Weekly Mix: Navigating Life Changes, Whole30 Travel, and Newborn Joy
Hello, wonderful readers! It’s been a truly whirlwind week, filled with big decisions, precious family moments, and ongoing personal challenges. I sincerely apologize for the lack of new recipes on the blog this week. Life has been exceptionally busy, and I truly appreciate your patience and understanding as I navigate these exciting, albeit demanding, changes.
A New Chapter: Our Unexpected Apartment Move
Remember a few weeks ago when I hinted at the possibility of us moving? Well, it’s officially happening, and much sooner than anticipated! This past Monday brought an unexpected opportunity, requiring a very quick decision. We’re actually moving into a different apartment unit within our current building. This might sound a little strange, but a unit opened up that offers a slightly better floor plan and, crucially, additional storage space – something we’ve desperately needed. We’re incredibly excited about the prospect of a more functional living space, even if it means another move! The twist? We’re scheduled to move just five days after we return from our much-anticipated trip to Japan in April. It seems that major life events always cluster together for us, making for quite the adventure!
This rapid decision-making process has meant my head has been buried in last-minute logistics: applications, moving details, and lease documents have consumed my time these past few days. It’s a lot to juggle, but we’re thrilled about the improvements this new space will offer. The convenience of staying in the same building, avoiding a complete neighborhood change, makes the transition a little smoother, allowing us to focus on settling into our upgraded home.
Welcoming Baby Oscar: A Heartwarming NYC Visit
Last weekend, my husband and I flew down to New York City for a truly special occasion: meeting the newest addition to our family! My sister and brother-in-law welcomed their second son, Oscar, less than two weeks ago. He is the sweetest little bundle of joy, and it was an absolute delight to spend time with him and our first nephew, Arthur. Arthur is already a fantastic big brother!
Naturally, I brought all of my camera gear along, and we seized the opportunity to do a newborn photo session on Saturday. Little Oscar was an absolute champ! He allowed me to gently maneuver him into various poses, and most importantly, he slept soundly through the majority of the shoot. Capturing those fleeting early moments is such a precious gift, and I’m so happy we had the chance to do it. It was a true success!
My Photography Workflow: Quick Edits for Instant Sharing
For those interested in photography, all the photos from our trip were imported onto my phone directly from my Canon 6D (using my versatile 24-70mm lens) via Wi-Fi. I then quickly edited them using the VSCO app. This workflow is a game-changer for sharing quick proofs and previews with family members almost instantly. It allows them to see the moments captured right away, before I delve into the more extensive editing process on my computer for the final, high-resolution files. It’s perfect for capturing and sharing those immediate, heartwarming family memories.
Whole30 on the Go: Navigating Dietary Challenges While Traveling
On a somewhat related but entirely different note, I successfully survived Whole30 on the road! Today marks day 12 of my Whole30 journey, which means I have 18 more days of strict adherence, plus the upcoming reintroduction phase. Traveling while on a strict diet like Whole30 can be incredibly challenging, but thankfully, this trip was easier than I anticipated.
Our success stemmed from careful planning and incredible support. Since we were staying in every night (courtesy of having a newborn in the house), we meticulously planned our dinners. One night, we made a delicious and compliant Mexican tortilla soup, and another night, we enjoyed homemade hamburgers – mine, of course, without the bun! My sister was an absolute lifesaver; she generously prepared for my arrival by stocking up on almond milk and other Whole30 necessities. I also brought an embarrassingly large number of compliant snacks with me, just in case of emergency cravings or limited options.
Despite the relative ease, there were undeniable moments of temptation. On Saturday morning, I had to watch everyone else indulge in an incredible bagel feast from Russ & Daughters, complete with delicious cappuccinos from Oslo Coffee. Meanwhile, I ate eggs for what felt like the millionth time. While I appreciate a good egg, it certainly wasn’t the highlight of my culinary experience that morning. I’m not going to sugarcoat it: traveling during Whole30, if at all possible, should generally be avoided. The mental discipline required to resist such delicious temptations is immense.
For those of you following along, I’m continuing to share behind-the-scenes glimpses of my daily meals, experiments, and progress over on my Instagram stories. Please join me there for more real-time updates! I’ll be sharing more comprehensive recaps and meal inspiration right here on the blog next week, so stay tuned for those valuable insights.
