The Rolling Hills (y02w17)

I wish I could say I painted that photo, but I didn’t have time to paint this week, so I stole it from Freepik.com. I will, however, use it as inspiration when I paint this weekend.

Anyway, I was initially going to call this post “Rollercoaster”, as in the rollercoaster of emotions I’ve had this week, but that seemed too drastic. Because it wasn’t really a rollercoaster ride. It was more like, well, rolling hills. I’ve been happy, sad, angry, content, frustrated, and indifferent in some way, shape, or form every single day this week.

So I’m calling it The Rolling Hills of Menopause, or maybe Perimenopause. I don’t know anymore. I turn 50 in just under three months. I had my uterus removed about 10 years ago, so I can’t track my cycle based on anything but mood, and I’m too lazy to go to the doctor and get my hormones checked.

All that said, I feel great. I’m eating well, for the most part. I’m strong AF right now, and I’m sleeping… okay, I guess. Better than I was a few months ago.

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got this week. I barely snuck this one in, so I’m going to update my goals and try to get to bed at a decent hour today.

2026 Goal Tracking

Cooking/Food

#SaladTime

Goal: Once a Week ❌ On Hold Retiring
Revised Goal: 5 Big Salads a Week ✅

The first week with my new goal was a success!

That’s four, and dinner last night was salmon and rice, which I served over a big pile of greens for myself.

Honestly, I’m getting quite obsessed with these salads. It’s funny how I went from eating no greens to running out of lettuce within a week. That’s where I am now.

The habit has been formed, and I love it. If I think about it, the process I follow to establish new habits pretty much flows like this:

1. Set Goal. (I want to eat more greens)
2. Figure out a way to measure it. (Like 5 salads a week)
3. What small steps can I take right now to make this as easy as possible? (Buy prepped greens and veggies?)
4. Find some inspiration to keep going. (Share ideas on social media? Take photos? Jounral?)
5. Give myself grace. (Damn, missed a day this week… who cares.. keep going!)
6. Make adjustments when needed. (Does the goal need an update to keep going?)

Boom, new good habit formed.

This particular goal started with just wanting to eat more greens to posting salads on FB to recording #saladtime videos, to just eating 5 salads a week because I want to, and I’m enjoying it!

And it took about 6 months. I went back and looked. Here’s where it all started…

Baby steps. It’s all about the baby steps! (Please tell me you are thinking of the same movie I am.)

Weekly Soup/Stew/Prep

Goal: Once a Week ✅

Same with the soup! I legitimately love making my weekly soup or stew. This week it was roasted red pepper and sun-dried tomato, which is fast becoming my favorite!

I’m gettting better and better at making this one too. I need to share my recipe. It’s so good!

Sourdough

Goal: Once a Week ✅

I’m also getting better at making sourdough! I did make a loaf this week, but I totally forgot to take a photo. I also have some dough fermenting now that I need to shape and get in the fridge so I can bake it tomorrow.

Homemade Pasta

Goal: Once a Month

• January 1/9 ✅
• February 2/15 ✅
• March 3/1 ✅
• April 4/18 ✅

I can’t lie. I made the best pasta this past weekend.

That’s homemade fettuccine with bay scallops and peas in a light cream sauce. Delicious! The family devoured it, except for…

Evan in the Kitchen

Goal: Once a Week ❌ Retired

This kid and food. I swear. He drives me crazy. He humored me and ate a few strands of pasta, but man. It’s so hard being a foodie with a kid who doesn’t like food. His father was the same way when I met him, and now he’s pretty adventurous, so I’m holding out hope!

Fitness/Weightlifting

Olympic Lifting Training

Tomorrow I wrap up this little three-week session I’ve been doing. It’s been 4 days a week of lifting, and I’ve been feeling fantastic. My training has been mostly foundational, and I’m really enjoying it.

Handstands/Pull Ups/Jump Rope

I can’t remember what I did last week, but Fridays are now my jump-rope days. I spend at least 15 minutes making up a fun little jump workout.

Daily Walks

Killing it in this department.

Hikes

• Goal: Twice a month
  • January 1/3, 1/15, 1/23 ✅
  • February ❌
  • March 3/21, 3/28✅
  • April 4/3, 4/12 ✅

Already reached this goal, but still planning to get out there.

Hot Yoga

• Goal: Twice a month
  • January 1/4, 1/11, 1/18  ✅ 
  • February 2/1 ❌
  • March 3/1, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29 ✅ 
  • April 4/12, 4/18 ✅ 

I reached my goal this month, but planning to go again this weekend.

Pickleball

We got our asses KICKED again! Still had a blast though.

Creative/Other Pursuits

Music

I got a 30-minute session in today, and it was awesome!

Painting

Nothing this week 🙁

Acting Class/Drum Lessons

No update. 🙁

Spanish

Keeping up with Duolingo… no other progress.

Alcohol Reduction

• Goal: No more than two days of drinking a month.
  • January 1/1, 1/31 ✅
  • February 2/1, 2/21 ✅
  • March 3/21 ✅
  • April 4/1, 4/2, 4/18 ❌

No more drinking this month!

Looking Ahead

Actually, behind. I just realized I wanted to blog about last weekend’s dinner party, and I totally forgot. I’ll have to save that for next week. This post kind of just flew out of me, so I went with it.

Hope you are well!