What's Up Wednesday

Happy Wednesday, friends.  I'm double posting today, because I love these types of posts.  I'm linking up with Shay at Mix&Match Mama and her friend Sheaffer for this blog post. 

1.  What we're eating this week:

So far this week we've eaten Beer Cheddar Joe's (a Mix&Match Mama recipe and general crowd pleaser), grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, and I have hamburgers planned for tomorrow night.  We are doing lots of grilling because we have a new Blackstone griddle-top grill.  Here is one that is almost exactly like the one we have, in fact it may be this one pictured.  It was cheaper than the price you see, though, because we got it while it was on sale.  We love this thing, and my husband has been doing most of the cooking lately. 

2.  What I'm reminiscing about:

I don't know why I started thinking about this trip, but the other night when I was watching tv and alone in the house, I started looking back through old pictures from a trip we took to Iceland over ten years ago.  It was supposed to have been a working type trip (similar to a mission trip), but because of an active volcano that kept erupting, our plans changed and we went to a little island (Vestmannaeyjar) and ministered to a young pastor and his family.  The part I was thinking back on was what we did on our last day~and is perhaps one of the neatest things I've ever experienced thus far in my forty-three years.  We went to the Blue Lagoon and swam.

The pictures are terrible, because it was over ten years ago, but you get the picture.  The waters are milky and you cannot see through to the bottom.  The water is supposed to be healing and rejuvenating and people are sent here sometimes for certain treatments.  You better believe I took some of the mud that was in the water along the bottom and smear it all over my skin.  The water is warm because it's located near a lava field that is known for its geothermal power...so basically, the water is warmed naturally.  It's milky blue color comes from the high concentration of silica that is found in the water.  That silica is what forms the mud and the mud is known to be healing for many skin conditions.  Sign me up to go back, please.  Not only for this, but for the dear people we were with and got to know while we were there, Mike and Sheila.

Moving right along, now...

3.  What I'm loving:

Daytime lunches with my husband.  We both went to different stores yesterday and then got back home around the same time.  After we'd put everything away, we each made lunch for ourselves and then sat down to eat at the table together.  Sometimes we do this at the breakfast hour, but I am a quality time girl, and this makes me happy.  I also love good conversation, and we always have that. 

4.  What we've been up to:

This week it hasn't been much.  We enjoyed a day at home on Monday because it was Memorial day, but we didn't do anything special.  The guys all slept late and we just kind of hung around and stayed comfy all day.  They were able to get the yard mowed before the rain came in, so that was good.  We grocery shopped yesterday, I went to my favorite nail place and got my nails done (!!!), we've just done a few things here and there. 

5.  What I'm dreading:

I can't really think of anything that I'm dreading right now.  Unless it's just the forseeable future as plans are laid out because of the pandemic.  Our town keeps canceling events, and I sort of feel like I'm waiting on the next ball to drop.

6.  What I'm excited about:

This weekend!  Two words for you:

A couple of my best friends and I are leaving Friday morning for a little weekend getaway!  I cannot wait.

7.  What I'm watching/reading:

I've watched all the shows since March.  I loved watching Friday Night Lights all the way through.  I rewatched Parenthood over the past couple of weeks.  Todd and I finished the show Waco last night.  Just this morning I started How I Met Your Mother.  I go to bed and watch Grey's Anatomy or Gilmore Girls.  Todd and I also finished watching The Voice over the weekend.  I have other ones I watch from September-April, like The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam, This Is Us...I could go on but I'll stop.  I love tv right now.

I'm still reading the last couple of Sisterchicks books by Robin Jones Gunn.  My next book will be Being Known by the same author, and then I may continue on with her and re-read all her other ones.

I'm looking forward to reading Sophie Hudson's new book when it comes out as well.  She and Melanie Shankle are my favorite go to authors for a funny memoir.

8.  What I'm listening to:

I always play my favorite playlist on Spotify, but I also love other artists like Natalie Grant.  Just last night I watched her one hour concert at the Ryman Auditorium with just her and hubby Bernie Herms.  She's been posting songs since the quarantine hit and I've loved listening in. 

9.  What I'm wearing:

All the comfy clothes.  I also have sort of a uniform for when I go out: cropped jeans and a cute shirt, a comfy dress from last summer, or leggings with a long t-shirt and cardigan.  I'd love to wear shorts, but maybe after the weekend I'll have a little bit of color on my legs.

10.  What I'm doing this weekend:

Having fun with girlfriends!  We're not doing much of anything once we get to where we're going, but I foresee a lot of laughing, some good eating, and maybe relaxing by a pretty view of water.

11.  What I'm looking forward to next month:

I don't know!  Normally I would say spending time with my mom-in-love at her neighborhood pool, but I don't know if it's going to open.  This may be the most boring summer of all time.  Who knows?

12.  What else is new:

I think I've covered it all. 

Thanks for reading!  Love to all.