Since a couple of days trapped at home = Cabin fever for this mama, I am feeling a little all over the place today and figured I’d roll with it and share a few random things with you guys in today’s blog post. It’s kind of like a stream of consciousness but with bullet points because I like a lil’ organization!
Wednesday Randomness
- Electronic Junk Drawer Organization
Do any of you guys have an electronic junk drawer in your house that’s basically overflowing with random chargers, cords and old electronics? I took some time to sort through the abyss in our junk drawer when I was housebound with a sick toddler on Monday and stumbled upon some serious gems like an old iPod and my first running watch.
Those two gadgets got me through miles and miles of half marathon training and finding them underneath a pile of cords brought a smile to my face. Another thing that made me smile? The old school playlists I found on the iPod once I charged it up. We’re talking gems like “Still Not A Player” by Big Pun and “King of Wishful Thinking” by Go West.
P.S. I’m not sure if anyone would be interested, but if someone out there would like my old Garmin running watch, let me know! I’ll happily to send it to someone who would put it to good use! (I also promise to clean it beforehand.) The watch is giant but still works well.
- Peel Recommendations?
When I was in Florida last month and had the wonderful opportunity to receive a Vitamin C facial, I soaked up every piece of my aesthetician’s advice and walked away with some notes to help me better care for my skin. One piece of advice I received to help with aging and congestion (<— the kind term for “a crap ton of blackheads”) was to give myself a peel on a weekly basis.
I began doing this two weeks ago using a small sample of ACURE’s Purifying Fruit Peel I received in a past Birchbox and have been loving it so far! I swear my face feels 10x softer every time I use it! I’m 95 percent sure I’m going to order the full-size when my sample runs out (I found it for a discount on Thrive Market!), but since I’m far from a skincare expert, I figured I’d ask your advice just to see if any of you out there are currently using at-home peels and loving them. I have combination/oily skin (oily through my t-zone and drier around my cheeks) and would love to hear your peel recommendations if you have any out there!
- Grilling = The Best
We are officially smack-dab in the middle of grilling season which means I find myself wanting to throw everything on the grill right now! I feel like a light char from the grill makes basically any kind of meat taste better and I am dying to try grilling fish and pizza this year. I’m kind of ashamed to admit we’ve never tried grilling either, especially fish since we eat fish at least once a week in our house and previously lived in Florida. For some reason fish on the grill intimidates me but I am planning to follow this tutorial for our first attempt and have my fingers crossed! I also like the idea of fish in foil packets with veggies so that’s on my radar, too. Gosh, I LOVE spring and summertime cooking!
- Sadie Sniffs
Whenever I take Sadie on a walk and she takes an extra long time to sniff something, I imagine movie images flashing through her brain of something that would fascinate her like a squirrel hiding a nut, a particularly smelly dog, etc. I realize it’s probably an animal’s urine that makes her pause and sniff a little longer, but I still like to think that somehow a strong scent flashes some kind of cool dog movie through her brain which is why she wants to linger a little longer over certain spots.
- Nice Weather Obsession
When it’s particularly nice outside – not too hot, not too cold and sunny – do you guys feel like you cannot help but comment on the weather constantly or am I just oddly obsessed with beautiful weather? I feel like every time I find myself outside on a walk with Ryan, Chase and Sadie, I’m making some comment on the gorgeous spring weather we’re experiencing in Charlotte this year. I feel like a total broken record but then again if something as simple as nice weather can make me feel a little happier, I suppose I should embrace it and continue to take note of it, right!?
- Packing Is The Worst
Do you guys have little tasks or menial chores you have to do in your life that you loathe way more than you should? (Kind of like the opposite version of my Little Indulgences = Big Happiness post…) I once read that in a relationship, if there are certain tasks you hate that your partner doesn’t mind (and vice versa), you should help each other out and claim those tasks as yours… Sort of an “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” mentality. For example, if I hate cleaning our shower (which I do… it makes me gag) and Ryan doesn’t mind cleaning showers but hates cleaning toilets (which he does), we each claim that particular task as ours. That’s actually the only example I have for us personally as a couple which makes me think we should brainstorm on this subject a little more! Haha!
Anyway… I sure wish I could make Ryan pack for me. I don’t know why but packing has always been one of those menial tasks that I absolutely hate with a fiery passion. We have a long weekend vacation coming up and I am putting off packing for it as long as possible, which probably means I’ll be up way too late shoving too many clothes into my suitcase the day before we leave. I think I inherited my distaste for packing from my father because if there’s one person who hates packing more than me, it’s him.
Question of the Day
Can you think of one seemingly small task in your life you loathe way more than you probably should?
Another mundane thing I hate? Checking my voicemail. Bless the iPhone for transcribing voicemail messages. That was the best update EVER.
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I totally hate checking voicemail too! I also kind of wonder why people leave them anymore. Why not just text?
The peel sounds amazing! I have sensitive skin so I’ll have to check around to see what I can use that won’t cause a reaction.
I also HATE checking voice mail. If its from someone I need a message from (like a contractor to confirm when they’re coming by the house or something), its fine. If its from someone I know, I get so frustrated! Don’t leave a message to say that you called, I see that you called already 🙂
Something I really hate to do is pick up the stuffing and plastic pieces my dogs destroy from their toys and then distribute all over the house. It’ll never change because I love my dogs and want them to have fun, but I die inside every time I have to pick up the remains of a poor beheaded squeaky toy.
