One of the best perks of being a college professor is Spring Break. I’m lucky mine aligns with our K-12 school district, so I’m off the same week as the kids. Well, kid—only one of them is still in public school.
The other one actually had a field trip of sorts for his job training program today. It was the first time I saw some excitement and passion in his eyes. He came home all talkative about what he learned and how he may have a job opportunity once he gets his certifications. I’m trying not to get my hopes up, but it was the first time since high school graduation that I saw some passion and motivation in his eyes. I’m taking this win!
Let’s see, what else has happened this past week?
Not much! I just looked through my photos, and it’s all food. lol
Thursday and Friday
Thursday, I made steaks and posted about it on Substack.
Then I went all in on Fancy Friday and made duck!
(I talked about how I made it on the steak post.)
We had no plans over the weekend, and it was glorious.
Saturday
I met up with the barbell club crew on Saturday and got in some good lifting.
Those are screenshots from videos my coach took. You can see the lifts on my IG stories.
I’ve been feeling pretty good at the gym. Four weeks into our new Olympic Lifting training cycle, I’m starting to feel strong again. My lifts are improving, and it feels great to be back focusing on them.
My post-workout meal on Saturday was yogurt, and I have started sharing these high-protein concoctions on Substack, too.
Sunday
The only photo I have from Sunday is this one. lol
The night before, I made dough, letting it ferment overnight. It definitely doubled in size! I made baguettes for fish sandwiches, but totally forgot to snap a photo. I am still out of practice in photo taking, but I choose to look at it positively. I’m way more in the moment when I’m doing things these days. So much so, I don’t think about documenting, and that’s a good thing for me.
Monday
Monday felt like the first real Spring break day, and hanging out at home with the kids was nice. I’m also unhappily reporting that I am now the shortest person in the family!
THAT’S LITTLE BEAN!
If anyone reading this was at Fitbloggin’11, this is the infant I was nursing during the conference. I’m literally nodding in disbelief as I type this.
Monday was also Pickleball night! I didn’t snap a picture, but The Oldest and I had our first winning night! We won more games than we lost, which is a major improvement for us. We are learning how to work better as a team.
Tuesday
I also spent more time at the gym than usual on Tuesday because I had nowhere to be! (Glorious!) I was working on my handstands, and I’m making great progress!
That’s a series of screenshots from some videos I took. You can see some of them on my IG story.
I have this absurd fear of headstands because of my history of neck issues, so my coach taught me this “headless” headstand technique that’s helping me build strength and body awareness upside down. It’s really working! I’ve never felt more confident in my handstand attempts before.
After the gym, I made another yogurt concoction that I shared on Substack.
Then it was more cleaning time.
Today?
Well, today, after the gym, I decided not to clean. It was a kitchen day, and I had a blast making bread, cookies, and dinner!
First, the cookies.
I decided to try a new recipe for Ricciarelli because I had some frozen egg whites leftover from a dinner party a few weeks back and some aging almond flour I need to use before it expires.
This recipe DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I messed it up a little, but they still came out delicious. I will definitely be making them again! They are a little chewy bite of almond yumminess!
Next up, the bread!
I decided to take the leap and start experimenting with sourdough mix-ins.
I split one loaf in half to try a cinnamon raisin and a croissant loaf (butter). I don’t think I have yet to master plain old sourdough yet, so I was fearful of mixing things in, but it worked!
I baked them side by side, and the loaves actually separated easily once I let them cool a bit.
They came out great!
The oldest absolutely loved the cinnamon raisin, so I plan on making a whole loaf for the weekend.
Finally, Dinner
It’s not the best picture, but I made salmon, rice, and broccoli, and it was delicious.
While I was cooking, The Husband was doing a project with our youngest, which made me smile.
Now, see, I wouldn’t have thought it, but after recapping my week, I’m realizing how great it was! I needed this little boost in mood because, well… I think this classic comic/meme does a better job of explaining more than I could.
Ok, gotta go… Survivor!
2025 Goal Check In
- Blog Weekly.
- so far… ✔️
- Paint More. Don’t overthink it.
- so far…✔️ (Slacking!)
- Make a new handmade pasta monthly.
- Jan ✔️ ✔️
- Feb ✔️ ✔️
- March ❌
- April ✔️
- Hike at least twice a month.
- Jan ✔️✔️
- Feb ✔️✔️
- March ✔️ ✔️
- April ✔️
- Perform one unassisted dip.
- Training!
- Perform five strict pull-ups.
- Training! (As of 4/1 up to three!!)
- Handstand walk.
- Training! (See above)
- Take at least three yoga classes a month.
- Jan ✔️✔️✔️
- Feb ✔️✔️✔️
- March ✔️✔️✔️
- April ✔️✔️
- Make homemade sourdough bread.
- ✔️✔️✔️OMG I did it!✔️✔️✔️
- Take the kids to Iceland.
- Training underway
- Fix the holes in my house (long story, lots of plumbing issues this year).
- Two holes down, two to go!
- Continue my Spanish Streak on Duolingo (I’m on day 1,231!!).
- so far…✔️ day 1335
- Take a Spanish class in person.
- No update. 🙁
- Plan something special for The Husband’s 50th birthday!
- Research is underway.
- Snatch 125lbs.
- Training! .
- Compete in at least one weightlifting meet.
- No update
- Walk a minimum of half a mile daily with Marsh and, preferably, with the Husband, but I can’t base my goal on him.
- 98/106 days so far this year.
- Track my movie-watching on Letterboxd.
- so far…✔️ Click here to see!
- 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…✔️ Moved them outside today!!
- Host an extended family dinner monthly.
- Jan ✔️
- Feb ✔️
- March ✔️
- April (I host Easter!)
- Clean out and organize my closet and drawers.
- Thrift more and purchase no brand-new clothes.
- so far…✔️
- Take daily supplements more consistently.
- so far…❌ Picked some up today.. trying again!
- Reduce alcohol consumption to once or twice a month.
- Jan ❌ 1/18, 1/23, 1/31 (close!)
- Feb 2/1, 2/15 ✔️
- March 3/22 ✔️
- April
- Cook one new recipe/dish a month.
One reply on “YAY For Spring Break! (w15)”
Cinnamon Raisin sourdough sounds amazing!