It has been a minute since I blogged about anything. Homeschooling really took over my life in ways even I didn't anticipate back in December and I have been working more for pay. Plus, I'm running A LOT right now (September is my busiest running month of the year) and sports and life and all of that...blogging is something that has been pushed to the side with the hope to return when I'm not homeschooling any longer (when is that?? TBD.) I do miss writing but this is one of the somethings that had to give.
I always enjoy hearing what works for other people and I like sharing things I like, it's part of the reason I have a blog. I've been doing these monthly posts for 10 years and they also provide a nice little snapshot in my life at a moment in time! See more here! Some affiliate links may be included!
1) LMNT Electrolyte Sports Drink - Citrus Salt
These are quite literally getting me out the door on some of my runs lately because I enjoy them that much and only get when I run. Citrus Salt is the only flavor I have tried and I see no reason to try any others because I like this one so much. I put half a packet in about 16 ounces of water and thoroughly enjoy it. Has magnesium and a bunch of other things that are good for me with no sugar and it's nice to have a "treat" after running, especially one I am considering healthy.
This was a random pick up in the spring and now I buy my store out nearly every time I go. Or at least buy a couple of them. If I am having something else, like salad, I can make one container last 3 meals, otherwise it's 2. I've had countless containers of this soup since May-ish and I still quite enjoy it. Lunch has been a REAL struggle for me in the 12 years I've been home with kids (and really, even before then) and having I really enjoy without a lot of work really helps me out. This is fantastic. Should I learn to make my own similar soup. Maybe. We'll see what happens when I am running less and get some of that time back.
.jpg)
This was another impulse buy from the Aldi aisle I used to try to avoid but now can't because it's where baking supplies are (am I routinely buying baking supplies?? Not much, baking is another thing that seems to have largely, but not completely, fallen by the wayside.). Anyways, ice has been a real problem for awhile, our freezer ice maker broke...8 years ago? 10? I don't remember, it's been a long time and so we had ice trays that our boys like to use and never refill so Matt & I rarely got ice. Enter this handy little thing that fits right under the broken ice maker and now the boys are mostly limited to whatever ice is in the bottom part since they rarely bother to break new ice into it which means I can break the new ice AND actually get some. I am still the one doing most of the ice tray refilling BUT at least I am getting some ice out of it. This has been a fantastic impulse buy that solved a pain point around here. (Yes, this was on clearance when I took this picture although it wasn't when I bought it! (Ours is blue.) but I'm still sharing because it's been very helpful for us.)
These are a great snack and I like that it's all the same kind of apples, unlike the ones I bought from Target that had red & green apples and only the red ones were good. These are an easy snack, easy to take to sporting games, relatively healthy. I try not to mindlessly eat anything but even if I did eat the whole bag...the calories aren't a problem. Plus, works in my son's lunch box!
5) Wireless headphones
Until I bought these, I had not worn headphones in maybe 10 years. Maybe longer. Long ago I ran with headphones but now I don't because I want to be able to hear anything around me (if I am running alone I do listen to music through my phone speakers but pretty quietly...I think you'd have to be within about 5 feet of me to even hear it and I try not to be that close to strangers anyways). I've listened to everything through my iphone speakers or bluetooth connected to the car. Only listening to "my" stuff when I'm alone or far away from my family (like if I'm down in the basement, alone, sorting laundry I'll turn on a podcast). Anyways, with a homeschool kid now home nearly all the time and often with his ear plugged (both my boys are pretty devoted audiobook listeners through playaways from the library and often letting him listen to things helps him focus) and I decided I wanted the ability to listen to things of mine too without disrupting him. ANYWAYS...so I bought headphones. Sometimes we both are just home, working on our own things, with our ears plugged. It's fine, we're together a lot. I only use mine a few hours a week, if that, but they've been very handy and have worked well. Also great for if I'm working on my computer in the evening (like now), after the boys are in bed and Matt wants to use the TV which is open to my office. So I can listened to a podcast or work on my puzzle without our sound bothering each other. I haven't actually done this yet but I like that I COULD. (This is the color I got and I had hoped it would be more peach/coral when in reality they felt more red/orange. But then I named them my flamingo headphones in my phone and now I feel better about the color.)
There it is, my first blog post in 6 weeks and my last until...who knows when. Maybe within 6 weeks! I once had things super planned here and this is no longer that time. It's a very "fly by the seat of my pants" operation for the blog right now.
What have YOU been liking?
