Darn it…despite my best intentions to keep blogging briefly and frequently after NaBloPoMo ended, I guess I really didn’t. Today is Thursday, December 7th, and it looks like I’ve only posted 2x since the 1st.
Work has been really busy this week. Lots of meetings, a project, and a last minute/ time sensitive “ask” that led to me to working until 7:30 p.m. last night. 
But tomorrow is Friday and both my workday tomorrow and this weekend look really open. Yay!
My last NaBloPoMo post on 11/30 was a Day in the Life post, but I haven’t shared any random stuff since then. I kind of feel like I haven’t done that much this week, but I browsed through my photos and was a little surprised that I actually have had a fairly varied week (though nothing too earth shattering).
A week in photos:
🔷 I took a puppy selfie.
This was 100% inspired by Birchie and her heart-wrenching recent post about losing her beloved StepDog. She and her husband took daily selfies with their dog, and they now have a whole album of them to look back on. I do not actually love taking close-up selfies…. (is it just me or is it just NOT usually a great look….), but I decided to take one in honor of Step Dog. 🙂
🔷I did a (very) little Christmas shopping.
Ivan and I went out to lunch on Saturday to pow wow on Christmas ideas. We then went out and did a little browsing/shopping.
We got a couple things for the kids, but I somehow came home with more things for MYSELF than anyone else. 😩 WHOOPS. Hahaha.
I found some nice gloves and a cute hat in my favorite color at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
I’ve also been wanting try Sunday Riley skin products and saw this cute little combo kit at Sephora. I had a 20% off coupon, so decided to get it as a gift to myself. Or from Ivan. Or whoever!
I’ve mostly been just using simple Cerave sunscreen and lotion and my prescription Tretinoin. But I have heard great things about the Good Genes product, and I’ve also wanted to try a Vitamin C.
The 20-something-cashier-who-didn’t-look-like-she-needed-ANY-skin-products also squealed that she “LOVES” the Pink Drink firming resurfacing spray.
🔷 We went out to play pool with my parents and Ethan.
Asher was in Iowa, but we had a fun little “Saturday night happy hour” at a local bar/restaurant/billiard place.
🔷 Charlie somehow got into our room unattended and had a brief Sock Party. 😂
When he was done partying, he passed out in the bathroom. HA.
🔷 No photos, but I went to both the dentist and took Charlie to a puppy groom appt on Tuesday…. not a fan of appointments that disrupt my day, but, c’est la vie.
🔷 I ran THREE times last week!! Including a great Sunday evening run on the gym treadmill with no walk breaks.
*SHU convinced me to join Strava since I am apparently a “runner” again… (hahaha, I’m not, actually….). But it has been actually really fun to use for workout recording. I like being able to add a little blurb about how it went. And it’s fun to see how other’s workouts are going.
If you’re on Strava and want to follow each other, let me know in comments! I currently only have 3 followers. LOL.
(I do not know where this little running thing is going- very likely nowhere. But it’s been a fun challenge and has been good to mix things up! Enjoying the novelty right now.)
🔷 I still hit the gym for strength training several times, too.
Weight training is still my #1!
🔷 On Sunday, we watched the Packers win in a huge upset over the Chiefs!!
🔷We celebrated Asher’s birthday, a couple days late.
He wanted to go to Texas Roadhouse for a steak. His favorite. 🙂 It was a nice Monday night out with Ivan’s sister and brother along too. Then back to our house to open gifts!
Gifts!
🔷 We celebrated St. Nick’s Day on December 6th.
This is partly regional/ stems from German heritage, but we’ve always done St. Nick’s stockings on the morning of 12/6.
The boys have sort of aged out of this a bit, and I don’t think they even expected stockings, to be honest…. But they were pleasantly surprised to wake up to stocking stuffers. 🙂
They just got a few things- new Christmas PJ pants for Ethan (Asher’s from last year still fit), new PJ long sleeved tops for both of them, Starbucks hot cocoa tins, little chocolate Advent calendars, some Sour Punch Kids candy canes and some Nerds clusters. Oh, and new slippers that I grabbed at Target- which by chance, matched their PJ pants pretty close!
🔷 We did some lounging by the fire.
I have worn my new Christmas PJs pretty often and am very happy I bought them.
We watched a couple Christmas movies last weekend when my parents were here, and though I haven’t had a ton of downtime since then, I’ve squeezed in some random moments of “lay in front of the fire with the Christmas tree on”.
🔷 I’ve recorded a few Outfits of the Day (OOTD).
I have not been super great about consistently recording these in my closet app, but I really want to! It only takes a second…
I have some gaps, but I snagged a few pics at least this week.
Monday-
Wednesday-
Thursday-
🔷 Charlie tried out Dog TV on YouTube:
😅
He liked it!! Do we need to set some screen time limits, Charles?? 🤔😁
🔷 We are having a warm snap today!
