Moments of Gratitude After a Long Week
So it goes, some weeks are better than others and for me, this past week wasn’t my favorite. I had a tough middle workweek — probably the hardest days of my managerial career. Additionally, I had a personal encounter on Thursday evening in my work parking lot that left me feeling a little bit shaken. All’s well that ends well, but I’m glad the week is over. To protect my peace throughout the week, I let myself indulge in a few things that helped me feel better. Amid the craziness, there are still so many things to be grateful for, so I’m choosing to reflect on the positive and share my little moments of gratitude after a long week.
Target shopping therapy
After work on Wednesday, I took myself on a shopping trip to Target to look at fall fashion and decor. I was there for 1.5 hours, and during that time, I was on the phone with Alex, chatting about the day while decompressing my earlier work situation. I bought a new flannel (lovely colors) and a couple really cute fall decorations. Target therapy — much needed!
A Thursday morning PSL
Believe it or not, I’ve never had a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks before. As a pick-me-up Thursday morning, I decided to stop by the Starbucks beside my hotel to finally experience the hype for myself, ending my 31 year streak. It was fine, though my bar for pumpkin lattes is set really high from our local coffee shop (the ones they make are bomb). Pumpkin-flavored everything is a love language of mine, so I’d have a PSL again for sure.
Fresh air on my drive home
There’s something about this time of year because woo!… the cooler evening temperatures finally allow for windows down cruising. I had a 3-hour commute home after work on Thursday, and after talking to Alex for a bit, I rolled the window down and let myself enjoy the cool night air while listening to and finishing my most recent audiobook Can’t Look Away. Fresh air is the best air.
GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo
I’ve been looking forward to Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album for years and lucky me, it released Friday. I listened before work, and it put me in a good mood going into the day. I really loved it.
Lunch at Chipotle and a tea from Winterbloom Tea
I was working from the local office on Friday and decided on a whim to treat myself to lunch. First, I went to Chipotle and got a chicken bowl, then drove downtown to Winterbloom Tea for a tea-of-the-day. Winterbloom Tea is one of my favorite local places — I love, love, love their tea products. Friday’s flavor was a sour grapefruit hibiscus (kind of tasted like a diluted Jolly Rancher — not too sweet, not too sour) and I enjoyed sipping on it back in the office Friday afternoon.
Dinner with friends Friday night
Friday night after work, we had a Fun Friday dinner at Pierro’s downtown. It was nice to have the whole squad out, talking and laughing and having a good time. After dinner, a group of us branched off to Gaston Brewing Company for a night cap on the patio.
Spontaneous brunch
Saturday morning, Alex and I realized we didn’t have any food in the house for breakfast, so we set off to one of our faves — Latitude 35 — for a spontaneous brunch date. We sat out on the covered patio, and soon after it started storming. Aside from the too-close lightning strike that caused an audible gasp out of everyone (and so close I felt the static), stormy brunch was the brunch of my dreams (cool, moody weather — YES please). We listened to the rain and thunder and watched the lightning flashes while enjoying our food and drinks (which for me meant coffee and a Bloody Mary).
A Saturday nap
I thrive on a good nap, and Saturday’s post-brunch nap was a good one. I clocked a couple hours and woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day. I got a little reading done before and after my nap too, all the while it rained on and off. Perfect ambiance.
Woodpeckers baseball game
Despite a rain delay that went on obnoxiously long and resulted in the game being postponed, we had such a good time with friends at the Woodpeckers game Saturday evening. My company gave us a suite, and we were able to wait out the storms in our covered, air conditioned space. Despite the end result — not getting to watch any baseball — we had fun snacking and drinking beer instead.
More engagement pictures
While at the Woodpeckers game, our wedding photographer sent us 10 or so more sneak peak pictures from our wedding day. Definitely made my night!
A pumpkin pie latte from my favorite local coffee shop
Re: above statement about my favorite pumpkin latte. And yes, a double pumpkin latte week, so what! I’ve been foaming at the mouth to get my hands on a pumpkin pie latte from Morning Jump Coffee Company, my favorite local coffee shop. Earlier today, Alex joined me for a drive to Spring Lake and we stopped for breakfast sandwiches and pumpkin coffees. It’s the little things, really. I’m already anticipating my next one.
The start of front porch decorating
I love decorating the front porch this time of year. Today I rolled out my new welcome mat (a bat!) and hung my favorite seasonal wreath on the front door. Pumpkins and mums to come later on, but for now, a good start.
The return of NFL Sundays and Green Bay Packer football
And finally, I can’t express enough how happy I am to have NFL Football back in action. For us Green Bay fans, it’s a new era, with Rodgers now in New York. We’re ready to support our new QB Jordan Love and hope to see lots of wins throughout the season. And hey, here we are 1-0, can’t ask for anything better.
As I finish this post, I’m sipping a Mecktotberfest beer from Old Mecklenburg Brewery out of Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s my favorite local Oktoberfest beer. We’re making a tortellini soup with Italian sausage and spinach for dinner tonight (such a good soup), then, I plan to chase away the Sunday Scaries with Sunday Night Football and a few chapters from my current read — The Stranger Upstairs — which I’m really liking so far. Getting right into fall/spooky season this year!
Enjoy!
JBW