subscribe to receive my posts, special offers, recipes, and workouts.
≡ Menu

It’s a brand new week and I hope yours is off to a great start!

It’s spirit week at preschool so I sent Finn off in the wackiest, tackiest outfit that he’d tolerate this morning. (I just laid a lot of options out on the bed and let him build an outfit.)

Never mind that last week we dressed up for St. Patrick’s, the week before that was a Dr. Seuss theme week, the week (or two? I can’t keep track) prior was teacher appreciation week and we also had 100 days of school shirt day. I’m constantly asking myself – is there a special thing I need to remember for school? 9 times out of 10 I remember but I can’t say there aren’t mornings where we are absolutely scrambling.

I say all of this in jest because I am actually amazed by the amount of love, care and creativity that Finn’s teachers and the leaders at his preschool pour into making their time at school so magical. I actually wrote about it in my gratitude journal last week. I’m not particularly wired in those ways so I’m constantly awed by the things they come up with. Just walking down the halls at his school and seeing all the different themes, decorations and art projects makes me smile from the inside out. I am so happy that we decided to give Finn the gift of a TK (transitional kindergarten/pre-K) year.

While I share a lot of snapshots of my life with Finn on my blog, I try to mostly leave developmental and personal stuff off these days. That said, I have been feeling a pull to write a post about our decision to TK and what that’s been like as we wind down this school year.

buffalo games 100-piece pokemon puzzle

Rainy Friday puzzle. We picked out this 100-piece Pokemon puzzle together at Walmart last week and Finn was able to do most of it on his own!

omg donuts Charlotte

Saturday morning donut date followed by a trip to the farmers market and a walk with Virginia.

5 mile run

Finn spent a few hours at his dad’s on Saturday evening so I got some beautiful sunshine and 70 degree miles in.

patio furniture

I’m in the market for patio furniture that won’t break the budget. Please share any and all links in the comments below to places you like to shop or specific sets you have that are good quality but not too pricey (my dogs are rough on any and everything in the house/back yard). I am looking for more conversation set with couch/chairs/coffee table than a dining table.

whitewater center green river

We had the BEST Sunday outing at the Whitewater Center. I’ll be sharing more in a dedicated post later this week. Finn went nonstop for nearly 5 hours! The river was green because they turn it green every year for St. Patrick’s Day.

Midwood Smokehouse Charlotte

We couldn’t get a table at the restaurant at the Whitewater Center so we stopped at Midwood Smokehouse on our way home for dinner. Finn left with a hush puppy in each hand, haha.

We were both ready for shower/bath time and PJs when we got home. We concluded our weekend on the couch with the Mario movie, ice cream and snuggles.

WHAT I BOUGHT AT ALDI

I stopped into Aldi on Saturday evening after my run before picking up Finn and here’s what I bought!

Aldi produce
  • Medjool dates for smoothies
  • Pink lady apples (my #1 favorite apple variety)
  • Broccoli
  • Mushrooms
  • Baby carrots for dog treats
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Raspberries
  • Avocados
  • Blueberries
Aldi frozen foods
  • Broccoli and spinach tots – these are an exact dupe of the Dr. Praeger ones and just under $4 at Aldi! Price is fantastic.
  • Wild caught crunchy fish fillets (For my fish stick loving kiddo – I tell them these are “big fish sticks.” I try as much as possible to vary brands, shapes, etc of his favorite protein sources.
  • Frozen sea scallops
  • Frozen gulf shrimp
  • Frozen chopped spinach
Aldi shopping
  • Easter eggs and grass
  • The Reese’s Eggs are for both of us, the Cadbury Creme Eggs are for me 🙂
  • Hummus
  • Poppy seed dressing
  • Spinach and parmesan tzatziki
  • Kombucha
  • Perfect Bar
Aldi shopping
  • Goldfish
  • Cheez-Its
  • Fruit snacks
  • Honey wheat bread (this is hands-down our favorite brand)
  • Sun-dried tomato wraps (I’ve been craving wraps lately so wanting to make some lunch combos)
  • Pita chips

No protein in this Aldi haul because I’d stocked up at the farmers market.

QUESTIONS 

How do you feel about all the school theme days? 

Patio furniture recommendations? 

Favorite type of apple? 

Favorite Easter candy? I have always loved Cadbury Creme Eggs. I used to love Peeps but have lost my taste for them these days. My grandmother loves the chocolate covered marshmallow eggs!

Oh…last one…any wrap combinations to recommend? 

{ 3 comments }

Recent Posts…

Breakfast + What I Bought at Trader Joe’s

Breakfast + What I Bought at Trader Joe’s

I am such a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast. 95% of the time I’m craving a breakfast that is on the sweet side. That mostly alternates between smoothies or yogurt bowls with overnight oats, chia pudding or oatmeal occasionally thrown in there. On the rare occasion I go savory – it’s scrambled [...]

{ 1 comment }
Life Lately: Summer So Far

Life Lately: Summer So Far

I want to bottle up this summer and make it last forever (well, maybe minus the wildly hot and humid weather that makes running a big thumbs down). I mentioned this in my last post…but I am really enjoying the slower pace and the days that feel like they have more space. While I’m trying [...]

{ 6 comments }
So Many Dinner Ideas

So Many Dinner Ideas

Happy Friday! I hope this post finds you well and enjoying the summer. We are in the dog days of it over here in Charlotte – the heat and humidity is off the charts – but it’s something I’ll embrace because I deeply appreciate the massive slow down that summer has brought. A lot of [...]

{ 4 comments }
Big Bear Peaks + Pines Race Recap (3-Day Stage Race, My First 50k)

Big Bear Peaks + Pines Race Recap (3-Day Stage Race, My First 50k)

I recently traveled to Big Bear Lake, California for the inaugural Big Bear Peaks + Pines three-day stage race hosted by TransRockies Running. This was my third TransRockies event in 12 months (see also Colorado + Moab) and I’m here to tell you that they can do no wrong when it comes to race organization [...]

{ 4 comments }
Reading, Watching, Listening (Spring 2026 Edition)

Reading, Watching, Listening (Spring 2026 Edition)

Happy weekend! Another week in the books! I got three runs in (6.5 miles, 5.5 miles, 5.5 miles) and I have a trail run planned for tomorrow. Total weekly mileage will end up around 30-35 miles depending on if I go for 13 or 17 tomorrow! I’m 16 weeks out from the Golden Ultra so [...]

{ 7 comments }
Life Lately: 8 Years Old, A New Piercing, Trail Training and More

Life Lately: 8 Years Old, A New Piercing, Trail Training and More

Happy Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a very rainy one here in Charlotte and while I am a little bummed not to be spending the weekend in Florida with the fam or by the pool at our swim club (just opened for the season!), I’m also welcoming a slower pace and time at home. It’s been [...]

{ 2 comments }
24 Things I’ve Made for Lunch Recently

24 Things I’ve Made for Lunch Recently

Hi and happy May! As we roll into the first full week of a new month, I have almost a month’s worth of lunch ideas for you. It’s a great mix of sandwiches, bowls, salads and wraps. I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration for your midday meal! Open-faced chickpea salad sandwich on toasted [...]

{ 4 comments }