Hello Saturday, Volume 6
Hi friends, Happy Saturday!
I hope you all had a cozy, restful Thanksgiving, however you chose to celebrate. Alex and I made a turkey dinner for the two of us and ended the night playing Mario Party on the Nintendo Switch. It was a quiet, simple, and relaxing day, but just the kind of day we both needed. Thank goodness for holidays and 4-day extended weekends, right!?
Now that the buzz of the holiday is over and the weekend is officially upon us, I’m in typical Saturday morning form: cuddled on the couch with a cozy blanket, drinking a cup of coffee, and sifting through the web to see if I can find some small business sales to support. This year has definitely made me a more conscious consumer and knowing small businesses have had a rough go around with the pandemic and all, I’ve been trying my best to make purchases in thoughtful ways to support local entrepreneurs.
Over the next week or so, I’m looking forward to putting up our Christmas tree, decorating around the house, and indulging in the spirit and joy of the holiday season. I see days of watching Christmas movies, baking holiday goods, and trying out all sorts of festive coffees and cocktails in my near future too. How about you? Are you excited for Christmas? It’s my favorite time of year, so I’m looking forward to the days ahead!
Highlight of the Week: Thanksgiving, obviously!
This year looked a lot different for many, our household included. Instead of spending Thanksgiving with family or friends, Alex and I enjoyed a Jen-cooked meal of slow cooker turkey breast, our favorite stuffing, mashed potatoes, and yummy pumpkin bars. As per typical Thanksgiving, we filled our faces with too much good food and lots of good laughs and new memories. It was a busy day of cooking, but the food turned out really well, so I guess that makes it worth it in the end.
In addition to good home cooked food, I also shared 6 of my gratitudes on Thanksgiving Day. 2020 has been a year filled with many challenges, but so much good has still come from it. I’m thankful to have gotten to see my family over the summer, for a stable job and the flexibility to work from home, and for my engagement to Alex, among so many other things. Check out the post on my blog if you’re interested in a brain dump of all my thoughts on life in 2020.
What I’ve Been Watching:
Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions. Taylor Swift surprised us all with this cozy and intimate play through of all the songs on her most recent album folklore. In the documentary, Taylor shares little glimpses into the writing of and meanings behind each of the songs, confirming fan-theorized scenarios that blew up the Internet months ago. So good — would 10/10 recommend if you’re a Tswift fan.
Younger Season 6. I picked up on this show last year and loved it immediately. I had a few episodes from Season 6 to finish on Hulu, so I knocked them out the other day and now I’m sad because the last episode of the season left me hanging on a cliff.
The Bachelorette. This week’s episode featured more awkwardness with the singing group date, yikes! I was so glad Ivan got the one-on-one as he seems like such a genuine class act. And they played the floor is lava! But the best moment of the show was Ed and Chris drinking wine when Ed couldn’t find his way to Tayshia’s suite. A good (albeit manufactured) laugh indeed.
In a Relationship. This movie was just okay, but the ending was terrible.
What I've Been Listening to — Music & Podcasts:
Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus. This new sound on her new album is probably her best collective work, in my opinion. I love Miley’s voice when used correctly and this pop-rock genre suits her very well. My favorites from my first listen are WTF Do I Know, Angels Like You, Midnight Sky, and High. This album is leagues better than Younger Now, her last studio album.
you’ll be fine by Hot Mulligan. This was an Alex recommendation I finally listened to the other day. It was pretty good.
Imploding The Mirage by The Killers. Not as good as their older body of work, but still a good listen.
Ocean (Deluxe Edition) by Lady A. This release was just a deluxe version of their latest album. I prefer the songs on the original album to the ones added on the deluxe, but enjoyed listening nonetheless.
Wild Blue, Part I by Hunter Hayes. I’m a big Hunter Hayes’ fan and really like this project which he released last year.
From Around the Web:
Sharing a short list of happiness and well-being articles this week. Happy reading!
This article on laughter and it’s powerful effects on well-being. Convince me that laughter isn’t the best medicine, because I truly believe it’s one of those standing pillars of happiness.
The science behind expressing gratitude will surprise you. There is so much power in expressing gratitude. In all the chaos of the world and especially with the pandemic this year, it’s important to find pockets of gratitude to help surround yourself with positive emotions.
Why judgement is the worst enemy of happiness. So good, so true, and such a good reminder.
50 tiny, simple things you can do right now that are proven to make you happier. 2020 has done a wonderful job in teaching us all that it’s the small things in life that truly matter.
Everything Is Still Uncertain, so Create One Thing You Can Control. Time is what you make of it.
How Connecting With Nature Can Save Christmas in 2020. Let go of stress this holiday season and get outside and enjoy all the beauty around you!
I hope you enjoy the weekend wherever you are. It was raining here this morning, but it’s getting nice and sunny now. Hello Saturday!
Enjoy!
JB