life lines!
Totally agree! We had our A/C break this summer and it was brutal. I'm so grateful for smart repairmen who save the day!
I hear you about turning on the heat! You made it a LONG way before turning it on! Way to go, girl!
That's scary about church, I'm sorry.
And I am sorry about your appliances. Yikes! Especially with so many mouths to feed, I cannot imagine your pain!
I've never been so grateful for repairmen! He fixed it right up and spared us having to buy new appliances in December. A huge blessing, because that definitely wasn't in the budget right now, hah!