The Common Thread No. 4

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you’ve had a great week! The weather has been giving us life! If we don’t have anything going on after school, we’ve been trying to spend all our time outside (and wishing the mosquitoes to die)!

The week back from vacay and no school has been all about getting back in our routines and waking up earlier to have more time in the mornings! Thankfully, when I work out 2 times a week, that helps me get up and out of the door. But the other days, we are trying to be more on it, and get up before the kids to plan out our days. Anyone struggle with this?

We are winding down on our extracurriculars with only 2 more baseball games for the season. Owen has come a long way this season, and we are so very proud of him! He’s turning into a really sweet kid, and I’m proud of who he is and how he treats others. Motherhood really is a wild ride of emotions as you watch your kids grow and change!

I would be lying if I told you that this has been a prosperous season as a small business owner. We’ve had 4 local small businesses close in the last 2 months, and it truly breaks my heart for them. Owning a small business especially retail sounds so glamorous, but it’s a lot of hard work, sweat, and tears. The world has been such a strange place over the past 5 years with lots of highs and lots of lows. So, all of this to say, if you are able this Christmas season, please shop local and small businesses as much as possible. I know you see those reels about small business owners doing a little dance when someone buys from them, but truly we are so thankful when we have people who believe in what we are doing and shop with us.

Now for what y’all love…my weekly favorites:

Our book club read this for September, and it was such a raw and beautiful read. Most of our attendees liked it while a few really struggled with the realness of it. One friend summarized it this way, “acknowledging that though trauma and addiction cast long shadows that hope and grace do remain possible. I saw someone post in a GR review on it ‘the bright years’ are not years without pain but years in which light is still possible.” I think it’s a great read to add to your list when you are feeling for an emotional read!

I love these little sets for Nora because it almost feels like 2 outfits in one! Right now HA is having a sale on sale if you use the code FUN20, so now is the time to snag some items off your Christmas list!

Since we went apple picking last week, we have apples coming out of our ears. I have made this apple crisp twice, and it was very yummy! Make sure and cut your apples pretty small, so they soften enough during baking!

We recently got this yogurt for snacks, and I really enjoy it. I don’t always love yogurt, but this is perfect with some yummy granola and fruit!

This is my new favorite nut mix, and I hope Aldi never stops selling it. It’s not super rosemary-y like I was afraid, but it’s just herby enough to make it interesting!