Monday, 5/9/22: Talking about an April recap and snacks for dinner
Happy Monday!
And Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and mom-like figures out there!! Thank you for all that you do. 🙂
It’s also a new week, which means it’s time for your next Monday motivation newsletter. Read on below for some steps to a happier Monday, a short story and a roundup of positive thoughts to get your week started.
Three Steps to a Happier Monday
Each newsletter starts with three prompts to inspire gratitude and simple intention setting. Take a moment and jot down answers to these three questions. To give an example, I share my answers below.
Step 1: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend?
Step 2: What is one thing I can be excited about today?
Step 3: What is my intention for this week?
GRATITUDE: I’m thankful for the sunshine, fun Saturday activities and time to relax.
TODAY: I’m buying my lunch today instead of making it, so I’m most excited for that.
INTENTION: My intention this week is to get outside at least once a day to enjoy the weather.
Okay, your turn! And if you want to share your three steps, I am all ears. 🙂
Meaningful Musings: Notes from April
As one of the items on my 22 in 2022 list, I’m writing a quick recap at the end of each month with 10 things I want to remember. I can’t believe this is already my fourth (!) recap of the year. I’m enjoying this ritual of taking a moment to pause, remember the little things, and think about what I’m excited for next.
If you are looking for an activity to pep up your Monday, give this a try. Scroll through your photos or reference your calendar from the past couple weeks and make a quick list of memories – a lot can happen that we forget about, right?!
Hope you have a great Monday. 🙂
April’s 10 Things:
- I turned 28… on a Monday! I’m really thankful I was able to see my parents and some friends right before my birthday and then celebrate with friends here in Chicago, who made it feel so special. Going into this new year excited for what it has in store.
- I was off work for a whole week in April, and it was glorious. Taking a week off work feels so different than taking a long weekend or a day here and there. The extended time really allows you to disconnect, recharge and even get a little restless. I traveled to Orlando to stay with my parents and was able to fit in a visit with college friends and attend a friend from high school’s wedding (so special). It was a great week!
- I’m not always the biggest audiobook listener, but one of my favorite things to do while on vacation is to pick an audiobook to listen to. I love that then going forward I always associate that book with the memory of the vacation – special! For my time in Florida, I listened to Ann Patchett’s These Precious Days. I had no idea what it was about when I downloaded it, but I’ve become quite enamored with Ann after listening to her book The Dutch House earlier this year (maybe I am a bigger audiobook person than I thought?). These Precious Days is a collection of personal essays (love essays) about her home, family, friendships and writing. I was quite moved by her chapters on friendship and her faith.
- In addition to the audiobook, I switched up the genre of books I was reading in April and read two rom-com-esque books: In a New York Minute and Just Haven’t Met You Yet. I wanted something light to read while on vacation, and right before I left, I got off the waitlist for both these titles at the library – kismet! Although switching from these schmaltzy and predictable books to my current read of Cloud Cuckoo Land has been quite the change of pace ;).
- I didn’t win either of my two March Madness brackets… but I also didn’t come in last! *Technically,* March Madness ended in April, so including it in this month’s recap. It’s been a while since I went all in on March Madness, but this year I participated in two brackets – so fun! I have to shout out my Uncle because he made our family bracket really fun. From the weekly trivia questions with Starbucks gift cards as prizes (an homage to my grandma) to the continual encouragement of some fun (maybe subjective “fun” ;)) competitive banter in the group text, I already can’t wait for next year.
- Speaking of sports and uncles, my Great Uncle sent me this book in April – Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series That Changed Baseball – and I can’t wait to read it. He had recently heard the author (Luke Eplin) speak and thought it sounded really interesting. And with it being baseball season, feels like the perfect time to read it!
- OMG – I discovered the best trick for keeping tulips alive! I love tulips in the spring, but I can never keep them alive for more than a few days.This seems to be a common problem because last month I came across an article with tips on how to extend the life of tulips. One of the tips was to put a penny in the bottom of the vase. I was skeptical, but I tried it and WOW, it actually worked!! My tulips stayed in perfect condition for a week! I guess the copper in the penny is a fungicide, so it naturally kills off the bacteria and fungi that are trying to camp out in your flowers’ vase and shorten the lifespan of the stems. You have to try it and let me know if it works for you!
- I completed a task I’ve been putting off for a while: cleaning out my closet. With the pandemic, I haven’t done a proper cleanout in a while. I just couldn’t get a sense for which clothes I might need for the future! But, with some help, I finally dedicated some hours one Saturday to ruthlessly going through everything. And while my closet now feels bare, it also feels really great to know what clothes I have and know that everything fits/is wear-able. Physical clutter = mental clutter. (Btw, this is my favorite organization book of the moment)
- I got rid of a lot of clothes, but something that did make the cut to stay? This jacket. It’s been my go-to this spring. I’ve reached for it nonstop (except for those times when it’s so cold I still need to wear my parka…). But when the temps are milder, it’s perfect with a sweater or sweatshirt underneath. I have it in black and absolutely love the tortoise buttons. I hope they bring it back in more colors next season!
- I’m debating purchasing another belt bag for summer. When the weather turns nice, a belt bag is the only bag I carry – so convenient and functional. I’m convinced Lululemon makes the best one. I’ve had one of theirs for almost two years, so the wear-and-tear is starting to show… and I’m eyeing some of the new colors. Torn between this or this one.
And a few things I’m excited about in May…
- Settling into a new routine. I’m starting to go into the office 2 days/week in May, and I’m excited to change things up a bit in terms of my weekly routine.
- I’m really excited to see the musical Moulin Rouge! with a friend. I love Broadway shows, but I haven’t been to one in Chicago yet. Counting down the days!!
- Going to Indianapolis for the first time!! Well, technically I have been to Indy before, but it was for a conference and I didn’t leave the hotel except for going to/from the airport. So, I’m counting this as my first trip to Indy – can’t wait 🙂
- My mom comes to Chicago at the end of the month!!! Really excited to see her.
On My Monday Radar
Sometimes we just aren’t ready to jump into our Monday to-do list right away. In case you want some content to procrastinate with, here is a roundup of a few positive things on my radar:
- Last week was a lot – I can’t mention reflecting back on recent happenings without also acknowledging the Roe v. Wade leak that came to light early last week. It dominated everything – thoughts, news outlets, social feeds, conversations with friends – and rightfully so. It’s a personal topic and a hard topic, but I wanted to share something that helped me last week. During times like this, I find myself struggling to strike the right balance between staying informed/reacting and also conserving energy and emotion that could be turned it into action. Maybe you’ve felt that way too? If so, my friend passed along this 30-minute episode of The Daily and it really resonated with me. Maybe it’s something about the podcast nature (aka I sit and listen vs. mindlessly scrolling and clicking) or maybe it is the way they explained the trickle-down effect of what could happen. But either way, it helped me better understand what’s at stake, and therefore, helped me make a plan for how to help. Sharing in case it resonates with you too.
- Why Doctors Are Prescribing Nature Walks. Found this article interesting about a so-called growing trend of “park prescriptions,” where physicians are strongly encouraging patients young and old to spend more time outside, harnessing the stress-reducing powers of nature to improve their mental and physical health. Love that the article stipulates that nature is not a cure or meant to be used instead of needed medications, but I wholeheartedly agree that there’s real potential to experience health benefits from the nearest patch of nature. It is amazing what even a 10-minute walk outside can do. This article reminds me of the importance of making those walks happen.
- I am very intrigued by this cookbook: Snacks for Dinner. As someone who cooks for one, a lot of meals indeed look like “snacks for dinner”… but not always in the “chic” way. I like the idea of taking inspiration from this book to elevate snacks plates into respectable (& simple!) main course meals. Feels perfect for summer too.
- Thanks to TikTok, these orange and pink sneakers have been on my wish list for a couple months. The New Balance site finally restocked my size and I wore them for the first time this weekend – I love!! They are definitely brighter in person, but in my opinion, great for spring/summer time and an easy way to add some color to a more subdued outfit. Plus, happy to report the shoes are very comfy and require no break-in time.
That’s all for today! I hope you found something in today’s newsletter that sparked motivation, made you smile or inspired a positive Monday thought. Don’t underestimate the power of starting small… a fulfilling week starts with just one fulfilling day. You’ve got this!
Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan