The high of my week was starting Bridgerton! I held off on watching season 3 until all of the episodes were released, and now I am firmly entrenched in the world of my favorite fictional family. I have been waiting for Penelope’s story because she is by far my favorite character, and it has not disappointed. I’m only a few episodes in and I’m savoring each episode because I know the length of time between seasons is looooong. (I saw a Thread that it takes two years between writing, filming, and editing each season, which means we probably won’t get season four until summer 2026? Ugh!)
The low of my week was difficult workouts. I did a circuit training class on Tuesday that felt so hard and I really struggled to catch my breath during the routine. And then on Wednesday, I had my regular HIIT workout class and felt like I was going to just plain die. My heart rate was high and my muscles felt so fatigued. Have you ever had weeks where your body just feels like it took three steps backward? Oof. I’m trying to remind myself that I’m not a robot and I can’t be expected to work out at the same level of intensity every week, but wah. I want to see progress!
One nagging task I marked off my to-do list was um, nothing? Oops. I have a whole list of things I need to get done, but I guess that’s going to have to happen this weekend!
I’m currently reading two books. On audio, I’m almost halfway through The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. It’s a WWII novel about code-breakers and it’s fascinating! I also just started Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez.
A Reel I loved was this very excellent joke from a stand-up comedian. It made me laugh a lot!
A podcast episode I enjoyed was Go West Young Man on Good Christian Fun. I don’t remember the last time I laughed so much listening to a podcast episode. I was in tears at one point! I still giggle to myself when I think about the part of the episode that had me cry-laughing. So good!
The best money I spent was $23 on this adorable “Purride” shirt on Etsy. I couldn’t help myself when I came across it!
My plans this weekend include not much! I have a podcast recording date with Bri (our last recording date was over a month ago!) and a video chat with Kim to discuss our plans for next weekend (!!). I may drive around my city and drop some books off in Little Free Libraries. I have a big stack of books in my closet that need to go to new homes, so I think this weekend is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
What was the highlight of your week?
Oh, that shirt is so cute! I’ve very tempted.
I love your plan to seed some Little Free Libraries this weekend. Share the book love!
It comes in so many fun colors, too! I couldn’t help myself when it popped up on my Etsy page.
I LOLd at that joke, thank you for sharing.
I like to seed those Little Free Libraries too, though we sometimes drop off books at our local library too. They have a bookstore and sell the books for funding.
I’ve donated books to the library, too, which I know is appreciated! I wish my library had a bookstore, but alas. It’s fun to roam around my city finding these Little Free Libraries, though. I have so many around me!
I started Bridgerton this week too! I need to remember to watch it. It’s so well done.
Ugh, I hate off weeks like that, workout-wise. We do expect ourselves to be robots and always have progress and they feel shameful (for me), when really, we have SO much going on – our hormones, how much sleep we got, what we’ve been eating, the vibe at the gym, etc.
I am looking forward to our FaceTime tomorrow!
Hmm. My highlight was… a cool run Monday after work!
Yes, I looked into what stage of my cycle I was in so I could try to blame it on that, but I’m actually in the stage where I should have the energy for hard workouts, so that was annoying to learn. HA. I’m guessing it’s just a product of other hormones and just having an off week, which happens! I felt a lot stronger this week, so there ya go!
Bridgerton! I saw the first season then lost track of it. I’ll look for it, need to catch up.
I like Kate Quinn and will look for the novel you mention. Will checkout the podcast, I could use some laughs, well many laughs. Again you’re keeping me up-to-date.
Happy Weekend!
Oh yes – you are in for a TREAT if you haven’t watched Bridgerton since the first season. And check out Queen Charlotte, which is a prequel to the series and SO well-done.
Hi Stephany! Thanks for these updates. The highlight of my week was R’a moving up ceremony yesterday , he was so cute! He has another year of preschool because he is 4, but in September of 2025 he will be ready.
That’s exciting you only have one more year of preschool for R! He’ll be more than ready to tackle kindergarten in 2025. Yay!
I do almost exclusively Peloton workouts for cardio, and I can see my “output” after every class, and I will tell you that those numbers really vary from week to week! It depends on the day, how tired I am, where I am in my cycle, did I do leg day yesterday, etc. We aren’t always on a completely straight upward trajectory, is what I’m saying – it’s natural to have some weeks that feel fabulous and easy and others that feel like grim death. You’re not alone!
I have been listening to Absolutely Not and it’s so funny, I often have to stop what I’m doing because I’m bent over laughing until I am crying. I won’t listen to it on my walks anymore because I look insane, and Rex thinks I’m dying, as I stand with my hands on my knees, gasping for breath because I’m laughing so hard!
That makes me feel better! Some weeks are just more difficult – and there can be a vast array of factors of why that is! We’re not robots, unfortunately. It’s the same with the way some weeks we’re hungrier than other weeks!
I just added Absolutely Not to my podcast queue. I’m always looking for a podcast that has me laughing so hard I can’t breathe!
Girl, I am so proud of you for hitting the gym and I do hope it will make you feel better and encourage you to stick with it when I tell you that despite my rigorous routine, I have days/weeks where I feel much for fatigued … so many things can factor into why some weeks feel better than others.
That makes me feel better, thank you! I just have to remember that it’s okay if things feel harder from one day to the next. That’s just life!
I feel you on the exercise. I haven’t done anythings this week besides and hour long walk. Mainly because I ams o tired. But I think I will do a yoga session now because I also want to see some changes. It is hard.
That shirt looks so like you.
Sometimes, a long walk is all that you can do and that’s fine! I’ve definitely been there where I am just not up to do anything more than that.
Thank you!
I felt so tired on my run yesterday so I totally know what you mean about feeling extra tired or sluggish during workouts. There are so many things that can impact our energy especially our cycles. Hopefully you feel better this coming week.
I’m so excited for your Chicago trip. I can’t wait to hear all about it. If I wasn’t traveling so much for work, I would have gone as well!
The high of my week was definitely my run in Central Park. It was such a beautiful night!!
The only way that this weekend would be better is if you were coming to the Popcast Live show! It would have been so much fun to have you there!
About those workouts- unfortunately progress is never linear. Do not get discouraged! Just keep at it and you’ll see progress over the long term (having said that- I also get frustrated and discouraged when I don’t see consistent progress- it doesn’t seem fair!)
That shirt is so cute- I’m going to ask my daughter if she wants one.
The Rose Code sounds good- I’ll be awaiting your review when you finish it!
Thank you, Jenny! I’m trying to just remind myself that struggling during one workout doesn’t mean I’m going backward. It just means it was hard. And I felt stronger this week than I did last week so that’s a positive!
I really enjoyed The Rose Code – 5 stars from me!
LOL. I left a comment re: this on the previous post. Sorry! Your dedication to your workouts is AMAZING, Stephany, and I hope the comments here have reinforced that. Go, you. <3