Recreating the Magic of Childhood through DIY Costumes and Festive Decorations

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey everyone, you're listening to 5 Years Time with your host, grace Black. If you're watching on YouTube video version, I switched up my camera angle just randomly in the last moment because I don't turn off my computer and leave it open because I have the external camera attached to it. Anyways, it's a little more of a step for me to close my computer, but recently I realized that this is such a long-winded story, but I'm telling you because it's my podcast and I'm going to tell you anyways. But basically I have my sound on which my notifications come through. So if I get a text message in the middle of the night, it bings on my computer or just at any point, and since the studio is attached to where I sleep, I hear it. And so I'm realizing that I'm waking up, subconsciously, not realizing that's what's waking me up, and then I'm kind of stuck awake. So I need to remember to close my computer. And so I was thinking about it today while I was recording. I was like how am I going to remember to close my computer? Because when I end the show, a little behind the scenes is basically I export all my video footage and get it started up in the editing software to get it uploaded onto YouTube and that process can take quite a while. So I end up leaving and just letting it process and export and then get it upload, and so then I end up having my computer open for hours and hours and hours after the show and I just never come back in here and then the cycle starts again. But I'm thinking this way I can just quickly like slap it closed what I'm done not actually slap it, obviously, but you know what I mean. Where before I would have to remove the camera, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So we're just trying out something to do. But I literally just stuck it somewhere random. I might try putting it somewhere else. I actually didn't even think about it. I can even put it on a tripod. This camera, it has a nice like lip to sit on computers like laptops. So I was. I just never even thought to try something new. But that's what we're here we're doing, trying something new.

Speaker 1: 2:31

Anyways, welcome back to five years time podcast Q it's. I'm so excited you're here. It is November 1st. Oh my gosh, spooky season is gone and holiday season is upon us Now. I was just talking to Trevor about this.

Speaker 1: 2:49

I'm not sure I know American Thanksgiving is in November, but I can't remember if it's near the end or the beginning. So someone's going to have to update me on that and I'm pretty sure, like you all love to wait, you all as in, like Americans, who celebrate American Thanksgiving from my understanding like the start of Thanksgiving, or maybe it's the end of Thanksgiving, I don't know, but that weekend is like the start of the festive, the tea season, the festive season where I feel like in my heart I've said this, I think I said this last week on the podcast but this is how I'm feeling is that ever since we came back from our trip, we kind of got thrown. We like left in summer weather, got thrown into fall weather as we came home and then it's just been like boom bang, boom Halloween, and it's like I couldn't even catch up to like even think about decorating for Halloween. I got three cooking pumpkins from Farm Boy, because it was three for $5, which just needs to tell you, if you want small pumpkins, a cooking pumpkin is a perfect size. And I had gone to Canadian Tire as well that day after and they had like a bunch of different gourds and little pumpkins out and I think they were selling each one individually for $5. So always go to your grocery store first, because they will sell them for a deal. So anyways, I got those three cooking pumpkins.

Speaker 1: 4:05

Trevor and Ro did go to a pumpkin farm with our neighbors one day when I was I think I was working on something, I don't even remember, but I was not home and they went and did that and oh, I know I was volunteering on something. But anyways, they had so much fun and picked up one jumbo pumpkin. So that was the extent of our Halloween decor was I had these three cooking pumpkins dispersed, one on my kitchen counter which fun fact. Any of my videos that I filmed in October after Italy were using my pumpkin as a tripod, and that was so fun. Yeah, so one on my kitchen counter, one of my fireplace, and I think I put one on our dining room table. So that was our.

Speaker 1: 4:47

And then we had our stoop pumpkin, obviously the big one, which we carved for our trick or treating festivities, which we do the weekend before in our neighborhood. We have like our Halloween parade, and then, obviously last night, the night of actual Halloween, had it lit up with more treats for any kids that come either double trick or treat from our neighborhood or from other neighborhoods. But yes, we actually had quite a few leftover baggies this year, which was awesome because I didn't have to like think to get any more sweets and treats before actual Halloween and I just was able to repurpose, which was amazing. We weren't sure how many we needed this year. So we like went above and beyond because we felt like so many new kids moved into the neighborhood, and it's not even just our kids we live in quite a small neighborhood in itself but it's not even just the kids that live on our street, it's also we have lots of older members and they have obviously grandchildren and so like all the families are invited and the generations to come and trick or treat.

Speaker 1: 5:51

So, but that was the extent of our Christmas decorations. Then I have this little Ziploc bag like a freezer, zippy, you know that size of Ziploc bag which I have collected pretty much one thing every year to put into that bag and that's kind of like my, that's like the extent of most of my holiday decorating and I love it that way and I love especially coming from a condo to the house. I love that we have like extra storage in our basement. We have like our storage room, which is also our laundry room slash furnace room, but I have racks in there that have different things that are stored Honestly, a lot of it. I was looking at those racks today because I was pulling out Christmas stuff this is where I'm coming with this story but I was looking at them and I was like, from like the bottom half, we have two big racks. The bottom half of it is all just like baby stuff, because I feel like I don't know what the future holds baby wise for us. So it's like we only have one kid. We're probably going to have two. I think I've talked about this at some point, but like who knows when that's going to be or whatever.

Speaker 1: 6:58

It's just like you got to hold on to those good things. Like, honestly, I'm not huge about a lot of the clothes that we got like Rose baby infant stuff that I bought for her before she was born. I kept all of that because I bought like really cute and lovely quality things, not even not that much, which you that's the first thing about having a baby is you don't need that much, especially clothes wise, but just in general. But I kept all that stuff. And then, other than that, there's a few pieces I kept, but, like a lot of her clothes were Hammy downs.

Speaker 1: 7:27

Anyways, I used to work in a childcare program and one of the moms I did, like a girl, guides with her outside of school and all this stuff and we like created this good relationship but she only had one daughter and so she passed all her stuff and she was the queen of keeping everything. She passed everything down to me, which was amazing because I had every pair of snowpans and every size, every code and every size. I still am working through it, like I think we're on our last year of those Hammy downs. But yeah, most of that stuff I've passed on to other people or value village and things like that, because it's just like for me it's less stuff, less stress, like that is how it works, it's. Even if it's out of sight, it is still in my mind.

Speaker 1: 8:08

So I like to keep to the, the two racks I have in the in the furnace room for storage, but anyways, that being said, so a lot of it is like baby stuff. You know, the bigger things like the baby bath and the snuggle me organic and the baby car seat, like all that stuff, but then above it and I do have some maternity stuff too, but that's all in the baby category. But above it I have space for I have like a few large grocery bags, like you know, the reusable grocery bags that have Ziploc bags filled with like each season's or holidays thing. The one that does take over space, obviously, is Christmas. I don't even have that much stuff, but like I'm so grateful that I do have the little things I do have, because they just add a little spunking. Spunking such like excitement. And so that was how I felt for Halloween for sure was because all we had time to do, really, and the mental capacity I had was to get those three cooking pumpkins and the one big pumpkin. But on our Halloween parade I did last year had recently, someone had given me a chest of drawers that they thought would be great for Rose room, and I was very grateful for that because I thought it would be great and she's not ready yet for them. What we have for her clothes work out fine now, but I'm I, so I just put it in the garage and it was like right before Halloween, and so I had it in the garage and then Halloween came and what we do for the parade is everyone puts a table out at the end of their driveway and displays their candies and treats however they want, and so, like years past, I'd used this folding table that we bought first for when the pandemic first happened in, trevor started working from home and we just bought this like random folding table online and it's been great because it's really slim and so obviously Trevor doesn't use it anymore because now he works full time from home forever, so he has like a proper desk he a standing desk that he's wanted.

