I am a horn tooter, when it’s my own of course.
I think grabbing somebody else’s horn, especially unexpectedly, might be a little inappropriate. Then again, it’s certainly never stopped me before. The Hubby’s horn can vouch for me here.
(I use Siri to record all my notes. Who knew she was such a naughty minx)
Back in the day, I used to host a little link up party dubbed the Week In Review for all my fellow list lovers out there (Be still my heart). The point was to pen a post, glorifying all the things you accomplished in a given week, big or small. It was an ode to yourself, a celebration of sorts, a virtual pat on the back, and free rein to toot your own horn, although I totally recommend handling that last one in the privacy of your own home. Indecent exposure is legit, and you don’t want to be the park pervert.
Here’s the deal: in the real world and the little bubble that is my mind, everything moves a million miles a minute, and my To Do lists are never ending. There aren’t enough hours in the day and even if there were, I’d still fill them with nonsensical things. Instead of fretting and frowning over the unfinished tasks, I’d much prefer to give mad props to all the things I did actually manage to complete. Um hello, some days showering and feeding oneself is an accomplishment all in itself.
(Hello you sexy button. Oh how I’ve missed you).
Without further ado, let’s Week In Review:
- I showered and fed myself. Hooray, even if some nights it was only a bowl of cereal with a side of toast. Hey, it was nutrient dense cereal (cough, cough).
- I went brunching, in my own home, with a lovely pair of peeps, which is far and away my favorite meal to host. Can you say mimosa? I know I can. To offset the booze, we also had bread, strata, parmesan roasted sweet potatoes and of course the endless fruit bowl.
- I made an apple pie, completely from scratch. Boom. Then I overcooked that same pie. It’s possible steak knives were used to get through the crust. Oops. The filling was spot on though.
- I worked 50 plus hours at my day job, including two 12 hours days as book ends for the week. Pfft; that sucked.
- I frolicked with the neighborhood deer, who are almost as domesticated as Oscar.
- I had a lovely Skype date with a dear friend, who helps me get through 50 plus hour work weeks.
- I spent a handful of hours horizontal on Sunday afternoon, while Oscar looked on from the sidelines….watching movies and napping. What were you thinking? Dirty birdie. I like it.
- I handled some of the more mundane tasks like paying bills, grocery shopping, balancing all the checkbooks (why do we have so many?), and I unloaded the dishwasher what seemed like a hundred times.
- I did a little bit of yard work, including getting the mums in and the pumpkins up, which is huge since this has been on my To Do list for almost a month now. Go me.
- On Sunday night, I made Broccoli Mac and Cheese. It was fantastic, and in the words of Oliver, “Please sir, I want some more…”
Wow, I was way more accomplished than I realized. I feel better already. Thanks for letting me toot my own horn, as if you had a choice.
Do you have entirely too many checkbooks also? Are your decorative pumpkins and mums in place? Do you have any desire to pen your own Week In Review post? If there’s enough interest, I might make it a link up party again, on a monthly or so basis. Who’s coming with me?
Here’s some past favorites to give you ideas.
Week In Review: The Party Planning Edition
Week In Review: The Tenth Edition
Week In Review: The Traveling Edition
Yes, Yes, Yes PLEASE! I’ve been on a way too long hiatus and I NEED Week in Review to get me going again. I vote YES! And I want some Mac n Cheese even though it’s 5:30 am… Besides it’s my birthday! Hugs!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRAN!!! I hope you’re having a fantastic time in New Mexico, and for you I’ll do another WIR link up. Look for the first one on Monday October 19th.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
Double Hooray!!! I’m So excited! Thank you for the birthday wishes. We got back to NJ at about 9:30 on Friday night. I waved at you as we drove through Ohio on Rt. 70. Hope all is well. Now I have a week to wrap my head around a few lists! Hugs!
Fran@BCDC recently posted…Thinking Out Loud #8
Well welcome home! I can’t wait to see what lists you crank out!! Also, I love that waved to me as you passed through Ohio.
Today feels like a Wednesday because sled hockey season has started. I had my Monday, and then at 5:30 pm I drove down to Cincy and had another day, getting home at 10 pm *and then* realizing the photos I’d been working on, for Chocolate Beet Crinkle Cookies, were for Wednesday’s post (see I thought it was already Tuesday).
And I decided to post my
Killer S’moresS’mores-filed Peanut Butter Oatmeal Blondies for Hashtagchoctoberfest today and the beets tomorrow. So woot. But sign up for that giveaway–hemp and silk greens and all sorts of wild things + chocolate in the prizes. I can say that because I didn’t get anything to participate, right? I don’t want no trouble. Just a lot of chocolate.Right, where was I? Oh! I accomplished NOT mailing my grandma’s oil lamp to my spouse overseas, but instead mailing it to my Cousin Cindy in Wisconsin.
The spouse got boots and a mattress pad and stuff. It’s over 100 degrees, I probably should not have tossed a chocolate bar in there. Oh well.
I’m rambling–I think I’ll go accomplish my tea.
Kirsten recently posted…S’mores-filled Peanut Butter Oatmeal Blondies #Choctoberfest
I will happily sign up for all those prizes and eat chocolate blondies to boot.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
So down to join in on the Week in Review fun!
Sara @ Oats & Rows recently posted…How To Meal Prep When You Don’t Have Time
Sweet. There seems to be plenty of interest so the first one will kick off Monday, October 19th. Hope to see you there.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
I can’t stop laughing at the Siri autocorrect. Also, that brunch looks AMAZING.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood recently posted…Best of the Weekend: Rainy Days and Belated Posts
That makes two of us. I’m pretty sure Siri called me a whore! 🙂
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
I would totally do a week in review! I think it would be cool for people to see what goes on in my crazy life each week.
Suzy recently posted…Anxiety: Part Five of a Zillion
I personally would love to see it. I’ll kick it off on Monday, October 19th. Be there or be square. ‘Eh, just be there.
Blows kiss.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
Why DO you have so many checkbooks?! Anyway, I’ll bet a lifetime supply of coconut flour that you’re the best hostess, ever, and I’d love you to serve me brunch whenever! And there are so many worse over-baked things than an apple pie – a crispy crust isn’t so bad 🙂
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…No Bake Pumpkin Sunflower Butter Bites {Paleo & Vegan}
I wonder the same thing about the checkbooks, but I have my own personal account, my joint account with the Hubby, a whole separate account strictly for taxes, our HSA account and then I have a savings account. Geesh, it’s exhausting.
You’re welcome for brunch any time!
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
You brought it back! I kind of did a mini double take while scrolling through my BL snippets this morning. And I most definitely think you should make it a thing again. And that we should have brunch next week, because… omg that spread looks amazing. I was -this- close to picking up little mini pumpkins the other day to decorate my place, but they were almost $2 a pop and I decided to spend the money on bananas instead. I’m sure you’ll agree that bananas > pumpkin any day.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. vanilla chai breakfast bake .
Bananas trump pumpkins every day of the week.
We shall be brunching soon.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
Yay for the reintroduction of Week in Review! I always loved thse posts. I do love me some lists. Though I have develloped an ambivalent relationship to to-do lists over the last few months. I never know what they do to me. Either it’s really soothing to have a plan and so on and sometimes even writing the stuff down really helps to see a perspective. Then sometimes it totally freaks me out to have a never-ending list of tasks I have to accomplish. And this can totally paralyze me. But no matter what ticking off the boxes is like fucking crack to me! (can I say fucking? twice?) Now after all this brain gibberish I contribute a little list:
– I love that you count showering and feeding yourself as an accomplishment; I will start to do this as well
– Can I come to your next brunch?
– balancing all the checkbooks sounds like hell on earth and reminds me that I had to file the tax declaration weeks ago and didn’t … ooopsi
– I am with you
– sorry, I am high on 4 cups of coffee
Juli @1000lovelythings recently posted…Catching up Monday #33
There is actually a chemical release in the mind, a high so to speak, which happens when you cross an item off your list. See, it all makes sense. We just want to get stoned on lists. 🙂
I can’t wait for you to rejoin the fun. I’ll do the first one on Monday, October 19th.
Go file those taxes!!
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
Your brunch set up looks BEAUTIFUL! I now want to host a brunch. I suppose I need friends for that, my cats won’t come to my parties anymore. You were a working fool this week, in and out of work! Accomplishing all the things. I tend to like slightly crispy desserts so I prob would have eaten all that pie, or I just love pie.
I was a working fool. This week I am deliberately taking it much easier.
You would have loved the pie.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
I am a huge fan of lists because otherwise, SOMETHING always gets un-boughten at the grocery store, un-done on an errand, or unwritten as need be. I also get a weird satisfaction out of crossing things off a list, more so than just doing them.
On the flipside, I feel like if I have a list and add something to it, I am getting it partway done. Not true.
Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…Blended Berry Muffins
There’s a happy little chemical release which happens in our heads when we cross something off a to do list. It’s like a drug for Type A’s. I hope to see you at the link up party. I’ll do the first one on Monday October 19th.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
your brunch table really does look divine. i’d like a button that says “damn you’re sexy” when you push it. that’d be nice.
your week in review link up sounds delightful. and your garden is just radiating with love and care, you must have green thumbs and fingers.
i bought a nice silver skull candle holder in august, that about wraps up my decor for now. i may buy more skulls. i’m a huge fan of the dia de los muertos mexican skulls. wicked cute 😀
and yes, siri is a naughty minx! at least she calls me empress lollypop
danielle recently posted…Ode to October
I want this button too, and I want to see you at the Week In Review party. I know you love those lists as much as me. I think the dia de los muertos themed stuff is wicked cool. So many colors.
I need to get Siri to call me a n empress lollypop. Much more charming than a whore. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
I would love to do the weekly checklist thingy if I could ever figure out how to do a link up. I love your photos of food. I would love to have deer like that, I just have a fat raccoon. I love your blog!!!! Have a great day
bakingrunner.blogspot.com
I’d be happy to teach you how to do a link up. Email me for details at megannmcc@aol.com and look for the first one on Monday, October 19th.
I’m thrilled you love the blog. Knowing that makes me happy.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
I knead that bread. Holy shit that all looks good.
I haven’t had a check book in… 6-ish years. Why do you have even one?! And I certainly haven’t balanced my bank account in as long. You know they make online banking, right? 😉
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…50 Sources of Plant Based Protein
Oh my god, how do you NOT balance your checkbooks. My skin is crawling. I’m going to have to go earmuffs now and sing song, I’m not listening, I’m not listening. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
I use my notes app to write reminders to myself ALL the time. Right now it’s filled with Christmas present ideas, books I want to take out from the library, and grcoeries we need. Oh and also songs I want to download from like 1 year ago. Apparently I’m not as good at following up on my lists as I am at writing them. 😛 Maybe I should start using Siri so that I can at least get a good laugh out of her mistakes! LOL at “whore and a tutor”.
That pie looks fantastic, tough crust or not! Did you use a whole wheat flour for the crust? I’ve been wanting to experiment with making crusts from whole wheat or other grain flours, but I’m a bit nervous about how it will turn out. I only just mastered how to make a perfect all purpose pie crust!
Chelsea @ Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…3 Things That Should Make You Question Nutrition Information
You definitely have to try recording your notes with Siri, if only to get a laugh from time to time. It actually really is easier too, when she gets it right.
I love making pie. I used a stone ground whole wheat flour for this one. The dough definitely comes out a little tougher, but I think probably switching to lard instead of veggie shortening would rectify that. Lard is how my mom and my grandma taught me and those were the fluffiest and flakiest crusts ever.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
Lard is the best for pastry! I use half lard and half butter in mine.
Chelsea @ Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…3 Things That Should Make You Question Nutrition Information
I love this Meghan, geez we all need to toot our own horns sometimes – especially on the day to day things. I often say to David ‘I hardly did anything today’ then when he asks me what I did and I list it I actually realise just how much I do. I guess I just feel a bit guilty that I’m not bringing in the dollars… one day!
Anyhoo I would love for this to be a link up – this would certainly be something to help boost confidence and pride in what we do in a week and I think, for so many, its needed. 🙂
P.s. I want to come to brunch!
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…5 Top Tips on a Tuesday – How to treat yourself!
Yes, that’s exactly right. Your conversation with David nailed the concept on its head. I can’t wait for you to join the link up. I’ll start the first one on Monday, October 19th and depending on interest, I’ll hold it every other week or every third week.
You are welcome to brunch anytime!!
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Making An Effort Edition
YES! I love this idea. I’ve been thinking about writing a similar kind of post, so it would be awesome to join the link-up party if you decide to go ahead with it 🙂
Bexx recently posted…How to Make Time for Yourself
That is an incredible brunch I love it, it makes me want to eat it all! It is no secret that breakfast/brunch is by far my favourite time of the day. And well done on everything you got done, certainly a busy and productive week!
Jessica recently posted…9 Ways to Make Getting Ready for Work Easier
I think most of us have busier and more productive weeks than we ever realize. It’s only when we go back and mark down what we accomplished that we’re able to see it. It’s why I love these Week In Review posts. You should try it. I bet you’ll be impressed with all you manage to get done too.
best. brunch. ever.
It’s all about the company. I’m so glad you two came.
Oh how I like your lists! I want you to write mine so a) I don’t forget anything and also get that dash of magic Meghan get-things-done power. And b) to realize even small things count. I vote yes for the return of the link-up but personally would be better at only joining monthly as – hi, constant comparison – else I’d feel I accomplished too little looking at everybody else’s lists.
Before I forget: you have every right to toot your own horn loudly and proud because dang, you’re one productive lady. No matter Siri considers you ;).
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Good good links #110
I would be willing to bet you are just as productive, if not more so than me. It’s amazing how much stuff we all accomplish day in and day out, and yet never give ourselves credit for because there are still items left on the list. The WIR is a way to counter than and feel good about our goings on.
Personally, I’m thinking about doing the link up every other week or every three weeks because it can get monotonous to write the same stuff week in and week out. I’m not sure if that will keep people’s interest and how the logistics will work out though. Hmm, any insight?
Way to go on the homemade pie! There are so many steps to making them, I feel like something always doesn’t turn out for me. As long as the filling is fantastic it doesn’t matter! Week in Review posts sound fun, maybe it would give me some incentive to blog more 😉
Melissa @ Mango About Town recently posted…The Foxtail Cafe
You should join the link up. I’d love to have you.
Homemade pie is one of those things that’s worth the work for me. 🙂
Can you say mimosa? I know I can.
……Hi. Those pumpkins sitting on the balcony thing – epic.
I’m so excited this is back in action. Lists make me frisky.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Healthy Flourless Sticky Cinnamon Bun Muffins
Lists make me frisky too. They’re my fav.
Meghan recently posted…Sweet, Salty & Satisfying Pumpkin Cranberry Trail Mix