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Week in Review: Hot Bar, Hot Momma and the Holidays (#60)

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Get your pads and pens ready because it’s time for the Week In Review.

The Week In Review is a list, in its purest form, not of the things you still need to do, but of all the things you have done in the last seven days. It’s an achievement list, an ode to yourself, a celebration of sorts, and a virtual pat on the back or smack on the ass. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Need more details? Head here.

Week In Review Button Final

♫ You can do it, put your list into it. ♫

Let’s get listing:

I had a group mommy and baby play date at the house on Friday. Connecting with other mothers is the only reason I’m still sane, provided you call what’s left upstairs sanity.

Ave and I went to the West Side Market and Whole Foods, where she dabbled in her first hot bar action.

west-side-market

Despite all evidence to the contrary, she really liked the white bean and carrot medley I picked out for her.

ave-and-whole-foods-hot-bar-november-2016

(“Feed me carrots again, and I will cut you.”)

In addition to food shopping, we snagged our Christmas tree, a lovely seven foot Frasier fir.

Lakewood Garden Center

ave-and-meg-christmas-tree-shopping-december-2016

Continuing the holiday theme, we put up our decorations, indoors and out. The babe was a fan, although not a huge help. Unlike Oscar, she has opposable thumbs, although she has no idea how to use them; beyond shoving them in her mouth that is.

ave-and-the-christmas-lights-december-2016

Holiday Wreath

His and Her Snowmen

We went to breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning. We spent the first part of the event doing donuts in the parking lot while Ave got some zzz’s, followed by an entire outfit change and full body scrub down (you know why) before taking selfies with mom and hanging with the big man. Thankfully I packed an extra party dress. Call it mother’s intuition or Murphy’s Law, I just knew a backdoor bash was bound to happen. 

breakfast-with-santa-december-2016-ave-sleeping-in-car

ave-and-meg-breakfast-with-santa-december-2016

ave-and-santa-december-2016

As for me, sans child, I published three blog posts, including Motherhood to Music which I’m tickled pink about. 

I had lunch out with friends. It was great to catch up with this particular group of people and absolutely magical spending some hours apart from the tiny human (no offense kid).

flipside-lunch-wedge-salad-and-onion-rings

I also hosted my older brother for a quick overnight visit, and we watched the movie, Creed. It was worth seeing, especially if you’re a fan of the Rocky franchise…and I just aged myself.

Young Meghan and Colin

(We’re a little older now, although not much wiser.)

I worked out four times on the elliptical. It feels nice to sweat again and I don’t mean the nursing hot flashes.

I managed to grab two solid naps on the weekend, and they were glorious.

bed

I did the usual laundry, paid bills, reconciled bank accounts and played in my planner.

Last but not least, I made another batch of Candied Roasted Almonds, Vegetable Bean Soup and Veggie Stir Fry.

Easy Veggie Stir Fry

Easy Veggie Stir Fry

It’s your turn. I want to hear from you. Link up and get yo’ list on.

 


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Comments

  2. Ave’s smile. I just… it leaves me speechless. She’s so darn beautiful. WHAT is that glob of white stuff on your salad… blue cheese? Whatever, it doesn’t matter, you were out with friends and there were onion rings and that’s all I need to hear. Basically you were your regular superstar accomplishing self this week PLUS being mother of the year. I never got pictures with Santa when I was a baby… i think the village I lived in didn’t even have the option… but I’m sure I would have pooped my pants out of nerves before hand. So – Ave – don’t feel bad. What a great week 🙂
    Cora recently posted…Week In Review: Learning in So Many Ways. A Week Done and DominatedMy Profile

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  3. Holla, week of accomplishments and firsts! The former on your part, the latter on your little co-hosts side. I’m sure the post-hot bar face is merely an expression of disappointment of not being allowed to delve into some of the fancier options. I’ve heard good good things about those Whole Foods hot bars.
    Brave Ave for not crying at her first meeting with Santa. That big old white-bearded man can be scary for some children. He knows everything we did throughout the year after all ;).
    Christmas decorations up and tree bought – well done and making me a little jealous. We once again won’t get a tree at all but I’ll make a reminder to at least get myself some decorations from the attic. I need that Christmas spirit all around.
    Yes to naps, that is all. I underestimated them for too long.
    Miss Polkadot recently posted…Week in Review: The one with many blessingsMy Profile

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    • Naps are my favorite, followed closely thereafter by lazy baths.

      Ave did shed a few tears on Santa’s left, although in her defense it was the second go around with him and she got it back together. To be honest, I’m impressed she did as well as that since she’s been very stranger skittish lately.

      Putting up the tree and decorating the house is one of my all time favorite traditions.
      Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Hot Bar, Hot Momma and the Holidays (#60)My Profile

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  6. Naps, workouts and a lunch date without the little one? Way to go on the selfcare front!

    I love the picture of you two at the garden center. You two look so alike 🙂
    Also I am impressed Ave wasn’t afraid of Santa Clause. Here in Germany we don’t have Santa Clause but on the 6th of December Sain Nicholas comes and brings sweets and little treats. And every kid I remember was scared when he arrived.