Speaker 1: 10:04

But so this table is awesome. First of all, it's half not awesome because it's really heavy, like it's a solid piece of wood and then these metal folding legs. But it's awesome because it's narrow and weight wise. Why it's not awesome is because it's like, yes, it's a folding table, but it's kind of inconvenient to like bring places or bring out because it's really heavy. But anyways, it's really narrow compared to like a traditional like dining room table, but it's long, so it fits on this wall in my furnace room so perfectly where I can like store bins under it, and then I have this working table where I can like switch up what's on top of it.

Speaker 1: 10:42

So, anyways, I did not want to take that table out from the basement because I like loved where it was and it's so heavy. And I was just like I just don't want to. And I was like, oh, I have that chest of drawers. Like why don't I just bring that to the end of the driveway, since it's in the garage, and Fill the drawers up with the, the treat bags, and then we could decorate that. And it was great, it worked out fantastic. That's exactly what I did and, as I said, I have this little or this Freezers size Ziploc bag where I keep. Like each Halloween we collect one more decor item. So, like I had, I I didn't.

Speaker 1: 11:19

I don't like the spider webs. Like they look really cool but personally, like I feel like you always have to throw them out because they get so gross. Like if you have them outside of the house they just stick to. Everything is not my favorite. So I bought the first year we moved into the house, for that folding table was. It's like a. It's like made out of material, like thread, like maybe even a thicker thread, but it's like a. It kind of gives you spider web vibes. It also kind of gives you like chewed through. I'm trying to think like old sheets type, vibe, anyways, so like a netting of some sort. That's the word, a netting. So I have the netting. I also have some witches legs that I used to hang on our banister like and on our stairs but has been donated to that table the past couple years. And then, oh, we last year row got Some bones I think it's just like bones in like a Black fabric, it's kind of like a bunting as well. And then this year she really wanted caution tape, so we added some caution tape to the pile. And then I also have some like dried corn. And Last year my, when she went to my mom's one weekend before Halloween, they had made like a Halloween gingerbread house and that was a big hit.

Speaker 1: 12:32

I ended up putting it on the table because it was in the garage, because we were trying to figure out what we're gonna do with it next, and actually squirrels had like eaten so much of it and so it looked like even more haunted, so we had thrown that on. Obviously had to get rid of that since then. But this year we Put on our cooking pumpkins. So I every year I think I add gourds, like last year my mom had given me a bag of Gourds that she was using to decorate the church windows for Thanksgiving. So she had them left over. So she's like, oh, grace, take these. I was like awesome, so they sure I put on my cooking pumpkins. Oh, and they got one gourd from the pumpkin farm as well. So I had my one gourd and our jack-o-lantern and then I filled the drawers up and it just looks so nice and it's like that literally took me two seconds with things that I already had or natural new items.

Speaker 1: 13:18

So yeah, I just love that and I felt so festive, like it was hilarious, because that morning it was on the Sunday, so that morning we had gone to church and I was like, oh yeah, I got to do the Halloween stuff after and I almost was like, oh, should I just set it up on like a TV Trey table, like you know those folding little card table type things, and or do I want to take the the set of drawers all the way down because they're still in our garage? Because I was like Maybe we'll just use this for Halloween until we're ready for road habit and I was like, no, just just take it down. Like I took out the folding table and I was like, nah, let's bring it down the whole thing. And I'm so glad I did because it just like makes me feel like a little festive. So, anyways, that was on the extent of my Halloween festivity. And then actually Today is November 1st, but I am recording this on October 31st, so I'm actually driving Trevor to his parents tonight because he Because we're gonna do a little trick or treating over there, since we've already done our trick or treat here. So I'm gonna drive us there. And but I was, I got to set up the candy for the kids, so I'm gonna do that. I have to. I actually set a reminder because we're gonna go after we pick up row, so I was like I need to do that right now. So, anyways, um, yeah, so that is the Halloween time.

Speaker 1: 14:35

Now I have been saying since I came home from our trip, like I am just so ready to be festive, like one of the first things we did. We came home on a Thursday and I went to Starbucks on the Friday with row and Starbucks already has their jazz music playing, like yes, it was still fall, festive drinks, but the jazz music was playing. It was like a gloomy day. I was just feeling I got a flat white, a warm flat white, which is just like my winter drink, and I was just in like I wasn't expecting it. But all of a sudden I was like, okay, I'm in such a festive mood like Holly Jolly duck the halls, like Last year.

Speaker 1: 15:08

I feeling I was such a Grinch up until like right like the week before Christmas I felt so grinchy for some reason. I also remember we got so sick. Oh, I remember we got so sick like a Stomach bug virus that lasted like a week, I remember anyway. So I felt so grinchy until literally the week before Christmas. And and then I was like, okay, we need to duck the halls. But I didn't do like. I didn't even do as much as I normally did. I didn't put out the Christmas lights like outside on our house and I didn't. All I did was put up the tree. Honestly, because I also didn't put up we have like what is it called that you put on the banisters, garland? We didn't put up the garland. So, yeah, anyways, this year I was like, wow, I'm feeling Festive as French toast, so I'm gonna embrace that. We're getting after it.

Speaker 1: 15:58

And I know people are always like, oh, it's too early, it's too early, but I really believe that the joy in the holiday season is what you make it to be like. It's not about the day, it's about the journey, and I think, even more so as an adult, christmas can always be. It's such a weird day, like the actual day of Christmas is so weird. I feel like there's so much like Excavation and hype put on one day which is just like leading up to like, you know, not being the best day ever. And like for me, christmas for us, is always like I love Christmas, I used to.

Speaker 1: 16:27

I remember when I first transitioned into adulthood sometimes it felt like a sad day, but now is like, obviously I have a kid, so that just adds joy and magic. But like even before we had row and our newly wed state, I feel like I took Christmas as this lovely Pause, like this beautiful pause were literally nobody is doing anything except for being with family or whatever. But like there's no Expectation out of that to be doing work or whatever. And like for us, we always have Now that we're me and Trevor our family obviously the row. We have our Christmas morning. Sometimes my mom and brother will come over for that or we'll go over to my mom and brothers for like a belated Christmas morning after our slow, slow start Christmas morning, but then we always have a brunch with my side of the family and then usually head up Trevor's side of the family in the evening for some more Christmas.

Speaker 1: 17:22

So, yes, that seems like it's a lot of boop and bopping, but it's not. Those are all very chill things. Those three things are very chill, and it's fun to be surrounded by loved ones. It's not. It's not like high stress, high stakes situation. It's all very chill vibes. I love it. So, anyways, I am not gonna stop myself, I'm not gonna be like I have to wait till this day or whatever. I am just going to fully embrace it.

Speaker 1: 17:45

And so today I went downstairs and Took our little baggie of Christmas stuff. Actually, the Christmas stuff isn't a little baggie, all of honestly. All of our Christmas stuff is in the most random spots. I have to find it because I want to put we have this year we're getting a real Christmas tree. I've already decided it because we have the Christmas tree from our condo, which I bought on a Fantastic sale, like when we first got married. I remember I was at Walmart one day and I was like whoa, this Christmas trees like 50 bucks and the perfect size to fit in our condo and I love it. So I bought that tree. I don't actually I don't think it was 50 bucks, I think it was less than that. I think it was 39 99 the price is still on the box because it was like a priced on the box, but I'm pretty sure it was 39 99. I was like sweet, and it was a great size for our condo. It is too small for our house. Not that we need an extravagant tree, because my mom was trying to say like, oh, our tree, you could try, but my mom's tree is way too big Because I think they've decided it's too big for their space. Like it not for it's not it's too big for their space, but maybe too big for what they want as just like not Filling the house with like a giant tree. I don't know if that makes sense, but anyways, this tree that we have is too small for our space. We could just have a little bit of a bigger one. And I realized this after the first Christmas and I was like, oh, maybe we'll buy a new tree.

