Loving… my spin bike! Of course! I have really enjoyed doing the beginner spin workouts on the Peloton app and I’ve already seen a difference in my performance. (The first few rides, my elbows, forearms, and wrists hurt from holding my upper body up, and now they don’t bother me at all!) I want to get a cadence sensor for my bike since the instructors seem to really focus on it in the classes and my non-Peloton bike doesn’t have a way to measure cadence. (I’ve just been working at a speed/resistance that feels good to me.) I think I can “graduate” from the beginner workouts, though, so that’s exciting!
Loathing… how hot it is already! Ugh, Florida. We’re already seeing temps in the 90s and it’s not even April! Thankfully, we’re getting these little temperature dips every now and then (this weekend, the highs are in the low to mid-70s!) so it’s not so bad, but I am not ready for summer weather just yet.
Watching… the current season of Nailed It! I was so surprised when I logged into Netflix and saw that a new season was released. I’m not a TV binger by any means, but I consumed the entire season over the weekend. It was perfection! Nicole Byer can do no wrong in my eyes.
Listening to… Nothing Much Happens, a podcast that gives you a bedtime story to fall asleep to. I’ve only recently started listening to this podcast (typically, I listen to ASMR videos on YouTube to fall asleep), but it’s really lovely and relaxing. It sends me to a soothing, happy place to fall asleep.
Grateful… that I was able to schedule my COVID-19 vaccine appointment! Florida is opening up vaccines to everyone over age 18 on April 5th, and I secured an appointment for April 8th. I’m so thrilled! This means I will be fully vaccinated by mid-May. I don’t know if this will change my day-to-day life much, but I’m just excited to see more and more people get vaccinated. We’re only at 14% of fully vaccinated Americans, but hopefully, by the end of May, that number will be dramatically higher.
Anticipating… potentially a tropical vacation this summer. With my mom and I soon to be vaccinated, we can start thinking about how we want to use our flight credit from the trip we had to cancel in 2020. It’s been fun to look up flights and hotels and to daydream about getting away. Planning vacations is one of my most favorite things, and I’ve missed it so!
Thinking about… investing in a few Olive & June products to start doing my nails again. I don’t paint my nails, ever, but I was influenced by a Bookstagrammer who was raving about Olive & June so I went to their site and started playing around. I could have easily dropped $50+ on new nail polish and dry drops and a special polish brush… thank goodness for the March spending limit I have myself on! I do miss having pretty colors on my nails but I probably need to take it slow (maybe just get a new color and topcoat?) to see if this is something I actually want. Hmm… perhaps I can reward myself with new Olive & June products every time I go a week without chipping my nail polish? Ha.
Inspired by… conversations about marriage with a friend. I have a friend who is so honest and open with me about her marriage, even discussing their disagreements and the way they work through them. It’s so eye-opening to me! I think there is so much about marriage that is hidden behind closed doors—like it’s taboo to talk about it. This friend has a really strong and stable marriage, but of course, she and her partner fight from time to time because that’s what couples do! I love hearing about the ins and outs of her marriage, mostly because it reminds me of how important it is to communicate in a marriage and be truly vulnerable about what you need since nobody is a mind reader. Anyway, it’s been inspiring and I’m glad she feels that she can share the realities of marriage with me.
Researching… how to get rid of the dark spots on my face (caused by acne). I’ve been meticulously keeping a multistep skincare routine for a few months now, and I’ve seen marked improvements from it. Even my esthetician is impressed with my clear pores and soft skin! But what hasn’t improved are all the dark spots dotting my chin and jawline from acne (I’m a serial popper + picker, sigh). I don’t necessarily want to try a chemical peel or microdermabrasion just yet, so I’ve been researching other skincare remedies I can try, like a dark spot serum. It’s something my esthetician recommended for me and I think I’m going to buy Murad’s Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum. I’ve had great luck with Murad’s products in the past so I’m crossing my fingers this one will work just as well. (And for the price, it better—whew!)
What are you currently loving, watching, and grateful for?
Ooooh! This is fun! I love my Peloton as well (I have the bike, but I also use the app for strength, meditation, etc.)
You are the second blogger I follow that lives in Florida. Right now we have windchill of minus 19 and snow. It would be nice if we could split the difference!
I mentioned before our slow vaccine rollout – I think it’s because Canada doesn’t have pharmaceutical headquarters. I’m hoping if I keep my expectations low, I will get vaccinated sooner. You never know, magical thinking!
Regarding dark spots, I started using Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair and it made the biggest difference. I saw results in about a week, and I have been using it daily for a long time now – no more dark spots!
Ooo let us know if the product helps with the dark spots – I could use that too!
I wonder if Olive and June is the same company that they were advertising on the Popcast? If so there might have been a discount code… Oh, yep! http://knoxandjamie.com/2021/03/394/ “your BFF for all things nails 20% off your first mani system at oliveandjune.com and use code POP. ”
That is so great you are getting your vaccine and thinking about trips! I was just thinking how Steven and I need to do more trips once things are better. We mostly only spent our trips and vacation visiting family before and seeing the same places.
Definitely get a cadence sensor. It does tell you a lot about bike performance! Like when I did a few bike races (LOL) I really used it a lot to make sure I was overdoing it.
Loving – all the attention my cats rock get in my Facebook group (no shame!), watching: Treehouse Masters, Grateful for: switching jobs in Jan!
Hooray for your Covid vaccine on the schedule!!!
I just started watching Broadchurch and Derry Girls and enjoy them both!
Loving that I get my 2nd vaccine dose tomorrow! Everyone over 16 is eligible today so Phil is on lots of waiting lists. Can’t wait for us to be fully vaccinated. We won’t really change our behavior a ton after that but it will be nice to feel protected! I’m watching ‘Million Little Things’ and ‘This is Us’ when new episodes are released. I binged Million Little things during leave and loved it! And I am grateful that we will have my MIL with us for Easter. We haven’t had family with us for a holiday since Christmas or 2019!!
So glad you are loving your bike! and it’s amazing the progress you have made already!
How about this – you and I can swap locations in spring and fall. You can come here, where it’s slightly cooler (70s right now) and I can bask in the heat (which I love… although the FL humidity might be a deal breaker for me and my hair…)
Oooh, travel planning! I hope you get to go somewhere, and can’t wait to hear more about the decision process and ultimate destination! Such fun.
I am so thrilled you’re loving your spin bike and the Peloton platform…. it’s been such a great motivator for my at-home workouts.
That’s awesome that got a vaccine appointment (as you know, I also got my first shot this week!!)… we’re moving in the right direction finally!
And that’s great that your friend is so open about her marriage. I think it’s really valuable to talk about the ups and downs and the ways to work through disagreements.
Oh, man, I can’t believe you get such hot weather so early in the year! We had a couple of 80-degree days at the start of April, but today is was 45 again, haha. Sounds about right for Ohio. 😛