This weekend was, to quote my friend Reen (who was apparently quoting Giuliana Rancic, but what would I know, I DON’T HAVE TV), “amaze balls.” Oh, the balls were so amaze.
Friday, I got off work a little late but with a (nearly) fully crossed-off work checklist, which is such a great feeling to know when you’re back at it on Monday, you’re not playing catch-up in addition to everything else Monday throws at you. Then I went to my friend Melanie’s house for a proper girls night, complete with Mamma Mia!, DIY manicures, coffee with Baileys, & lots of girl talk. Oh, we also ate cookies. And brownies. Did I mention I need to get to the gym this week?
Saturday was such a productive day. I had the best of intentions to get up early, tackle all the housework that needed to be done, & be finished by that afternoon. You know, in true Housewife Superhero Style. In reality, my day went something like this:
Get up. Whine to Michael about the soccer movie he is watching until he turns on 30 Rock. Watch a couple of episodes & snuggle. Make breakfast (eggs over-easy, turkey bacon, toast with jam, & tea), watch an episode of Dexter (OMG SO GOOD). Say goodbye to husband who is leaving for a bike ride, take alone time to get some personal grooming done, AKA PLUCK UNIBROW. Then, make to-do list for the day. Take a break from all the hard work I just thought about doing to play with the puppies. Start dusting. Decide I need some music, turn Pandora on through the TV. Continue dusting, get angry that Pandora thinks it’s okay to play Switchfoot when I have given it NO CAUSE TO THINK SO. Keep cleaning, hear OneRepublic, almost lose it, & yell at Pandora while making some serious station adjustments. “You’re on thin ice, Pandora! IT’S LIKE YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW ME.” Dust off wine cabinet, realize there are tobacco leaves & a pipe in my fruit bowl. Go outside to firmly recommend to my husband that he get a different storage place for his smoking apparatus. Get distracted while outside & water my 4 Little Pots, which have become 2 Little Pots, 1 Large Pot (basil needed to be transferred as it was taking over THE WORLD), & 1 Dead Pot (RIP lavender). Go back inside, begin 3-step process of cleaning floors (sweep, vacuum, Swiffer). Whistle at Michael through the open window, in turn he moons me. Think, the neighbors must LOVE US. Finish floors. Take another break to play with the dogs. Clean the bathroom. Take a break to play Words with Friends. Clean kitchen. Warn Michael that when I am done I fully plan to collapse & not move all night. He leaves to go to the store, returns with stuff to make dinner, fresh flowers, wine, & ice cream. He cooks dinner while I lie on the couch. We eat dinner (he makes the best sloppy joes, yum) & watch 2 episodes of Dexter. We drink wine & eat ice cream. We start a movie, but decide to go outside & smoke cigars instead. We stay outside for a long time, talking. Come in, time for bed. Tired, accomplished, happy.
So maybe I’m not June Cleaver, but I got everything done in one day AND had some much-needed down time. All that was missing were the pearls & red lipstick. Also, it’s hard to vacuum in high heels; how did they do it?
Sunday was for church, massive amounts of laundry, a long walk with the husband & dogs, & little projects. Nothing special, but the older I get the more I realize it’s those ordinary days around the house that end up being the most extraordinary days of relaxation & pure joy.
A couple of weeks ago, I took some time to make a little spot for myself in our room. Just a desk with some of my favorite things placed around; it’s an inspiration nook of sorts. Last night was the first time I sat there for an extended amount of time: paying bills, catching up on some emails, Skyping with Reen, & blogging. I love it. Virginia Woolf wrote about having A Room of One’s Own, and while we don’t have rooms to spare for such luxuries, it’s nice to have a place to sit & work.
I decided to wear my reading glasses, which I don’t really need but wear occasionally. I’ve got a bit of a Liz Lemon thing going on with the hair + glasses combo, & truthfully I love it because I adore Tina Fey. I’m okay with looking like a nerd sometimes. I’m also enjoying my brown hair. I may never go back to blonde! Okay, that’s a lie. But I am loving life as a brunette.
In summary, sometimes a girl needs a night with a friend, a weekend at home to play catch up & relax, & a space to call her own. If she happens to acquire those things, she may suddenly feel like she can tackle the world. Bring it on Monday, I’m ready for you.
How was your weekend?