Speaker 1: 19:05

I've had real trees growing up. We had a mix, like we, I think we had fake trees for a long time and then I was like, guys, let's have a real tree, it's gonna be so fun. And then we switched to doing real trees because I loved Driving out into the wherever, into the forest, and well, obviously, a tree cutting farm not illegally cutting down trees, but driving like going on a day trip and getting a tree and having the hot chocolate and frolicking in the snow, and then going home and hanging it up and then it's like a two-day process right. Then the next day, everyone coming together, decorating and having something bubbling on the stove for dinner, making house smells so good Like. I loved that and I'm so happy that I like implemented that for my family. But yeah, I I was just like on the flip side.

Speaker 1: 19:50

A real tree can be such a pain in the booty sometimes. Like one you can like get one that for some reason just like does not want to stay alive, are you like? Don't time it right and the needles just fall, fall, fall, fall, fall. You're like cute, it's not Christmas yet. To the stands. Sometimes they just don't want to stay in the stand like we. Once my dad ripped a ripped. What am I saying wrapped twine around the middle of the tree and then like Nailed it to the the banisters on each side of our wall, like it was in a corner, and then nailed it to the banisters to hold it up, and that was just like a highlight.

Speaker 1: 20:25

I remember that one time this is what's Trevor's parents they buy not anymore. They stopped doing it after this year, but they used to buy the largest real tree I've ever seen. I don't even know how they like Put it up or anything, but One year Rhonda had gone out for the day, my mother-in-law and she comes home and the whole thing fell over. It is a huge tree. We were coming over for dinner that night and obviously she couldn't pick it up herself and Pat hadn't come home from work. My father-in-law, we had gone to their house for dinner that night and me and Trevor walked in and at first I could see through their front door and I was like did your parents get Christmas Bush this year? It literally looked like a huge Christmas Bush because it was just falling over. It was so funny.

Speaker 1: 21:15

Anyways, after that year I think they gave up on the humongous real tree. So I was like, maybe I'm not ready to commit to a real tree. Being a new mom with an infant because this is when we first moved in Ro was only a year old You're like little right. But this year I'm like we are doing a real tree because I never got a new fake tree because guess what, guys, they're not $39.99 anymore, they are so friggin' expensive. Can someone explain to me how Christmas trees are so expensive? Inflation hit them six-time full Even yesterday or on the weekend.

Speaker 1: 21:50

A couple days ago I brought Ro to where were we going? Oh, to Michaels, because I needed to get a last-minute thing for Halloween costumes. First of all, I don't get last-minute things for Halloween the weekend before Halloween, because everything is Christmas, it is not Halloween. And there was this big of a section if you're not watching the video, literally there was probably two racks, not even an aisle, less than an aisle of Halloween, and the rest was all Christmas. And so I had casually just saw the Christmas trees and looked at the prices and was like, oh, even the skinny skinny, I'm gonna say four-foot tall, not even up to my head. So the skinny, four-foot, almost five-foot tall tree is $150 on sale. That is wild and I don't want that tree, I want a big one, beautiful, maybe seven-foot, just gorgeous. It's sad. And then you can't spend more than or you can't spend less than $300 on a tree like that. And so I was like, let's just do a real tree Now, cuties.

Speaker 1: 22:56

That being said, I have not bought a real tree in a long time. The last time me and Trevor bought a real tree was when, before we got married for my mom's house, and so that was a long time ago. That would have been six, seven years ago and we bought a pretty small one and I feel like it was like $100 or less. And that's what I'm thinking. Hopefully it's like $100 or less, but we'll find out when we get to the tree farm. Also, I'm not living in the city anymore, so maybe they'll be cheaper, but we'll find out.

Speaker 1: 23:28

Anyways, we're doing a real tree. I mean, it's going to be a more expensive first year because we have to get the stand and we've got to get the right stand. I'm going to do some research on the stand, actually, because that makes a big difference. I also have to figure out where the tree is going to go, because the place where we normally put the tree, we recently were given a furniture piece which I'm absolutely obsessed with. It's this desk. It's so great.

Speaker 1: 23:50

Oh, I just have to tell you about our living room. We're going to get into this week, I learned, which is all about slowing down and just appreciating your space. I'm so excited, but anyways, there's something there. I guess I get a bit of tree in front of it, but I just love it. I'm excited to figure out where the tree is going to go, but anyways, I'm so excited. That being said, today I did go to home sets because I've been wanting a mirror for our room. I'm kind of building our house all set up and cozy for the winter time. I feel like that's something we just didn't do.

Speaker 1: 24:22

We first moved in and we bought all our Okay, wait, why am I telling you this all now? I'm supposed to be telling you this in this week that we learned. But let me just tell you this part we bought our house and then we had to buy so much stuff for it because we came from a little condo and then everything was so back-ordered. We waited many months I think three, four, five months to get furniture for our house. We ordered it pretty much when we moved in, at least by September, and then we didn't get it till February. Then, by the time we got it, first of all it's a long time, we had a lot of money to buy furniture and carpets and stuff like that. Then, second of all, by the time we got it, I was just so exhausted from the whole process. I could not think to warm up the place or make it more homely. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1: 25:13

Add in the finishing touches Also, ro was at that age where she was just pulling everything off of everything. She was just learning to walk. She was wanted to be into everything. I remember that and I remember just being so irked all the time about having to. I don't know. I felt like that was the hardest stage for me. I've loved every stage in age, but that stage was really where I had to be on 24-7. She needed my attention 24-7. It was like I need freedom a little bit. Anyways, it does get better. But she was also so cute and learning so many new things and I loved it. I could have cared less adding finishing touches or warming up moments or that stuff. Accent furniture I just needed essentials like chairs, couches, rugs, because our house was so echo-y. That was the first thing I ordered. I was like rugs After the first night, everything. We also live in a really old house so it's loud, but the echo it was just so loud I was like we need rugs. The rugs came quick, the furniture not so much.

Speaker 1: 26:22

Anyways, before we get into slowing down season, let's get into this week's snack and drink of the week. Cute, this is not my drink of the week, this is just water. Also, I got these new cups and I'm obsessed with them. My family friend moved recently and she was getting rid of a bunch of her stuff and I got these cups in blue and green and I love them. My actual drink of the week is a Tim Hortons Half French Vanilla, half Coffee. That's what I always order from Tim Hortons.

Speaker 1: 26:56

If I'm going to get a hot drink pretty much guaranteed because it's the only place that does French Vanilla and it's so good it's the perfect amount. I think if you get a full French Vanilla, it's so sweet, but if you're that kind of a cutie, you're that kind of cutie it's kind of like getting a hot chocolate but French Vanilla flavor, I guess. Anyways, the Half French Vanilla and Half Coffee is just the perfect little. Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, I actually think I might pick one up on the way after this, because we're going to be driving in the car for a while. Then I have to have something to keep me cozy, cozy, comfy, lively. Yeah, I think that's a good thing. I think I'm going to get one after this. Don't worry, cutes, the drink of the week will be drank in today. That's my favorite thing to get from Tim Hortons.

Speaker 1: 27:40

If you don't have a Tim Hortons where you are, if you have a half place or you can get half French Vanilla, half coffee. It's really delicious. I was just thinking, oh, a half hot chocolate. Since I made that comparison. A half coffee would be so good, but that's a mocha doing. Anyways, my snack of the week are the most incredible cookies ever.

Speaker 1: 27:59

I shared on Friday night that I made them. I was going to film it. On Friday night I was like, oh my gosh, I had the best idea, or it wasn't Friday, I think it was a Saturday night. I was like I know it was Friday, I'm right. I was like I had all day. I was volunteering and helping serve tea and coffee and sandwiches and stuff for church that day, and so I was like doing that and then all of a sudden, I just had this craving. I was like, oh my gosh, I just had the best idea for cookies and I think I want to make them just for two. Like I just want to make them just like a little recipe. I actually make them in three cookies. If I have to share a Trevor, obviously Rose going to get a cookie, just getting Travis too. But I was like I am just riffing in my brain these cookies.

Speaker 1: 28:50

And then I came home and I actually was so exhausted I was like I'm not going to make the cookies. And then it was like almost bedtime and I was like I really want these cookies. Like almost rose bedtime. I was like I really want these cookies. And so I was like I'm going to make these cookies now so that they can cool down, because the best thing about or the like mandatory thing that you have to do have the best cookie is let them cool on the tray. Okay, that's how you avoid over cooking a cookie. When a cookie comes out, it should look like maybe it's not done because it keeps cooking on the tray, but anyways. So I was like, oh, this is perfect, because then I can let it sit on the tray while I put a row to bed, and then when she goes to sleep, I will have these cookies. So I was like I'm going to film it because I just think they're going to be the best. Like I really think that the recipe is just going to be like 10 out of 10. Like nothing needs to be changed.

Speaker 1: 29:32

And so I went to start filming and I literally filmed my first clip and then Ro was like mom, are you making cookies? Or in, trevor, we're about to start the getting ready to bed process. Before I went up to read stories and I was like I am, she was like I want to make cookies and I was like okay. So then I put my phone away because I was like whatever, me and Ro are just going to make these cookies and if they're really good, I'm going to share the recipe. And I shared a picture that night being like cuties, I just made the best thing ever because I got to tell you the truth, ro did not go to bed till later because we all had to have the cookies, and so I took a bite and I was like this is exactly what I wanted.

Speaker 1: 30:12

Oh, me and Trevor were obsessed. Ro was not, because I put coconut in it and she did not like the texture. So it is what you is, it is what you is, it is what it is. But I and Trevor were literally obsessed and this girl's got to get used to coconut because I love coconut, you know, some people are so against it and she likes the flavor of coconut, but not the texture of the coconut, but, like, she likes other things that are similar. So I think, if she has it like enough. You know, I always believe exposure, exposure, exposure. So I'm not removing the coconut from the cookies she can decide if she wants those cookies or not. Okay, but it is so friggin good and I am going to share a recipe.

Speaker 1: 30:49

All week I was like I need to make these cookies. It's only Tuesday right now for me, wednesday for you, but I was going to make them tonight and then I remembered oh yeah, we're going to Trevor's parents. So I think tomorrow is the day I'm going to make these cookies, now, especially since I've hyped them up on here and I will share the video tomorrow. Like I'm going to make them and edit it right away. Well, well, they're cooling down. That's what I'm going to do, oh, but then I'll have to have the taste bite, taste, bite, bite, taste Taste test or whatever. But that's okay, I can edit most of it and then I can add in that clip at the end. So that's a good idea. Thank you, that's how we keep me accountable, because these cookies need to be out into the universe there, so friggin good, I can't wait to share them. Anyways, that's my second drink of the week.

Speaker 1: 31:25

Okay, let's get into this week. Ah, learn. This week I learned cuties, we are slowing down and loving it. Okay, when we came home from Italy, our schedules were all different, whack-a-mole, like. I feel like Trevor like adjusted so quickly because he really had to like. Also, he was without row for a couple of days because he had that wedding that he had to be in, so he was like sleeping over with them and whatever. I was with row and she was waking up at like 3am every morning like bright. I'm bushy tailed and, honestly, like I was able to do it too because I was still on the same schedule, like I could have slept later than 3am, but once I was awake, I was awake. I really couldn't get back to sleep, and so it was a long time, it was probably a week, like I'd say, just this past week row has been sleeping until 5.36ish, which is like more of our like normal time, and I'm trying to like keep her in bed longer. And at the end of last week I kind of didn't even give you a weekly recap because I got so excited talking about getting to my festive season, but anyways, at the end of last week she honestly not much happened last week.

Speaker 1: 32:44

At the end of last week she got sick and she had a fever on the Thursday or the Wednesday night going into Thursday, just really didn't feel well and so she was up in the middle of the night. That's when you know she's really sick. But also I took that to my advantage. Like, honestly, she's not in a good way. I didn't know, I'm not like, yeah, you're sick, promise. But I mean I took the morning to my advantage because she was really wanting to just chill out in bed and she was in good spirits, like she was herself. But she just wanted to chill out in bed and I was like, cute, we are chilling out in bed.

Speaker 1: 33:17

And so we did like all morning I had no idea what time it was because she had come into my bed at whatever Trevor had comforted her in the middle of the night and then, I think, they ended up sleeping together and then she came in to my bed at whatever time, I don't even know, and I said, oh, we have to sleep a little bit longer. And then she woke up again and I didn't know at this point that she had had a fever, although when she first came in I was like, oh, she's a little warm, like I might check her temperature in the morning, but she wasn't giving me any like signs or need to like do it then and give her medicine or anything. And then she woke up, like maybe at like I don't know. Honestly, I have no idea what time it is anyways, because the morning's just keep getting darker and now there's going to be a time change this weekend. I'm going to get even more confused, but either way, it was at some point she had woken up and she was like I want to watch a show and I didn't have the iPad in our room and we don't have a TV in our room anymore.

Speaker 1: 34:11

But I had my phone, but I had got a new phone and so I literally have no apps on my phone like TV apps, like I don't have Netflix, I don't have Disney, I don't have anything like that, I just have YouTube. So I was like I'm a little like YouTube isn't my favorite for kids, like I feel like it's too easy. First of all, can we talk about YouTube shorts for children? I just feel like that seems a little excessive. Like I get it from a business standpoint of the children show channels. Like I get that's how you grow, but like I don't want my little kid watching YouTube shorts. I don't know. Like I looked over and I was and I guess because on the iPad she can't access shorts or it's different, but on the phone I was like what are you watching? She's like scrolling through. I'm like, oh my gosh, queen B, we're not watching YouTube shorts.

Speaker 1: 34:59

And like I am not a no screen time mom in the least, I kind of live my life by like everybody has access to, of course, everything in like moderation in the sense is it appropriate for you? Am I also filling your life with other things and socialization and enjoying cooking and all of the other things and outdoor time and school and whatever? Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, of course, but what's wrong with me she? Oh cool, you get to decide for your body what feels good for you. That's how I approach food, that's how I approach clothes. That's how I approach a technology, to an extent because, as I said, youtube is not my favorite for kids, because I just really don't like how easy it is for them to Like tap around and go to the most random things. Also, I don't have the YouTube kids app. I don't even think we have the YouTube kids app on anything, because I just don't even really go that way at this point.

Speaker 1: 35:51

I have to put something on for row. She's kind of learning how to put things on herself. But we don't have TV where you can just turn on the button and TV comes on. It's like a smart TV. You have to use an app. She's got that much. She's got that far. The best was when we were in Italy and they just had TV TV like cable TV and she could go out into the living room and it literally was just on the kids channel. She was just turning on kids channel to come on. Oh, that was the best. Our mornings were amazing. It's like she could entertain herself. Go get a snack from the fridge. Yeah, we don't have that, that luxury here.

