Just rest. And drink wine.
November 1 comes with a myriad of emotions. Joy and childlike excitement for the holidays. Subtle, but ever-present melancholiness for those no longer with us. And often times, stress and anxiety with the overwhelming amount of so much to do, to buy, to see.
We’ve been so busy the last few months, and the next two will be even busier. I love all the things we’re doing and all the people we’re spending time with, but it’s so important to rest – something very hard for me to do sometimes.
A couple of months ago, I had the foresight to book a weekend getaway just me and husband for some pure relaxation together. A weekend of solace in wine country … in Missouri! We heard about this little town called Hermann, Missouri with wineries, breweries and adorable B&Bs. {More on this later – you know there will be a dedicated blog post with pictures and reviews.}
My hope for this weekend is that we can turn off the noise, enjoy each other’s company and re-center ourselves. This way we can go into the holiday season with thankful hearts, a positive attitude and the reminder to sometimes say no to (good) things, and just rest.
Oh, and did I mention I’m staying off social media for the weekend? No facebook, no insta and no snaps … just wine and my husband. Just the way I like it.
xo xo
4th of July Staycation
The last month has been BUSY – St. Lucia, family wedding, work trip to LA. So I have been yearning for some serious time to relax and spend quality time with husband, for longer than just a few hours after work.
As we approached the 3-day weekend I realized we (surprisingly) didn’t have any plans. And I told husband I wanted to keep it that way (again, surprisingly).
Though I did have a few moments of FOMO this weekend, I quickly realized I really wasn’t missing out on anything. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I was perfectly content spending my 4th of July weekend at home.
S A T U R D A Y : W O R K D A Y
{16 bags of mulch later …. the couple who gardens together, stays together.
ps – I’m STILL sore}
S U N D A Y : F U N D A Y
{lunch + fruit tart at the in-laws}
{beer + good conversation + silliness with friends}
M O N D A Y : R E S T D A Y
{slept in with my girl}
{brunching at home}
{yoga with husband}
{started a new show and loving it … does anyone watch?!}
Not Pictured: Sitting on our front porch Sunday and Monday night, watching fireworks all across the horizon without having to deal with any traffic. I’d say that’s pretty perfect.
xo xo
Dolce Far Niente
Sometimes, you just need to decompress. Breathe. Relax. Let the busyness fade away. And not feel guilty about it.
Husband was away on business (VEGAS for CES, ha!) for 4 nights. 3 of those 4 nights I did absolutely nothing.
I came home from work and put on my sweats. I leisurely made myself dinner, blaring obnoxious pop hits Husband wouldn’t have liked. I watched several episodes of my latest binge Parenthood, again which Husband wouldn’t have liked. Then I crawled in bed, cuddling with the pup and read until I fell asleep.
Sounds great, right? And it was. It was so great. Usually I would get bored of doing that after 1 night, but I think after the busyness of the holidays this was exactly what I needed. Of course in the back of my mind I kept thinking – There’s so much I should be doing. There’s so many people I could be catching up with. Why am I wasting my time doing nothing?
But then I thought, I don’t think it is a waste. Your body and mind have to relax, sometimes longer than 1 day. Doing Whole30 is all about listening to your body’s needs, and mine was telling me I deserved time to do nothing.
I also reminded myself I have a very busy month coming up – 3 baby showers, 2 birthday celebrations, a weekend in Vegas and a week in NYC for work. So I have plenty of time to be busy, see people, do things and long for time at home like I had this week.
So for now, I will enjoy “Dolce Far Niente” – the sweetness of doing nothing.
xo xo
my wednesdays.
Can I let you in a little secret? I secretly LOVE Wednesdays, and probably not for the reasons you may love Wednesdays.
Wednesdays are my night to do exactly as I wish. We’re always busy throughout the week with various things, but there’s one night I can always count on to relax and rejuvenate. Husband doesn’t come home until late, after teaching karate, so I get to spend the time with no one to answer to except myself.
My Wednesday evenings usually look fairly similar, with tonight being a prime example:
Go on a R U N*
{mindlessly blaring Queen Bey}
B L O G
{unfortunately one of the only days during the week I seem to find time to do so}
Pick-up an easy dinner and my favorite W I N E
{preferably sushi and a good cabernet}
R E L A X on the couch and catch up on my magazines + girly TV shows
{currently consisting of Pretty Little Liars, Nashville and Revenge}
Retire to bed early, with time to R E A D
{new post coming soon about my books of late}
*new addition with the beautiful weather and renewed sense of fitness
It does vary a bit each week, like next week I’m hosting a girls happy hour, and sometimes I get the urge to cook so I’ll spend my time grocery shopping and preparing a late dinner for when husband gets home.
Pretty simple, right? I don’t need much to rejuvenate, but I do need alone time – something I’ve learned means I’m actually an introvert, not an extrovert as I would have previously thought. Oh, and wine … wine is always good. (says mille davis and olivia pope)
Happy Wednesday! xo xo
“May your weekend be full of adventure and cheer; May the start of next week be a long way from here.”
After the craziness of last weekend at Essence Fest, this weekend I’m ready for a whole lot of doing nothing. Weekend plans include: Friday night movie with friends, sleep in, time by the pool, read, finish Greek, make this for dinner, make homemade ice cream, relax with husband and pup.
Enjoy your weekend, and take some time to relax. xo
the evening before
Aren’t Sunday evenings odd?
They are melancholy, a reminder that the weekend always ends too soon.
They are refreshing, knowing a brand new week is ahead with wonderful possibilities.
They are pressured, ensuring everything’s ready for the coming week.
They are reflective, remembering all the blessings we have.
Despite it all, I love them. I love Sunday evenings almost more than any night. There’s an unusual mix of nerve/unknown for the coming week and the final hours of relaxation. I feel free from the past week’s stresses and have a renewed resolve for tackling what’s ahead.
Our typical Sunday evening consists of a grand, home-cooked meal paired with a good wine. The apartment is clean from my Saturday flurry of chores. Puppy worn out from weekend activities. Fridge full. Clothes washed. Bed made.
And of course, the best television is on Sunday nights. Of late, we’ve had The Walking Dead and Revenge to distract our minds from the impending Monday morning. Or sometimes we like a really good movie to keep us entertained.
So this Sunday evening, I encourage you to focus on the positives, not the tomorrows. Enjoy the relaxing time you have with your loved ones.
xo xo
m.davis xoxo 