Happy 4th Birthday, Marley! Our Beloved Goofball
In other news, it’s a very special week for our furry family member! Marley’s fourth birthday is this Saturday. I can hardly believe it has been almost a year since we adopted this lovable goofball. It feels like just yesterday we welcomed him into our home, and he has brought so much joy, laughter, and endless cuddles into our lives. He’s truly part of the family, with his own unique personality and charming quirks.
Marley is already geared up for his big day! He’s got his party hat ready, and one of his dog friends in the neighborhood even got him one of those “crazy dino bones” – the kind that lasts for ages and keeps them endlessly entertained. He truly lives a pampered life, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Happy birthday to our wonderful Marley!
The Weekly Mix: Current Favorites & Inspirations
As always, I love to share a few things that have caught my eye or brought me joy this week. Here’s what I’m currently loving:
- St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Inspiration: With the Chicago river being dyed green this weekend, it’s the perfect time to get into the spirit! For the upcoming week, consider making my rich Guinness Stout Cake with Baileys Cream Cheese Frosting, a fresh and vibrant Roasted Asparagus Wheat Berry Salad, or some delightful Irish Soda Bread Scones. Perfect for celebrating!
- Incredible Animal Stories: This short ESPN video about one dog’s unexpected journey with an adventure racing team is truly heartwarming and inspiring. It highlights the incredible bond between humans and animals.
- Adorable Canine Cuteness: And for more dog-related joy, you absolutely must watch this German Shepherd pup asleep in the back seat when his favorite song comes on. So freaking adorable and guaranteed to put a smile on your face! 😊
- Baking Inspiration: I poured through this captivating cookbook on Monday and nearly quit Whole30 right then and there! All I want to do right now is start my own sourdough starter and bake fresh, crusty bread. The temptation is real!
- Whole30 Friendly Finds: Hallelujah! I discovered these shrimp sweet potato cakes with avocado salsa that I can actually eat right now. They look absolutely delicious and are a fantastic Whole30 compliant meal option. I’m also really loving Heather Christo’s daily diary posts for more inspiration and solidarity during this journey.
- Healthy Baking Goals: This healthy blueberry bran muffin recipe actually looks good, which is a rare find in the world of healthy baked goods. I’m bookmarking this for when my Whole30 is complete!
- Sustainable Storage Solutions: I keep hearing amazing things about these Stasher bags! They’re reusable silicone bags, perfect for food storage and cooking. I’m all for reducing plastic waste, so I’m very intrigued. Do any of you own one? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
- Culinary Wanderlust: The images in this amazing foodie guide to Israel are absolutely stunning and are giving me serious travel and culinary wanderlust. The vibrant flavors and rich history showcased are incredibly enticing.
- Sweet Surprises: How adorable is this little Mexican Neapolitan cake? As strange as it sounds, after almost two weeks of Whole30, I’m really not craving anything sugary right now, which is a surprising and welcome side effect!
Home Decor Dilemmas: The Search for the Perfect Rug
One of the saddest parts of our upcoming apartment move is that we can’t bring our current oriental rug with us. It’s a true family heirloom, passed down to us from Connor’s mom, who received it from her own parents. It holds immense sentimental value and has been a beautiful focal point in our living space. Unfortunately, due to the new unit’s layout and dimensions, it simply won’t fit. We’ll be carefully putting it into storage, which means I’m officially on the hunt for a new rug. Finding the perfect rug that complements our style, fits the new space, and is durable enough for our active dog, Marley, is going to be a challenge. I’d love to hear your favorite sources for quality, stylish rugs! Any recommendations for pet-friendly options are especially welcome.
If money were no object (and if I didn’t have a dog who loves to lounge on every piece of furniture), I would absolutely buy this gorgeous rug-printed Lyre Chesterfield petite sofa from Anthropologie. I’m completely captivated by the current velvet furniture trend, and that sofa is just dreamy. Perhaps one day!
And with that, I’m out of here! I’d love to hear all of your thoughts, advice, or what you’ve been up to in the comments below. I hope you all have a truly wonderful and relaxing weekend!