Speaker 1: 36:22

So, anyways, I put on I was like, okay, let's watch miss Rachel, mitch, rachel's. I know she's like kind of too old for miss Rachel, since it's like babies learning how to talk, but miss Rachel is the safest. She's a good old ECE. I love I vibe with the ECE's and I just know it's gonna be good stuff, right. Like I also forget about Blippi sometimes, like I don't know. Blippi's fine, like he's whatever he just taught. He takes you to museums and water parks. But anyways, it's like okay, I just put on miss Rachel and Then I don't. For some reason I have this feeling like I don't know if it's good for you or bad for like. Okay, obviously I don't know about good or bad, but like I'm not sure they have all these channels of like People playing with things, like we call them toy videos, where it's like they're playing With toys which like awesome imagination, imagine it would play all that stuff. But there's something that connects.

Speaker 1: 37:15

Ro has a different personality when she watches those videos. Like after if I take that video away from her, it's like she, it's an issue. And then I notice a change in her Demeanor after she watches a video like that. So we don't do toy videos like that's so. Anyways, she had miss Rachel on. Then she was watching shorts and I was like okay, queen B, we're not watching shorts.

Speaker 1: 37:35

Then she realized she could like pick up the menu and like find things. And then she was putting on toy videos and I Talked conversation with her and she gets it. Now it's been a few days and the thing is like she's very when I have those open Conversations with her, she's very responsible and respectful of those rules. We also have a back and forth and like I appreciate that. That's why I'm very much like it's like I'm open to a lot of things like I I don't, I don't time limit. A lot of things like okay, everyone can do whatever they want. I'm just talking about what I want to do. I know this can be like a controversial topic, but anyways, I'm just.

Speaker 1: 38:11

I just put on my phone for her and then she was watching miss Rachel and I had my book, my e-reader, which does not have the right time on it. It is not like I don't know how to sync that up to the right time, but it is not the right time, and so like I had no way of knowing what time it was and At one point I was like I'm just gonna open the curtain and I was like, okay, it's almost getting a little light out. But row, I was like I don't. I checked her temperature. I was like, oh yeah, she has a high temperature. Like we're just gonna chill today, like she's staying home from school. I guess I'm just like going into pure we're chilling bedtime mode and we're also just gonna get over this jet like we're gonna stay in bed as long as possible. And so at one point I had opened the curtain and I was like, oh yeah, it's getting a little light.

Speaker 1: 38:55

It was the perfect morning. It was like a little rainy and we were so cozy in bed. The Sun was just coming up. It was so lovely, it was so quiet on our streets. So I was like I really don't know what time it is. And then I was like where's Trevor? Like Trevor's a morning person. Sometimes he goes to the gym like first thing in the morning. So I was like maybe he'd gone to the gym, um. And so I called up, or I was like Trevor, and like didn't get a response. But I was like I feel like he would have been at the gym for a long time, like I feel like I've been reading for a long time.

Speaker 1: 39:23

Anyways, um, I finally, um, grabbed my phone and saw what time it was and I was like oh my gosh, it's 8 30 and so I texted him. I was like hey, and then I, like Was, went into the. I didn't know where he was sleeping because I figured he had gone in with row, so I wasn't sure. So I went into the guest room. I was like he's not here. Then I went into Rosa, and which was pitch black, and I just put my head in. Then, all of a sudden, I just heard, like I got your text, like I'm waking up.

Speaker 1: 39:47

Anyways, the long point of the story is that me and row had a really chill Friday and or thursday and friday. Um, well, friday had to go out for part of the day to volunteer, so trevor took over dad duties, but, um, we had a really chill morning. And then we had a really chill friday morning until I had to leave, and then a really chill saturday morning at a really chill sunday morning. And then this monday I was like we have to stop having and by really chill I mean like just being in bed for hours and hours and hours, which, like, is so nice. I absolutely love that.

Speaker 1: 40:18

But also I was getting I was like Gonna get so stressed out if we pushed it any further, especially now this dark, just because, like then we have to get out the door and run like I swear at this point like it gets light at like 7 30 and then it's like we only have an hour until we have to like get out the door and like that means getting everyone fed, getting your shower, getting your own dress Give me, and then I don't have a good morning like I have to. I've learned that I need to Shower if I'm gonna shower in the morning. Sometimes I shower at night, but I need to shower and like Get dressed and get ready for the day Before I leave to drop off row for me to have the most productive start to my day. Anyways, I'm glad that we had that time. But I am now Trying to cultivate that same feeling in the rest of our house, because it's just like so warm and cozy in the morning. I absolutely love it. And I love the slowing down in the evening too, um, where it's just like you only have, like I, when you come home. As the winter goes on, it's like you'll come home, um, at whatever time, like, let's say, you get home from for it, from picking up a row and everything, and then it's like you only have like half an hour, sometimes 45 minutes, to enjoy the light of the day, and then then you really just need to go inside and like get dinner going, put the fire on, put the lights on, like just really live in your cozy space. So I'm so ready for it, like, after those four days of us just like enjoying the, the warmth and coziness of our room, um, I am so ready for that feeling in the rest of our house, so I did go to home since today to get a few more lamps, two lamps, because, um, our, like our main, well, our kitchen side.

Speaker 1: 42:02

So our main floor is like made up of our kitchen in our living room, which is like a living dining room. Our kitchen side has pot lights in it. Um, our living room side has no Wiring in the ceiling, so everything is lamp base, which is great. I love lamps, but we only had two lamps in there that were on one wall Across from the couch. That room can get so dark and then we never use our dining room table. Um, I specifically had dinner time but like, especially in the winter, ever because we don't have a light on that side of our Room.

Speaker 1: 42:32

So I got one big floor lamp. I had been deciding for so long what was I going to put there, and then I was like I'll just get one big floor lamp, because then there's light coming from there that's more high, and then light coming from the like side table by the couch, the floor or whatever. So I got a lamp for that corner. And then on the other corner of our living room, um, we have that new desk furniture piece I was talking about, which I got a lamp for on top of that, and it is just so. Oh see, I'm like obsessed.

Speaker 1: 43:01

I also got, um, uh, so for me I can't really do like, uh, I already told you this, basically, but by like the I, I really can't do a lot of stuff. So, like I cannot be the person who's like I have my Halloween pillows or even my fall pillows, my summer pillows, my winter pillows, my Spring pillows, like I can't have four sets, but I can't have two. So I did get one more. I got one cushion, that's like our winter cushion for the couch, and I got our winter blanket for um, we have like an ottoman in the middle of our living room and so I have like my summer spring and then my fall winter blanket now, which is great, so it's just like brings in those colors. And then I did pull out the bag from the basement for our mantle pieces which I honestly we just have a snow globe.

Speaker 1: 43:46

We have, um, two little Christmas trees. When I got from home, since the snow Globe I got the first year we moved in and the other tree I got the second year from home, sense. And then last year at the dollar store I got this cute little green tree which I like totally forgot about and I pulled out, say I was like, oh yeah, I forgot about that. So I just put those out and that is the start of my holiday decorating and honestly I am so obsessed with this room. Also, it's so exciting because our the new lamp on the dining room side is connected to an outlet which has a switch, and so the switch we never used because it's never had a light in it, but now we have a light on a switch, which is just a game changer because when we come downstairs or come in at the end of the day, um, to, like our house, we can just turn that on quickly and it just be like enough light, um, to get you situated in whatever you need or to get all the other lights on whatever you want.

Speaker 1: 44:38

But before it's like trying to find where the lights are and then you like I hate turning on the lamps. You know lamps like where you like, twist the thing, but, like all of our lamps are on lower tables, so you're like hunched over top of them and you're like trying to find the twisty. And then you turn it on and you're like, well, because you're like staring straight into the light bulb. Anyways, it's, it's the little things and this is what I mean. It's the little things. These are the things that I am so excited about really just being in our space. I'm so grateful that we went on this trip at the end of, like, the busy season and now and really got our energy out and our adventure out, and now I am really truly so grateful to just be in our home and embrace the small things. I feel like I'm being so what do you call it materialistic this week? Because I'm gonna tell you something else that we got which, like, was a gift from my mom I'm so grateful for.

Speaker 1: 45:36

But I've been row, row and grew out of her stroller. Well, I didn't grow out of her stroller, but we came home from our trip and she was like, oh, let's go on a walk, I want to go on the stroller. And I put her in the stroller and I was like that just looks silly. Like you look like you're too big to be in there. So I was like I think we need to get a wagon. We probably could have gone a wagon a while ago. But, like in my mind, I was like I have a perfectly good stroller, I don't need to buy a wagon.

Speaker 1: 46:01

But my mom had a wagon at her house that, like my uncle, had picked up from some side of the road at some point, like you know, like fish price wagon which row has loved using we love roadside purchases, aka free but row loved using that at my mom's house. But my mom's backyard is like on a big hill and so she would like take to the top of the hill and like run it down, and so it was already well loved before it went to the curb, I'm sure, and then row extra well loved on it. But my mom had said like, oh, before, if you need like an interim before you figure out what wagon you want. Because I was like I haven't even looked at what kids wagons are anymore like and I'm a tall person, so like pulling a wagon sometimes can be so annoying, like the the handles way too short. So I was like I'll have to go with a longer handle, like I don't know whatever, because I don't want to be like not wanting to use it. And so she was like, oh, yeah, you can have that.

Speaker 1: 46:52

So we were gonna go to the library and farmers market on Saturday morning, as we usually do, and I was like, oh, let me go pick up that wagon for my mom because we can use that, and then we can kind of decide like, after we pulled that one around, we can decide like what do we look? What are we looking for, in a way. So I was like, hey, mom, I'm gonna go pick up, I'm gonna come pick up that wagon. She's like awesome. So I went to go pick it up and she was like I think it's the worst shape that we thought it was. So she like had pulled it out and she was like I think it's just really dirty, like you may really want to use it once or twice or whatever. And I was like, oh yeah, no worries.

Speaker 1: 47:25

And then I went to pull. She had like pushed it out because it has like a hard roof on it that you can remove anyways. Then I went to pull the handle and I guess one of the many times it bounced up and down the hill, the screw must have come out, and so the handle just like whoop was not attached to the wagon. I was like, oh, bummer, like no worries. She was like, well, why don't we just go get a wagon? Like let's just do it? And I was like, okay, so we went to Walmart and there was one wagon. This was the only option. Well, there was two. There was like the plastic one, which I already knew I kind of didn't want, because it's hard, you can't like put that in a car and transport at places.

Speaker 1: 47:58

I wanted something that you could fold up. You know the plastic one I'm talking about, like the classic wagon with the two chairs in it and the door, like every kid had it. I had it, like we know what we're talking about. Well, maybe you don't, but anyways, but there was. And then there was one left of this, like almost like a stroller wagon, I guess, because it has two harnesses in it so you can put two kids in it if you want, like harness belted in. And then it had like a canopy that like folded up and down like a stroller and then the thing itself collapsed like a stroller would collapse. But then the most amazing part is it has a wagon pole or it has like a bar, like a stroller, which is amazing because it's just so much more comfortable to push, especially as a tall person. It's just nice like you push like a grocery cart, like a stroller, like oh, so anyways. And then it came with a little like pouch thing that holds two cup holders and a little like space for whatever you want, and I am obsessed with it.

Speaker 1: 48:58

Row is obsessed with it, trevor is obsessed with it. Thank you so much, mom. Best grandma, we love you. Well, not best grandma, she has two grandmas. We love both grandmas. Thank you so much because, like literally every morning, row every morning and every night, like she's just obsessed. She's like can we go for a wagon ride? She loves that. She can put all her blankets in it, all her stuffies in it. Alibi is obsessed with it. Our dog. She loves that. She can go in it. We have a tiny little dog, especially this time of year, like she's just so cold and little and I'm loving it because I'm getting out more, getting more fresh air, going for more walks, and it's so nice and I'm just so excited about it, like literally I'm obsessed.

Speaker 1: 49:34

So, yeah, we got a wagon and I'm just gonna suggest, if you have children at the age where you'd want to wagon, like, oh, it's worth it to get one of those. Although I was nosy and saw a mom at when I was dropping off row today pushing a wagon that like was kind of similar, like she was pushing it like a stroller, but it was bigger like this isn't? It's not very big, like you could fit two kids in it, but they'd be close together. Well, it depends the size of the children. Like two rosies they'd be like that. That's probably the max you could put in. But rows, like a tall kid, like you'd think she's four or five or whatever, like she's tall, and so, yeah, it's perfect for what we need it for. But you can get bigger ones and I'm sure you can get all different kinds and I think you can get ones that hold like five kids, like there's so many different kinds.

Speaker 1: 50:21

But anyways, I was nosy because I didn't do any research before we bought this. We were just kind of like gone on a whim and bought it and I love it, like I'm obsessed, and it was a couple hundred dollars, like it was no more than three hundred dollars, it was two something. And then from Walmart and then we went to so I went to drop off row and I was like, oh, I'm just gonna look up that brand quickly. It was a thousand dollars. I was like, oh my gosh, that's literally like buying another high-end stroller. I just I was like, if you're gonna have lots of kids and you want it to really last, I don't even know, like I don't know how good ours is gonna last in comparison to that one, but I think this one I was kind of looking up at it had like a thousand accessories and like you could I think you could attach a car seat to it, which I could see how that's useful if you have that age difference. So it was kind of like an extension of a stroller wagon, literally. Anyways, I was just like I forgot how expensive baby stuff like that can be.

Speaker 1: 51:17

So, anyways, I'm very happy with mine and I'm glad I didn't do any research, because I would have got stressed out being like, oh my gosh, is this one better or this one better or which one is more suited for my needs? But yeah, it's just we're pretty excited. So we're we're wagon family and we're hyped about it, and I love the push bar, literally I love it so, so, so, so much, and it honestly is a better cup holder than the one that we got for our stroller and it's just so amazing, like I love it. And there's little cup holders for the kids too. There's one on each side, if you had two kids, but like if Ro and her friends go in it, but Ro loves it, she like keeps her little drink it, she just loves it. Oh, I just love it. So that's part of the slow living. Like it's literally our routine right now.

Speaker 1: 52:01

Is we wake up? I'm in my reading era. I already told you this and I'm on my second book already. Cute, I think I told you last week I'm in my reading era and I'm on my second book already. Like I've really entered my reading era and I'm absolutely loving it, because if I wake up in the middle of the night I can just read a chapter and simply go back to sleep. I'm not like going on my phone, getting distracted, waking up, getting all that, like it's amazing, just before I go to sleep I can read some. And then I put I still put on my podcast to go to sleep because I like it, I love it. It's the one I swear. I just haven't had time to listen to podcasts. I haven't been driving long distances either, so I just love listening to my podcast.

Speaker 1: 52:37

And then in the morning Ro comes into bed, I can read my book, travel, go to the gym, ro watch an episode of Miss Rachel, and it's just so lovely. And then it's like, once I've read whatever, by by 7 am, or, yeah, 7 am, I'm like we have to get out of bed and get started. So, depending on what time she comes in, but yeah, we'll just have that little cozy moment and then, typically, this is she's, this is the key. Always I'm hungry. And then I'm like, okay, let's go downstairs and mom, I'll get breakfast going where before I was like, okay, I'll bring some snack up and we'd stay in bed for way too long. So then we'll go downstairs, turn on the lamp. I'm so excited with the new lights, can't wait for tomorrow morning anyways. So get cozy in the living room. We're eating more at our dining room table, which just feels so lovely. And I, oh it just feels so good, like yesterday morning I made oatmeal, having it bubbling away on the stove and just like embracing the space that I was in. Oh, it just felt so good. And then we'll have breakfast and then I'll be able to run upstairs and get dressed.

