Thursday Things Vol. 12

How’s your week going? This is our first full week with Bean back in school and the first year that she attends every day. We are definitely in a launch-and-adjust phase right now as we figure out drop-off and pick-up routines, work schedules and systems to keep the house running when we’re busier than before. I love back-to-school season (new school supplies! adorable kiddos in their uniforms! structure and routine!) but I hate to see summer fading away.

Here are the things I’m liking this week.

Read of the Week

This one has to be first. I just finished reading Reshma Saujani’s book, Brave, Not Perfect. I am an avid consumer of self-improvement books and I think this is one of the best I’ve read. 

I am… not a brave person, at least not in the ways that I want to be. I’ll go on the roller coaster. I’ll try the flip in the bounce house. But I’m not a huge risk-taker in most arenas. I don’t like to rock the boat, even if I’m drowning in the water next to it. This book put some of my behaviors in perspective and provided concrete ways to rebel against risk aversion.

I checked this out from the library, like I do for most of what I read. This is the rare book that I’m planning to buy so I can refer to it anytime I need a pep talk.

Meal of the Week

I’ve been in a bit of a dinner rut the last few weeks. When that happens, I like to try a meal delivery kit. They are usually too expensive for me to continue the membership for long, but it takes the pressure off for awhile.

This time, we tried Green Chef and I’m impressed so far! First of all, we signed up using a great promotion that made our first week only about $25 for three 2-serving meals. (Our kids are picky. We encourage them to try new things, but it’s not a battle I’m willing to have every night. We give them a few bites off our plates and then let them eat sandwiches and copious amounts of fruit. Anyway.)

So far, we’ve made barbecue meatloaf with roasted potatoes, broccoli and corn with honey mustard sauce, and orange-miso chicken with ginger-peanut sauce, sesame carrots, edamame and rice. Both meals were honestly really good and I’m excited to make the pork tenderloin tomorrow. I’m not 100% sure how long we’ll continue the subscription once we are paying the full amount each month, but I’m impressed by the meal quality, ease of recipes and recyclability of the packaging. 

(If you’re interested in trying Green Chef yourself, this link should give you $55 off your first order. For full disclosure, if you sign up using the link, I receive $25 toward my next order.)

Video of the Week

I’m not a huge Taylor Swift fan, really. I like a few of her songs, I dislike a few of her songs, and I don’t know most of her songs. However, I saw so many articles about the video for “Lover” that I decided to give it a watch. 

UGH. It’s magical.

I really like the song too, which I wasn’t expecting. I’ve had it on repeat in the car for the last couple of days, and have been ending my nights by watching the video over and over again. Who am I? I usually watch like one music video per year.

Movie of the Week

It’s an oldie but goodie: Monsters Inc. The kids are on a Monsters Inc kick and I’m not complaining. That movie is a delight. It’s got to be one of my Disney favorites.

Goal of the Week

Merp. I was on fire with my workouts for a number of months. (For reference, “on fire” means I was doing it consistently, not that I was doing it constantly or benching hundreds of pounds.) We went on vacation and I missed a week of the be.come project and have had trouble getting back into the swing of things. 

The videos from be.come run on a Monday-Sunday week. I’m hoping to get two sessions in by Sunday and aiming for three next week. I feel so much better when I move my body and have just been lazy about it lately.

I hope you have a beautiful Thursday.