{img: 1, my own}
Clara from Portugal says:
Ooooh, I’m loving the brown locks. And jealous of your corner. BAH! Much love. :*
Erin says:
Bwahaha. Thanks for quoting me. The one time I say something I WOULD NEVER SAY IN REAL LIFE, you quote me. <3 You already know about my weekend. It was – wait for it – amaze balls.
lauryn says:
The brown hair is gorgeous! How did you get it to be so perfectly wavy like that?
Sounds like you had a nice relaxing weekend!
Liz says:
This totally sounds like a weekend at my house. Especially the part where you get mooned. G moons me on a daily basis. Cute, huh?
storytimewithnicole says:
I want to marry your weekend.
Also, I’m just found a recipe for Sloppy Sams {sloppy joes made with lentils instead?}. I think that that means we’re somehow cosmically connected.
And also, I love you.
The End.
kayleigh says:
1. The only soccer movies I know of are:
A. Mary Kate & Ashley’s Switching Goals
B. Bend It Like Beckham
C. She’s The Man
D. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (it’s reaching, but there’s soccer.)
E. The Big Green
2. I really hope Michael was watching one of those..
3. Unless there’s some movie about gorgeous European futbollers that I don’t know about.
Kathleen says:
You totally left out Ladybugs. Remember that one? I bet that’s what Michael was watching.
Kyla Roma says:
You’re so cute with your brown hair and glasses! :) It sounds like you got a whole ton done this weekend, I’m impressed!
And your lovely husband smokes a pipe? I would not have guessed that one, how totally intriguing.
Hope you’re showing Monday who’s boss! :)
Cole says:
I like your wavy brown hair and cute red glasses! Also, Mommy is completely jealous of your little nook – she only has a “corner of the couch” – and I try to take that over with my toys and grabby fingers all the time!
Rachel says:
We went to the in-laws house in the country. They’re in Italy, so we had a relaxing weekend away to celebrate our 4th anniversary. It was so great! We ate good food, drank wine, watched (almost all of) The Office season 6 which I bought husband for our anniversary, watched the baseball playoffs, and the West Wing (which we’re currently addicted to) and were just together. It was a much needed get-away.
San says:
If you ask me, that weekend sounds peeerrrfect.
I always seem to waste away the mornings and then play catch up in the afternoons to get everything.
I did, however, manage to go to the bank, supermarket, farmers market and IKEA on Sunday all BEFORE 11 a.m. :)
MelissaOklahoma says:
brunette suits you!
Suburban Sweetheart says:
I’m still loving the hair, particularly while wavy! And I believe it’s “amazeballs,” one word? But… I don’t think Webster’s gonna track you down.
Way to be productive! Send some my way?
Mary says:
I never thought of a place of my own. Hmmm…I’ll have to give it some thought. Thanks.
ashley @ ashley's adventures in alaska says:
Sounds like the perfect weekend. Super cute hair, by the way. :)
Jill says:
you DO have a bit of a tina fey thing going on! when you were blonde i always thought you kind of resembled taylor swift (minus her whole squinty eye thingy, of course).
Amy says:
Love the wavy hair and love weekends just like that one. I’ve been saying ‘amaze balls’ and had no one to attribute it to, so thank you for clearing that up.
Joy says:
Sounds like a great weekend, perfect balance between working and resting. What a lovely post/tribute to read after learning of Barbara Billingley’s (June Cleaver) passing.
Kathleen says:
I think I might need reading glasses. Sometimes my eyes seem like they’re having a hard time focusing. They get tired and I get headaches. I’ve always chalked them up to tension but maybe my eyes are contributing.
On the other hand, every time I’ve tested my vision it’s perfect–better than perfect even! So I’m scared to make an eye appointment and when I show up there’s nothing wrong with me. Maybe I’ll just buy the reading glasses you don’t have to have a prescription for?
Anyway, your post only mentioned reading glasses briefly and I wrote two full paragraphs on it. There you go.
Karen says:
The brown hair suits you so well!
Victoria says:
lol my husband and I also LOVE 30 Rock!!!! Kenneth is my favorite!!! Your hair does look fabulous! And you did remind me of Liz Lemon in the pic! :) great show!
My weekend was good, lots of family came over, birthday parties, and shopping with my girlfriends! :) Good times!
I hope you have a great week!
Did you hear that the woman who played June Cleaver passed away this weekend???
Nora says:
Love the way brunette looks on you. Totally adorable =) That sounds like a lovely weekend indeed and I’m digging the desk/corner you’ve got there for yourself!