Speaker 1: 53:48

Trevor usually comes home from the gym then and he can get Rose backpack and everything ready. Ro really likes making. She's making full snack packs at the moment. Like, usually I would just send her because they have catering at school so they get snacks and groceries or groceries lunch, like full meals. So usually I just send her with like a snack, maybe two snacks, like you know, like an applesauce and like a granola bar, like that type of thing. Gummy bunnies, those are her favorite. But she wants to make a snack pack every day. She's been doing that for a while and it's fun. We write little notes and put stickers in. It's very cute. So anyways, she'll work with dad to make her snack pack, load up her backpack, water bottle, all that stuff. I'll take a shower, get dressed, then I can get her dressed and then we go on a walk around the block in her wagon with all of her stuffies and alibi comes and usually like when and it. I guess that's kind of also making me feel like nostalgic to when she was like a baby, baby and we used to do like three, four laps every morning just because we had so much time to kill. She would wake up so early and also we had to keep her awake until the next wake window and stuff. But she like rarely wants to do two laps, she'll usually just want to do one, which is about a kilometer, and now she's been at least wanting to do two, which is just so fun.

Speaker 1: 54:57

I love it and I love being able to have a reason to be out in the fresh air, especially this morning. It was brisk, it was like zero out, there was frost on all the cars. It was so lovely. I love like a brisk morning and I had my coffee and she was all cozy with her hat and her mittens and her gloves and her blankets and I had my vest on and my cozy wozies and it was just so lovely. I was all dressed for the day. Her backpack was already packed, so when we got back to the house it was just bathroom break and hit the car and get going for the day and it's just so nice and like the walk pretty much is like watching the sun come up and I love it. Oh, it makes me feel so lovely.

Speaker 1: 55:35

So I'm just fully embracing slow-living life right now and making making making two batch cookies every night is one of the parts of that. Like it's just so warm and lovely to have a warm cookie as like your end of the night delight, like it just feels so good and I love making it fresh. I know you're thinking like, if you're gonna eat them every day, why don't you just make like a normal batch on Sunday? But it's like, no, the point is to make them every night because then you get a fresh cookie and, honestly, it's so much easier than making normal cookies because you make it in one four-cup measure. Like that's how I do it and it's just so easy and I have a couple flavors and I'm gonna start experimenting with more. I'm so excited. So I'm excited to share that recipe. So make sure you follow me on Instagram or TikTok because I'm gonna share that recipe tomorrow.

Speaker 1: 56:24

Yeah, so I'd love to know how you're experiencing your slow-life living. Are you ready for it? Are you not ready for it? It's kind of a what is it called? A? Juxtaposition, because it's like real slow living is like January and onwards until the spring, when it's just like kind of a little gloomy, doomy. But I'm gonna try and embrace the goodness, because right now it's like our weekends are gonna start getting busy with events and all the holiday stuff. But then it's like really embracing that slow living on the weekdays and like where we can get it. Oh, I love it. So that's where I'm at, that's where I'm at cute. Okay, let's get into our roses, buds and thorns. Okay, my Rose of the Week. I feel like I just spoke a whole Rose, but let me think of a specific one.

Speaker 1: 57:18

Oh, I wrote was going so back and forth about her Halloween costume for like the last month, every single day it's been something different and I'm like, okay, queen, like I need a few days, so just make sure you can lock it in by next. What? Last week's Wednesday? And then you can't change your mind. So she chose to be Bowser and I was like that is like the not the hardest one to DIY, but, like, for a while they were Pikachu. I was like Pikachu, that's easy. Bowser, okay.

Speaker 1: 57:43

So me and her went shopping to all the different thrift stores around us and got all the bits and bobs. Her Bowser hit up the dollar store and we put together, I thought, such a fun costume. It was so truly like DIY. Your mom made you a costume but actually me and her made it together and I love that. Like that is what my childhood was like. So I love that that's something that I can do for her and that we can enjoy together. And I mean, I feel like when you do things like that, it honestly ends up being the same price, maybe even more sometimes than if you just, like, went and bought it. But like it's the experience. It makes me feel better than just like I don't know. Like there's been years where I've just been like, okay, I just got to buy a costume and like that's great. But like on the times where it's like I have the ability to do it, I love it. It does make me feel good as part of that slow living. So, yeah, it was really nice.

Speaker 1: 58:37

And then my or no, my thorn, my thorn of the week. Oh, yesterday I was feeling so I could. I thought I was getting sick, and so by the end of the day I was like I just want to warm bath and then I had to do all. I had such a headache in the morning. I had all this stuff I had to do with the government and taxes and blah, blah, blah, blah, and like I put it off to the last minute and I know better next time. But every time is a first learning part, but anyways, it was like a headache of a morning and I really had just wanted to do laundry yesterday and get all caught up on that, because since we've come home I've just been like not caught up, and so I was like I just really want to spend today doing laundry, and then that kind of got pushed aside and so, anyways, then by the afternoon I was like, oh, I think I'm just so hungry and like overwhelmed and like whatever, and so I like took a rest and then after I woke up for my nap I think it was only like 10 minute nap or 15 minute nap I was like, oh, I think I'm getting sick, like you know that, like feeling, and I was like, make sense, I've been hanging out with Rose. She was sick last week and my turn blah, blah, blah.

Speaker 1: 59:43

But then today, and then all I had wanted was a bath. But then I had to go. I had to go to the, I had an appointment, I had to drop off Alibi and then had to go to the bank. I had all these things I had to do. So then, finally, when I got home from with a row at like 5 30, I made dinner, we got everything organized and then I was like I just want a bath, and where I was like me too. So me and her took a nice bubbly bath and that felt good. And then I felt warmed up. And then I was like, okay, I'm just gonna go to bed tonight and we'll see how I feel tomorrow. And then today I felt great, like so good. So I think maybe my period's just coming, it makes sense, like I feel like this is, I feel like I'm at that point of my cycle, but like I swore I was getting sick and I was like, oh, kind of bummer, but like also, it happens. But then today I was like I feel fabulous. So I think, yeah, I think it's probably my period. But what you do what you do, anyways, my.

Speaker 1: 1:00:34

But what am I looking forward to? Hmm, oh, my bestie is getting married next year and we're doing the wedding dress shopping and I think we're doing bridesmaid dress shopping too. We're just having a big shopping day. Also, it's my other best friend's birthday on Friday. I think he's my last friend of the 30s who are gonna turn 30 30 like I think he's got the latest birthday, I think, anyways. So we have a fun weekend ahead birthday parties, shopping for wedding dresses so I'm really looking forward to it. And those are all friends that still live in Toronto and I miss all the time, but I do see I'm. I'm grateful for it, but so I'm gonna have a big old back in the hometown Weekend, which I'm so excited about. It's gonna be so fun. So, yeah, that's what I'm really looking forward to. Okay, thank you. Let's get into our entertainment recap. Entertainment recap.

Speaker 1: 1:01:26

Okay, as I said, I was in my book era, and so my first one I started off with was the Britney Spears what is it called novel, but what is it called autobiography, I'm not sure about. Anyways, it was such a good read. I really enjoyed it. It was a really quick read, like I don't think I'm that quick of a reader. Sometimes I can be really slow if I'm not interested or just can't get into the swing of things but it was a really quick read and I really thoroughly enjoyed it, like really thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt like I learned a lot either, was it was sad. It made me feel a lot of Things for her and then for other people who work in the entertainment industry and, yeah, I'm just happy that that's what I first started off with and then my mom's been talking about.