If this isn’t a first world problem, I don’t know what is *insert monkey covering eyes emoji here*
Hi Julie!
I too was intimidated by cooking fish on the grill. Then my MIL introduced me to two of the most amazing things EVER for cooking fish on the grill! The Yoshi Mat & Reusable Color Changing Fish Thermometer. The fish won’t stick to the mat, and the thermometer changes color when the fish is ready, and every time it comes out so juicy! Anyway, since I just tackled fish on the grill and have had such good luck, I had to share! Hope you’re having a great week!
https://smile.amazon.com/Yoshi-Grill-Baking-Mat-Nonstick/dp/B00K6ISEHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492640462&sr=8-1&keywords=yoshi+mat+grill
https://smile.amazon.com/Burton-Cooked-Perfect-Reusable-Color-Changing-Thermometer/dp/B0047AIB7S/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492640581&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=burton+cooking+tools+fish+thermometer
Folding laundry is definitely my least favorite chore! I’m always putting it off. I love the Yes to Tomatoes Charcoal face mask– great for getting all the “gunk” out and leaving your face feeling super soft!
Haha, I do the same with our dog and then always ask her what she has found – I ask her out loud so that has gotten me a few stares from strangers 😉
Gosh, I hate checking my voice mail too!! I don’t get why people wouldn’t just leave a text instead, saves you so much hassle.
I kinda of love organizing! I have little baskets in our junk drawer. Then baggies for things like clothes pin, chap stick, chargers, etc.
I do not do peels because they can be a little rough on the skin but I am LOVING the new Beautycounter Brightening Mask with Vit C! My face feels so smooth and looks great! I actually got scolded by a lady at the airport last week because I was ‘too young’ to have a 1 year old. I am 29 =)
Check it out: http://www.beautycounter.com/bethanyparvin?goto=skin-care%2Fbeautycounterplus%2Fno-1-brightening-facial-mask.html
I loathed doing the dishes! I run the dishwashers pretty much everyday……
Ahhh grilling season = delicious season! You are going to LOVE grilling pizza if you haven’t before…it’s a Friday night staple from May to October at my parents’ house (they live in CA so half the year is grilling season haha).
Afraid I’m no help on the peel suggestions. My skin gets randomly overtaken by tiny little clogged pores on my cheeks and jaw and I HATE it, but my skin is pretty sensitive so a lot of things that are supposed to be good for congestion (like that Pixi Glow Tonic that people rave about) irritate the heck out of my face. Keep us posted!
If you haven’t found a taker for the Garmin I would love to give it a new home! Trying to get back into running again and I could use all the help I can get!
I would LOVE a Garmin watch!!
I’m loving how many people wanted your watch. Goes to show someone’s old things are someone else’s treasure. I bought a simple watch that has been so wonderful for running outside.
I wanted a peel-off mask, but I couldn’t decide on one. Maybe I’ll try that brand when I’m done with the deep sea one I purchased on Amazon. It had a lot of reviews, so I took the risk. 🙂
I hate putting away laundry!!! My dryer is more of a storage container until I’m in the mood to put it away.
I would love to hear your favorite grilling recipes- I’m always on the lookout for more.
My husband had the same old Garmin that you have.
A few weeks ago he went to put it on before our run & it wouldn’t start, I’ve been trying to find another one for him & this would be perfect, if it’s still available.
I hate giving my dogs a bath, & I’m pretty sure they also hate it.
Currently training for my first half marathon this coming September after two kids. Been on hunt for watch that was decently priced, happy to pay.
Oh my goodness I LOVE the weather we’re having right now. I was driving earlier today and I couldn’t help but smile because of how beautiful everything is at the moment. I’m not a winter/naked trees person so this is my favorite time of year. On the opposite side of things, I actually generally enjoy packing! I love making lists and getting everything ready to go. I usually end up packing for my husband because he’s usually at work right up until we have to leave which does make it a lot longer and somewhat less enjoyable.
OMG I still use my Garmin 305 and LOVE IT!! Has gotten me through countless 5 and 10K’s, 6 half marathons, and a full marathon! I will be heartbroken the day it dies.
i have my iPod mini and that exact same Garmin, too! and both still work, and i still use both on occasion. so many miles and memories tied to those gems 🙂
Getting an oil change! There’s never a “good” time. You don’t want to waste a Saturday & you really don’t want to sit there after work!
Great post! I kinda of wish you were offerinng your iPod nano…LOL! Totally kidding, but I lost mine at the gym 2 months ago & I was so bummed, because since I hate using my bulky iPhone, I had to use my husband’s generic MP3 player (first world problems…I know,) as I’m training for a half & 2 other races, but mostly because in Terms of nostalgia, that iPod had gotten me through sooo many runs & had so much music on it! I do hope whoever might have found it has a love for old school 90s jams :p
I am obsessed with the M-61 Glow peel pads, they have glycolic and salacylic acid and totally clears up congestion- they are amazing. I also just recently found a more affordable version- Nip & Fab glycolic peel pads (I got the extreme) and they work just as well! Have changed my skin so much.
http://www.target.com/p/nip-fab-glycolic-fix-extreme-pads-60-pads/-/A-49111220?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Health+Beauty+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Health+Beauty&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9021537&gclid=Cj0KEQjwxPbHBRCdxJLF3qen3dYBEiQAMRyxS5XnyV7VTD3N7zGMlnZktz9J2UKrlAr2Y4l7bXRp-b4aAlGh8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds