Happy Friday! It’s been a pretty average week here, nothing much to write home about, but considering what Sarah continues to go through, average sounds great. 😥
One good thing this week was that Ivan got his braces off! He’d had an adult canine that never came down into place (his baby tooth just never fell out!), but that tooth eventually started coming loose. The whole thing was rather horrifying a couple years ago as he faced the reality of having to walk around with a missing tooth for a while (as an ADULT). (I am sure this normally would be addressed in childhood, but sounds like he didn’t have super regular dental care as a kid in Mexico in the ’80s…He goes religiously 2x/year now though, and amazingly, he has literally no cavities).
The good news was the adult tooth (stuck up in his gum) was in perfectly good condition, it just needed to be brought down into place. He always sort of wanted braces anyway (his teeth weren’t terrible, but definitely nowhere near perfect, and he never had braces as a child). So, all’s well that ends well- his teeth are now nice and straight, and that canine looks like it was there all along. 🙂
Ethan will get his off in April, and then we’ll be down to just Asher with braces on! Asher’s friend’s dad is our orthodontist, and we like to joke that we single-handedly help to fund their boat and lake house. 😉
I also want to share a podcast episode that I enjoyed recently. On Laura Vanderkam’s Before Breakfast, she interviewed Courtney Carver, the creator of the 333 Minimalist Fashion Challenge and author.
The episode wasn’t really about the Fashion Challenge (that was kind of old news- I think it was all the rage around ~2020?), but rather her new book Gentle (among other things).
However, my interest was actually quite piqued by the 333 Fashion Challenge part though, since although I had vaguely heard of it, I never had really looked into it much before. Basically, it’s the idea that for 3 months, you pare down your wardrobe to just 33 items (not counting underwear, uniforms, PJs, etc.) You’re supposed to remove everything else (not get rid of it- just remove it temporarily), so ALL you have in your closet are these 33 items…. for 3 months.
Then you get to enjoy the benefits of a much simpler, stress-free wardrobe, with your 33 favorite items. Most likely, the majority of the stuff you packed away you don’t really wear anyway, since apparently research shows we only really typically wear about 1/3 of our clothes, anyway- we naturally gravitate to our favorites.
I would totally love to try this sometime!! With my smaller closet/ space situation, AND my tendency to have TOO many clothes and be really indecisive, this sounds dreamy to me. I love the idea of opening my closet and only having a handful of things that I truly, truly love to choose from- and I also love the idea of being able to mix things up in the future and not necessarily only own those 33 items.
The rest of the episode talks about Courtney’s new book Gentle. The book’s tag line is “Rest More, Stress Life and Live the Life you Actually Want”. It sounds like it focuses on how to be more gentle with ourselves, while still living a meaningful, productive life.
I feel like the movement of “gentle living” often conjures up an image of people just vegging out the couch or taking bubble baths in their free time. But, without having read the book, I really don’t think that’s the angle here- not at all. I think it’s about how to thrive in life and be “successful” (whatever that means to you), while not completely losing ourselves along the way.
In the interview, she describes the “gentle you” as “who we are inherently. It’s the inside voice that we can connect with once we stop being crazy busy all the time. Once we start really paying attention to how we feel and what we want, instead of listening to all of those outside voices and kind of bowing to that external pressure that we all face from time to time.”
I’d like to check this book out! I am always intrigued by the word “gentle”. I do not think of myself as a “gentle” person at all. Lol. I admire people who I feel are gentle! But I just don’t think I am, not with myself, and not really with others, either! 😬
I think I am very kind and loving and yes, I’m grateful and all of that, but to me, “gentle” is someone….Soft-spoken. Calm. Slow moving. Maybe even… quiet? Soothing.
I am not soothing. 😆 I tend to talk reallyreallyreally fast and use my hands a lot to talk and am kind of borderline hyper sometimes, as probably evidenced by my excessive use of exclamation points and emojis. 🤣 With others I think I am a great friend and a good listener and a problem-solver and a helper and I CARE deeply, but I also don’t see myself having that natural “calming touch” or that “magic voice” that just melts away people’s problems, either. Know what I mean? haha.
Adding the book to my TBR list. Also a plug for checking out Laura’s longer Wednesday interview episodes in general! I think they have been GREAT!!!!!!!! Seriously great. I literally look forward to them.
In closing, since I again have no good photos, how about this silly meme I saved? Ah, I’m too easy to make laugh, I guess, but this made me giggle:
“Now I wait.” 😂😂
Have a great weekend, all. 🤩
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for orthodontics care! +1 for not having to look at my husband with a missing tooth for the rest of our days…. hehe.
GRATEFUL KAE 
I don’t know how I didn’t know this- but I didn’t know Laura had that podcast. I always listen to her BOBW podcast with Sarah. I’ll check this one out!
Speaking of Sarah- whenever I’m tempted to grumble about my life (being tired, getting up in the dark, snarky comments from my daughter, whatever…) I try to remind myself how much I’d miss these thing if I suddenly found myself bedridden or in the hospital. Then I realize- everyday life is actually pretty great. Especially after what happened to Sarah, I’m determined not to complain anymore!
Straight teeth are important! I think I was the last generation of kids who didn’t automatically get braces. My teeth are okay, but not perfect. My husband’s teeth are very crooked (but he can’t do anything to straighten them, as he still plays the trumpet professionally!) But both my kids have beautiful, perfect teeth, thanks to thousands of dollars paid to the orthodontist. But it was worth it!
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Back in my day, it was a burden to get braces. No teen wanted them. And when my daughters hit junior high, all of their friend started getting them – even if their teeth looked good ( to me at least!). It’s nice that the stigma is gone.
i have some crooked front teeth ( from a fall in my youth), but I live with it. They don’t bother me, and it gave my wisdom teeth a little more room to come in. My sister had a baby canine tooth only – it lasted until she was middle aged, and then it had to come out. She has a little denture to replace it, but mostly lives with the space. ( We’re sort of lazy that way!)
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3/5 of the kids in my family had braces but I wasn’t one of them. I don’t love my teeth but I don’t dislike them enough to get braces! Phil didn’t have braces either so we’ll see what happens with the boys. It seems like most kids get braces these days!
Sarah’s week definitely puts life in perspective. It wasn’t a great week overall, but it pales in comparison with what she has dealt with! Or my pregnant cousin who is mourning the death of her dad. There are challenging weeks and then there are CHALLENGING weeks.
I would not describe myself as calming or gentle either… I don’t know of many people who have that vibe so I think it’s a special gift. I can think of one person in my life with that gift. She works in a kindergarten classroom as a paraprofessional which is the perfect role for her because she has the right personality for that environment (it would not be a good fit for me!).
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That concept and book sound great, right up my alley!
I will say that when we travelled to Italy and I only had a limited number of clothes, I found it so simple to put together outfits. Not that I generally have trouble with that, but there was something lovely about having choices eliminated. Now of course, I do like a lot of choice in my everyday, but it was enjoyable for the trip.
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Im also not gentle. I speak loud fast and very passionate about sometimes, especially with others according to my girls, too loud is what they say to me. Hehehe… I do know someone who could be called gentle and sometimes I want to shake him to react a bit more enthusiastic.
I love the minimalist wardrobe idea. Would be fun to try.
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An average week sounds pretty grand to me right now. There hasn’t been an average week in a while.
Super-excited for Ivan (and Ethan) to get their braces off. That’s a great accomplishment (esp for Ivan, as an adult!).
I am intrigued by a wardrobe that only has 33 items. I am sure research is right that we never take advantage of everything that is in our closet and it would make things so much easier when we have less to choose from in the morning 🙂
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