Blogging Benefits (w02)

I’m starting this post early because it took me longer than I expected last week.

It’s crazy how out of practice I am with blogging. Thinking back to my heyday, I posted daily and sometimes on multiple blogs with two young kids at home! It was a different time, for sure.

Anyway, I’m here to recap my week while focusing on what I already see as the benefits of my commitment to the blog this year.

A Midweek Boost

First, I love that I decided to do this on Wednesdays. It makes me think of my “week” entirely differently, and I like it!

My “work week” may be Monday-Friday, but now I’m taking this moment on Wednesday to pause, ponder, and refocus on what’s important. That is my first blogging benefit, for sure!

Family Time

My blogging week kicked off Thursday with a family eye doctor appointment followed by dinner out.

These two young men had a stare-down in the waiting room, and it was hysterical. (These are two photos put together side-by-side. They just sat there like that while I was cracking up.)

Raising two boys is an absolute rollercoaster ride. They are nearly 6 years apart, and watching their relationship change and blossom over the years has been an absolute pleasure.

After the appointment, we went out to dinner together. I love nights like that.

Extended Family Time

I’m lucky to live only a half mile from my mom, and my brother lives in the area now, too. So, proximity isn’t an issue. All we need to do is make an effort, and this week, I decided to do just that, partially thanks to the blog.

I was looking at the calendar earlier in the week and realized I had plans for the next two weekends. Then, I remembered my goal to host one extended family dinner a month. So, I reached out to everyone and invited them over Friday for a Chicken Burrito Bowl night.

We had a lovely family dinner, and then this happened…

That’s my oldest, my brother and niece, and my youngest just hanging out. We were taking turns playing Tekken, and my boys were shaking their heads when I snapped the picture because they knew it would blur their faces.

Would this awesome night have happened if I wasn’t blogging? Maybe, but setting the goal of doing it monthly definitely expedited it.

I mean, look at these boys.

Even Marsh had a great time.

A Lazy Weekend

Usually, I hit the gym first thing Saturday morning, but unfortunately, I hurt my lower back a few days earlier and decided to take a rest day. So, the Husband and I had a lazy morning doing Murdles.

The Husband got it for me for Christmas, and I love it! I’ve been sinking into a lot of puzzle games to keep me off social media. The way I see it, I’d rather keep my brain sharp than mindless doom scroll through all the B.S.

Even though my back wasn’t 100%, I decided to go for a hike. Especially because my oldest asked me to, and I am NOT turning that down.

Sunday morning I figured hot yoga would do me good. Here I am, all sweaty after class.

I try to go every Sunday, but it’s not always realistic, so I set my goal for at least two Sundays a month.

When I get home, I usually make some yogurt for breakfast. I was obsessed with Greek yogurt mixed with chocolate protein powder and frozen blueberries, but now my obsession is this…

That’s Greek yogurt with citrus salad and sunflower seeds. I’ve been buying those jars of mixed peeled citrus in the produce section and, omg, obsessed!

The rest of the weekend was a blur except for one thing: I finally finished Suits!

I started it a few months back because both my Father-in-Law and my 19-year-old son said they were watching it, and I was shocked. How did this show capture both a Boomer and Gen Z kid? Well, it sucked me right in too. It’s just a cheesy network drama, but I enjoyed it.

Oh! And I did one painting project this weekend.

This was an activity from @andrea.nelson.art. I love her simple watercolor ideas.

And we kept the Seafood Sunday tradition again. This time it was Honey-Soy Glazed Cod (a new recipe for me) and Fried rice that I had The 13-Year-Old make (with my help) because it’s his favorite.

I also added some sauteed peppers and onions.

The cod didn’t go over too well with the kids, but The Husband and I liked it.

My Work Week

It’s only Wednesday, but I honestly can’t tell you what I did Monday or Tuesday. I would need to look at my calendar.

Work is ramping up as I am teaching a winter course and preparing for the Spring semester.

Today, I presented to some of my colleagues about technology, and it went over really well! There is nothing I enjoy more than demystifying basic tech for people and just sharing knowledge. I think I was born to be a teacher.

2025 Goal Check-In

That’s all I have, so I guess I’ll update my goal list since this is the easiest way for me to do it, and I love that it keeps them at the top of my mind.

That, I think, is the real benefit of blogging (or journaling, I guess)—keeping focus.

1. Blog Weekly.
   • so far… ✔️
2. Paint More. Don’t overthink it.
   • so far…✔️
3. Make a new handmade pasta monthly.
   • Jan ✔️
4. Hike at least twice a month.
   • Jan ✔️
5. Perform one unassisted dip.
   • Training! Down to the blue band.
6. Perform five strict pull-ups.
   • Training!
7. Handstand walk.
   • Training!
8. Take at least three yoga classes a month.
   • Jan 2/3
9. Make homemade sourdough bread.
   • no progress
10. Take the kids to Iceland (planning is in the works!).
    • no progress
11. Fix the holes in my house (long story, lots of plumbing issues this year).
    • no progress
12. Continue my Spanish Streak on Duolingo (I’m on day 1,231!!).
    • so far…✔️
13. Take a Spanish class in person.
    • Researched options at the college last week! I need to make some decisions. Gonna email a few folks tomorrow.
14. Plan something special for The Husband’s 50th birthday!
    • no progress
15. Snatch 125lbs.
    • no progress
16. Compete in at least one weightlifting meet.
    • no progress
17. Walk a minimum of a half-mile daily with Marsh and, preferably, with the Husband, but I can’t base my goal on him.
    • Missed one day due to snow the first week, but have walked every day since!
18. Track my movie-watching on Letterboxd.
    • so far…✔️ – Click here to see!
19. Keep my citrus trees alive! (I have a lemon and a lime tree I named Laverne and Shirley. Laverne is not doing too well after a disastrous root rot issue this fall, but we are doing our best.)
    • so far…✔️ (They are doing great!) – I got buds on Shirley!!
20. Host an extended family dinner monthly.
    • Jan ✔️
21. Clean out and organize my closet and drawers.
    • no progress.
22. Thrift more and purchase no brand-new clothes.
    • so far…✔️
23. Take daily supplements more consistently.
    • so far…✔️
24. Reduce alcohol consumption to once or twice a month max.
    • so far…✔️ No alcohol since 1/1/2025
25. Cook one new recipe/dish a month.
    • Jan ✔️ (this one and this one. )