High Five for Friday: A Week of Love

Friday, February 15, 2013

Hidey ho good neighbors! Too early for a Home Improvement reference? Never! The peppiness is for good reason: My groove is officially on its way back. Bags packed, flights booked...it's returning!

This boost in morale oddly correlates with a big journal article presentation (we nailed it), a monster homework assignment (done a day early), and two upcoming exams (one is take-home!). In the process of meeting with my classmates to prep for our PowerPoint, researching, and streamlining my notes, things started to fall into place. Next week's exam is going to be tough, but it feels good to be flexing my brain and getting back into my element. The last few weeks have been painful...trying to find motivation from nothing was really hard, and I was starting to worry about my mindset. Why am I feeling so indifferent? Am I depressed? What's happening?! 

From now until next Thursday, my life is going to look a lot like this:


Kiddo also seemed to find his groove this week. I should do an entire post dedicated to the wonder that is Hue. Admittedly, the app required to run it is a bit glitchy, but the system is awesome. We have two light bulbs in Jared's room and I used the third in my bedside lamp. At 6:05a, on the nose, the sun rises in our rooms. No more struggling to wake up in pitch black darkness. A good start has made all the difference for him (and me).


I've had a strange relationship with my blog the last two weeks. In an attempt to find balance, I started writing the bulk of my posts on the weekend, then scheduling them in advance. Although it helped me manage my time, I felt very disconnected from my content...like someone else had written it. So I am going to try and tweak my process a bit over the next week. I'm thinking I will plan posts in advance, create the collages and such, but save some of the core content for the days leading up to the post. I'm sure a lot of you have experienced this (advice?!), but I was spending two hours in the morning writing that day's post, answering emails, commenting on other blogs, and linking up instead of using that precious alone time to study or get ahead on assignments; leading to unnecessary stress and guilt over wasted time. I can't say it enough: Balance. I need to find it.

I also started taking better care of myself. It is no mystery that tired, processed-food-eating Sarah feels icky. I maintained a reasonable, regular bedtime every night this week and realized that I hadn't taken my B vitamins in several days. Things quickly fall apart without them. For the first time this year, I downed the health shake my doctor recommended years ago...the total nutrition makes it seem like I'm running on more cylinders, at least. I'll have to devote a post solely to this issue as well.

Anywho, I hope everyone enjoyed the Week of Love. Although I don't usually invest much in this rather commercialized holiday, this year felt different.

1. While I was in talking to his teacher, Kiddo built this smiley snowman. In a half hour. Did I mention it is nearly as tall as he is? Seeing it the last couple days at drop-off/pick-up has made me happy. I think we found his calling... 2. I got a wild streak. Literally and figuratively. I was feeling spunky and up for a change (my months old pink streaks were almost gone), so I put some blue streaks in my hair. By myself. I said I was feeling frisky and acknowledge that things could have gone horribly wrong. I don't bleach my hair before putting it on, which allows me to change it up when the color starts to fade. And yes, my fine, curly/wavy hair is that wild when left to its own devices.  3. Mario left on Sunday for some meetings at his company's San Diego-based headquarters. His last meeting was cancelled, so he changed his ticket and caught a red-eye home Thursday morning. A whole day early. I took a break from lab work and we went out for a Valentine's Day sushi lunch. The only thing better than a sushi lunch date? A half price sushi lunch date. Thankfully, we felt quite well, so 1/2 price wasn't synonymous with get-rid-of-the-old-fish. After finding out how much my present cost, I'm glad we dined on the cheap. We are serious romantics.  4. My Valentine's Day present! I don't expect such things, but Mario pulled up outside the science building with a gift in hand. A micro lens for my camera! I am now officially a serious photographer, because I have lenses. Plural. I photographed everything on the table at lunch...it takes amazing photos! Husband is getting a massage on Monday (better to let a professional handle that).  5. Because Mario came home early, and is oh so nice, he took over chaperone/carpool duties for ski day at Jared's school today. It's a small charter school, so they rely on parents to get the kids to various events. I happen to be one of the few parents that consistently volunteers, so I often spend my days off shuttling kiddos around. Instead, I am sitting in a quiet house, hot beverage nearby, typing up a fresh post. And before I head out to turn in an assignment and run errands, I'm going to tackle the monstrosity that is my desk. Holy catalogs, junk mail, bills, and magazines Batman!

Happy Friday! Plans?

12 comments :

  1. So glad that you are in such a good mood, it feels good doesn't it? I hope it continues into the weekend and that you have a wonderful one. I love the picture of the snowman. :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Jen! After being in a funk for three weeks, it DOES feel good! Your comment certainly helped brighten my mood...hope you are having a great weekend!

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  2. I know what you mean about scheduled posts! I try to do a first draft the night before, then I just have to proof and tweak in the morning, before I hit publish. Have a great weekend :-)

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    1. I think that may be the best way to tackle this issue. Have a great weekend, too!

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  3. Life is a constant game of finding the perfect balance for THAT moment, and I find it can change from week to week even. I think we all need to remember that though we love our blogs (and so do our loyal readers), they do fall under the category of "small stuff" and we're not supposed to sweat that, are we?

    Happy Weekend, Sarah! xo

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  4. im in LOVE with your cute blog!!! Your family is the sweetest! Im now following cannot wait to read more!

    xoxo

    http://elisemn.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Elise! Your comment made my day! You have a new follower as well. :)

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  5. We love sushi too! Great idea to have lunch for Valentine's day.
    I struggle too with the scheduling of my blog posts. I am always documenting, but it may take me weeks to post. School always seems never ending from what I remember. When you finish, you will have sooooo much free time on your hands. I remember I volunteered at the humane society, the ABLE (adult basic literacy education) center and the shelter for battered women. Plus worked full time. Did not know what to do we all my free time!
    Sandy
    http://savardstudios.blogspot.com

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  6. My husband treated me to a sushi lunch - well, actually he picked up some flowers and sushi at the grocer sushi people and presented them to me the evening before Valentine's Day since he anticipated being late on the 14th. Works for me! (my real gift is a trip and tickets to the Rose Bowl Parade - squeal!) It sounds like you had a wonderful Valentine's Day and I'm glad you are getting your groove back.

    I am of no help with balancing life with blogging. I thought the way you current do it was the preferred method. Take hours putting 2 paragraphs together, another couple of hours picking out and editing pictures to be slapped on, then cram in everything else you were supposed to (or hoped to) get done within 30 minutes of the family coming home. Make it look like you labored all day long and beg off dish duty. ... sure that isn't in the blogger bylaws?

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    1. I love your husband's method...it is most definitely the thought that counts. I would have been happy with sushi and some flowers, too. :) I'm glad I am not the only one trying to figure out how to blog most effectively! Because blogging isn't my full time gig, I never seem to be able to settle on a single method. Until the semester is over and I have more time, my process may change weekly!

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  7. Hey there!
    I'm a new follower! :)
    I love LOVE your blog. It's so lovely.
    DON'T. STOP. BEING. AWESOME.
    Sarah xx
    whimsicalmumblings.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Your comment made my morning! Thank you! Heading over to your lovely blog now...

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