Highs around 50 today which is WARM for December. Took advantage to get Charlie out for a longer walk this morning….
and some lunch time play time in the yard.
And, that is all. Ok, this is kind of a long post. Maybe I need to go back to my 500 word limit. 😬
What have you been up to this week??
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for the “warm” weather today. It was nice to get some sunshine and not freezing air on me at lunch. Also balanced the hot tub chemicals while I was out there and put away a few remaining yard items.
GRATEFUL KAE 
Love the selfie with Charlie ❤
Great outfits and I am a BIG fan of evenings by the fire. We just did that earlier this evening after supper. It made me sleepy, but in a wonderfully relaxed way!
Great OOTD options. You're so stylish. And love the colour of your new hat!
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Oh, yes, I actually love dozing off in front of the fire!! Except then I wake up a bit later roasting hot. haha!
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Glad to see you’re back!!! Do not feel compelled to shorten your posts, they’re great! No one is counting words!!
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Aww, thanks! I know… you’re right. I just feel like sometimes I accidentally blab on and on! lol 🙂
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it’s great that you are enjoying running, on the TM, you’ll love it more when it’s warm enough to go outside.
socks party looks fun. hahahaha… Charlie is so cute, passing out after the fun.
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Yes, I would like to try an outdoor run but so far the weather hasn’t cooperated exactly. It’s hard when it’s so dark early AND in the evening, and even though I don’t really mind colder temperatures for running, if there’s any chance of ice I don’t like to do it. It’s a bit warmer (sort of) here right now, so maybe I can get out and try it!! Probably will feel really hard though… 😬
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Lounging in front of the fire place with the Christmas tree on sounds wonderful. I’ve been enjoying the fake TV fireplace although a real one would e nice. Come find me on Strava! I am on there (and yay for more running!) .
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Those fake TV fireplace channels are cute! I used to put one on that had a dog and a kitty curled up sleeping in front of a roaring fireplace with Christmas decorations all around. I literally wanted to jump through the screen and just be there.
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It’s so sweet to see Stepdog’s selfie legacy being carried on. Thank you for that!
All of the things – I know the feeling of going out Christmas shopping and coming home with gifts for myself. The hubs and I are more into shared experiences, so we’ve gotten comfortable with not giving each other gifts. Strava is fun, and so is running just to run. Kids can age out of all of the holidays that they want but no one was ever disappointed to wake up to gifts. Yay for OOTD!
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You’re most welcome! I’m still so sad for you guys. 😦 I do love the shared experience idea for gifts but we have never really tried that exactly yet. I guess I personally always manage to come up with a bunch of things that I want… LOL. My husband is sooo hard to buy for though, although he claims that he isn’t. (HE IS.) So from that standpoint, a shared experience gift would make my life a lot easier.
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Hmm, I’ve never heard of the St. Nick’s stocking tradition! Do the boys get stockings on Christmas as well? I love presents and stockings and I wish I had known about this when my kids were little!
I think your selfie with Charlie looks really good! I on the other hand have become UNBELIEVABLY UN-PHOTOGENIC over the years, SIGH! I wish I looked half as good as you in a selfie.
Yay for running!!! I know it’s not your first love, but it’s a great thing to do as long as you’re enjoying it. I’m not on Strava btw, so we can’t follow each other. Maybe one of these years I’ll get with the program.
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A well rounded week! Well done on running! Wow, three times, great job. I only managed two 15 minute yoga sessions very early in the morning.
I use the Good Genes Lactic Acid thing- I leave it on overnight and it brightens up my face. I think I look less tired lol
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You are sort of ramping up your running right as I am kind of giving it up for the season! But I only run outdoors – I hate running on the treadmill SO MUCH. I’m hoping to get back on track with my workouts this weekend, though. I know one is a HIIT workout so I am kind of dreading that as I bet there will be burpees. I know how much you love them! 😉
You look great in your selfie! If I don’t take selfies, I am not in pictures because Phil NEVER takes pictures whereas I am often snapping candids of them. He will take pictures of the boys when I am traveling but he is not the guy saying – hey this is a sweet moment, maybe I should take a picture! 😉
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More pet selfies across the internet are needed!
During Black Friday sales, I purchased lots of clothing for me and literally no presents for anyone else. *sigh* I need to get on the holiday shopping!
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Love the sock party and Charlie passed out on the floor! So cute!
You have such an effortless style — love your outfits. And happy belated birthday to Asher!
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Our cockapoo is 11 years old and he regularly finds socks in the bedrooms and brings them to the living room. Sometimes we will walk in and find 5 or 6 socks scattered around! I guess there are worse things he can do! Good luck with the running. Noxgear is great if you want to run in the dark (both the vest and the clippy light).
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I cannot take a selfie to save my life. I look… well, let’s just say I never share them. I’ve only taken them to see something close up on my own face – e.g., new glasses. I admire your ability to take them at all, let alone with a cute puppy!
Glad you’re enjoying the running for what it is right now. 🙂
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