    Also these onion rings call my name 🙂
    Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…Week in Review – Tis the season…My Profile

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  7. Haha! I want to move next to door to you and be Ave’s pseudo Lala! Not dissing my own four lovelies at all! But…. our youngest just turned 11 and the oldest is in her first year of college. I neeeed a baby to snuggle and walk the floor with when they’re miserable with a cold or teething, and to laugh at as they try to understand the crazy world around them.

    You do seem to get the clicks at the best exact moments of the babe! The photo of Ave on Santas lap might look like your attempts for naps at home? I know he is not, but he totally appears to sleeping and Ave seems to wondering how he will know what bring for her if she can’t tell him! I adore that photo!

    You brought the extra dress because you are fully immersed in motherhood! All parts of it, congrats! You’re ready for anything now, ‘you got this’, the good, (mama intuition is fully activated), the bad, you know it wouldn’t be cool to stink bomb the holly-jolly storybook Santa fantasy), and ugly! (lets face it, nothing pretty about a dress washed in a public restroom sink with their soap, then damp dried under the hand dried. And yes, I did that once at the Airport, BEFORE our flight, after our bags were checked, and because it was only a 45 minute flight, I didn’t think we’d need extra clothing. In my defense I was 18.

    Is that bacon and more importantly, is that some sort of Gorgonzola dip? I wanted to dive into it whatever it is, when I saw the blue bits!

    What a sweet photo of you and your bro! I have two sisters and had four brothers, now three. I LOVE connecting with my oldest brother every fall in MI. Both of my sister go to his cottage and we just fall into our old sort of childhood Michigan roles. He was always my protector, being 6 years older. 7 kids in 7 years, I was the 7th.

    Anyway, I hope his visit took you back to old fond memories and tightened your bond. Family is everything!!

    Reply

    • I am sorry, I just don’t know how to make these short. I think I end up reminiscing too much and hopefully my company is not terribly boring for others, though skipping over it is one possibility. I am also spending lots of time in bed just now recovering from some pretty major surgery! For what it’s worth, I do apologize. I can’t seem to shorten things up! Or list!

      Reply

      • You do you Grandma Lala, long comments and all. I love reading them and hearing snippets of your life. I’d also be a fan of having you next door so I could have help walking a teething baby…I think she might have one coming. If not then she’s just a bit overtired. We’ve gotten her naps back under control the past couple of days and her night sleep has thankfully been better. I think that’s baby intuition. They push until they know mom can’t take anymore and then fall back into a manageable routine. 🙂

        Bacon and blue cheese for sure. One of life’s lovely little food combos. Every now and again, I slip a little bacon into my life. It keeps me from being too green. 🙂

        I hope you’re recovering well and if there’s anything you need, just let me know. Odds of me doing anything are 50/50 these days but I can try and my heart is in the right place.
        Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Hot Bar, Hot Momma and the Holidays (#60)My Profile

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  11. Ave looks so excited about getting the Christmas tree and decorating! Makes sense, I guess–you only get one first Christmas. Glad you got to see some friends and get some time away from mommimg. And nap!
    Last week, I graded a lot of papers, published a couple of stories to the English department blog for my internship, and…oh, yes, I made an experimental batch of blueberry muffins. It was mostly a failed experiment, but I’ll keep persevering, darn it!
    Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar recently posted…Week in Review: A Week in PhotosMy Profile

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  13. Love that pic of you and Ave at the Christmas tree store – her smile is just adorable! I bet she gets away with murder with a smile like that!
    Glad you were able to do a lot of social bits and bobs this week – it makes such a difference, well I know it does for me. We had David’s work Christmas party on Saturday night and it was great just to spend the evening talking! And the booze and dancing was of course fantastic too!
    Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Friday Favourites + Episode Six of the CTRG Podcast!My Profile

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  14. I just showed Evie the pic of you and Ave at the tree place and she said “OMG she’s cute… but you can see the mischief in her eyes.” HAHAHA! Also, we’ve decided that instead of having a child we’d like to just share custody of Ave. I mean… she’s so cute and you’ve really done a lot of the hard part already. I think it’s a win. Ok?

    P.S. So proud of your ellipticalling and napping!
    Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Supplements and Working OutMy Profile

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  15. That cheeky grin is priceless. Backdoor bash! hahahaha
    Definitely going to have to try the Veggie Stir Fry… when the boyfriend is out. A meal without animal protein is apparently not a meal.
    3 things- bridesmaid at a wedding, went to a gig, and crossed some chores off the list. Finally. 🙂

    Reply

    • My Hubby actually requested Veggie Stir Fry although he’s used to meatless meals around here.

      Great job on crossing those chores off the list. I know that felt good.

      Reply

  16. Jealous of your real tree! We’re not allowed to have them in my building, and I came -this- close to convincing my parents to go with a real one, but then they got lazy and settled for their go-to fake one. Le sigh. Even with all those smelly spruce candles, it’s still not the same.
    Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…healthy buckeyesMy Profile

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