Speaker 1: 1:02:14

She's like grace, I got Apple TV. Like blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You'll have to show me how to like cancel my subscription when I'm done, because I only want to watch one show. And I was like Okay, like what show are you watching? And she was like lessons in chemistry. And I was like okay, whatever. Like I had no idea what she was talking about. I was like awesome, but like she had this whole conversation about it. So I had that in my mind that there was a show on Apple TV called lessons of chemistry. I didn't even think like, oh, I'll like it or anything. She wasn't like oh, grace, you're gonna love it. She didn't suggest it, so I was like whatever.

Speaker 1: 1:02:44

Then I was on Instagram and Someone shared a story, being like, oh, I'm watching lessons in chemistry, like I think it's even better than the book. And then I was like, oh, the book, okay, maybe this is a book I want to read, because this person who shared the show I was like, oh, I love her, I like we're, we like similar shows. So like maybe I'd like it. And I was like, well, I'm in my reading era, so maybe I should read the book first. And then so I was like Kate Trevor, I think I want to read this book.

Speaker 1: 1:03:10

And then so, anyways, I got the book and I then saw the, the cover page of it, and I was like, oh, I've seen this before. And then my bestie Navina, who like reads so many things, she had read it and gave it an amazing review, which is them why my mom had read it, because my mom also was like the queen of reading. And then my mom I remember tell. And then I was like, remembering all this stuff, I was like, oh, yeah, I remember my mom said like, oh, I read this book that Navina were recommended and it was so, so good, and so that's why she got Apple TV was to watch the show.

Speaker 1: 1:03:38

And so I'm like so excited now because I've started lessons in chemistry. It is so good right from the start. It really pulls you in. I have no idea what's gonna happen. But then I was listening to a podcast last night and they started talking about the show and I was like, oh no, I got a skip because I don't want any spoilers. And then they said, before I had the chance to skip I don't think they gave any spoilers, but before I had the chance to skip, they had said something about like, for the people who haven't read the book and are watching the show, they're gonna be really shocked. Like how, if you were reading the book for the first time, not watching the show, you were really shocked. And I and it was about a specific character and I was like when does the shock happen? And then I was like, oh my gosh. And now I'm just like what's gonna happen? So I'm like even more invested.

Speaker 1: 1:04:19

So, anyways, I'm gonna read lessons in chemistry and then I'm gonna listen to the Red Hez, which is a book book podcast that did a podcast episode on lessons in chemistry. I want the full experience because apparently this is just like 10 out of 10 the best. So I'm gonna read the book which I'm reading right now, and then I'm gonna listen to the podcast, which is like a panel of people who it's like a book club, so they come together and they talk all their opinions about this book, and then I'm gonna watch the show, because the show right now is weekly uploads. So I mean I don't think it'll be done by the time I'm done that I don't think it's gonna take like so long for me to finish that part, but I'll have a few to catch up on and then I can go to the weekly watches or we'll see her if I'll wait until it's all uploaded. But yeah, so I'm so excited. So that's just some an exciting thing I'm doing right now. So if you are looking for something to read, listen to and watch, I have a fun little schedule set up there. So feel free to participate along with me if you want.

Speaker 1: 1:05:20

And then I am watching, actually the Charlie Demilion, not Charlie Demilion, the demilios. I don't know why it came up on my. I watch the first season of it. I didn't even realize there were more seasons, but it came up on my TikTok clip, I guess from the newest season of one of the demilios being like, oh, I'm like tired of working, like I just want to marry someone who this person's very sarcastic, I've learned but also and then everyone was ripping her apart like you're an influencer. Why are they always saying it's so hard at working? But like also they were influencers. I actually don't know like I don't follow them or anything, but like they they also have like moved far past that they do so much more. They're like a whole corporation, they have a reality TV show, they have businesses. Like they're more than just an influencer, so like I could see where she's coming from. Obviously, if your schedule is packed back to back to back after I've just read the Britney Spears Thing not the thing that they're the same person, but like I understand a little more about the scheduling and everything. But whatever, people just want to be cruel online and really really hone in on something. Who cares if? Who cares, who's listening?

Speaker 1: 1:06:33

Anyways, I was like I had nothing to watch and I was like, oh, maybe I'll see what season two is like and I've really been enjoying it. Like honestly, I am not into this this season of the Kardashians. Like I cannot get into it. I I stopped halfway through one of the episodes, I think the second episode, and was like, and then I finished it, drudged, drudgingly, grudgingly anyways. And now I did the same thing with the third episode, I think. I got halfway through and then I was like, oh yeah, I only watched half and I went back and I was like, oh yeah, because I didn't find it interesting. So I switched over and I'm watching the D'Amelio's. I'm on season three now, which is the last season they have out, but I'm enjoying it. I think it's fun. Like I, I'm finding it interesting.

Speaker 1: 1:07:12

It's not the best reality TV I've ever watched, because I love blowdeck. That being said, I am watching blowdeck, but winter house is back. So we all know that my favorite reality TV shows are all of the blowdecks and then summer house and winter house, and Winter house is back and they have below deck people on it. So usually they have southern charm is how it's called people. I don't watch southern charm, but like you can still get into it. If you've never seen any of these reality shows, you can still get into summer house and winter house. But this year they have below deck people, which is just wild. So it's like the mashup of my dreams. So, yeah, there's only one episode out so far and I'm so excited to continue watching that. It just always feels like a warm hug that really adds into my slowdown period, like it really does something about summer house and winter house are literally warm hugs for me, and I was kind of feeling like when I finished Love Island I was like, oh no. But this came and I was like, oh yes. So I think that's everything that I'm watching and reading and I listened to the new 19. Oh my gosh, 1989 Was gonna get the number wrong. The new Taylor Swift release Taylor's version and my mom was so cute. She was like, oh Grace. So that album came out.

Speaker 1: 1:08:30

When I moved back from Ottawa and I just learned to drive and I was driving my mom to work every single day because my mom doesn't drive and and my mom was like, oh, I saw news like Taylor Swift released her new album. It just makes me think of you and me driving to work every day. And I don't know how I didn't even put that together because I this at this point in my life. I was listening to it all the time, but I had a really good friend, luna, who absolutely loved it. Target was in Canada at the time, taylor's, which always a special target release. So we went to target. We bought the album like the actual CD.

Speaker 1: 1:09:01

This was back when I had a CD player in my car, which I don't anymore, and it was like this big bonding moment between me and her and like I just love that album. But also I was listening to it all the time. So my mom was there and now she has her own Memory of it and then she reminded me and then it's like all with good times, like me and my mom spent every morning together driving her to work and boo, boo, boo, listening to Taylor Swift and we go to Tim Hortons we get gas some day, anyways, but yeah, so that's what I've been listening to. I've also been listening to my DJ X so much I love them, but like for a while there they were kind of giving me weird stuff, but now they're back to give me good stuff, so I feel like I'm getting a bunch of good new music.

Speaker 1: 1:09:40

Slash artists oh, and they reminded me a foster the people, which I freaking love foster the people and I have forgot for, like I think for a few years I haven't listened to foster the people. After I switch from, like, my iTunes to Spotify, it's like you had to either first go in and like every artist you've ever liked, or it's like you're fully rediscovering new music, and so, anyways, I am back on my foster the people grind and I love foster the people, so I'm so excited about that. But, that being said, it's like I'm gonna listen to foster people right now. I'm so excited. So, yeah, that's what I've been up to, that's what I've been listening to, reading, and it's been a wonderful week, and I'm so excited about all the changes. You know, they're so simple and it's just really a feeling inside of me.

Speaker 1: 1:10:29

So, happy November, cuties, welcome to the warmth of this season. I love you all so much. I'm sending you hugs, I'm sending you kisses, I'm sending you love. Oh and that's my alarm to go pick up row going off. Okay, cute to do you.