Happy Tuesday and happy Summer, friends! Yesterday's post was all about my weekend trip to Louisville; today I thought I'd talk about things that I'm loving and things that are a hard no for me this summer. Before I start, I will tell you that this post was inspired by Sophie Hudson and a recent episode on The Big Boo Cast. Okay, here goes!
things that are a hard no:
- spending too much money
- saying "yes" too much on my time off
- dressing in stuffy clothing
- not eating enough (I need a lot of protein while I'm working)
- being unfriendly to people I've never met
- being mean to the little girl I'm a one on one for at Summer Learning Camp
- not dating my boyfriend (it still feels so weird to say that after being a wife for 28 years)
- being unhappy
- not enjoying this life that I get to live
- having a home/home decor that I don't love
- saying "yes" just to please someone
- being a people pleaser (see above statement)
things that are an easy yes that I am loving:
- finding ways to be at home more
- soaking up the one day a week that I have at home
- loving the clothes that I wear
- eating food that sustains me at work this summer
- being friendly with all of my current co-workers
- getting to love on the sweet little girl that I'm a one on one for (she has a terminal illness)
- dating my guy and doing lots of new things together
- smiling at work in the halls as I walk my little student around
- being so grateful that I can't help but smile
- loving my life and all the things I get to do
- my home and being here for the week nights (and sometimes the weekend nights)
- letting go of being a chronic, lifelong people pleaser
And on another note, here are some recent outfits I've loved...(linking up with Amy here for this one...)
I lived my best teacher life yesterday and wore this dress with white tennis shoes. It was raining cats and dogs when I left that morning, so no sandals for that day! I am loving my summer job outfits.
I am loving my new clutch that's in my favorite color: magenta!
I am loving this neon orange dip powder that I got last week!
Your turn! What is something that's a hard "no" for you? And what is something you're loving? I like to end on a positive note. Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!
Jenn
So many cute summer outfits! We had pouring rain most of the day yesterday too... and looks like we will today as well. I am all about the light, gauzy, floaty materials in the summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was like that here yesterday and the kiddos had indoor recess. It's rainy here all week as well! Bleh. Yes to the lightweight, loosey-goosey, gauzy materials!
DeleteYes! I found myself nodding along to a lot of the things you listed. I am getting better at saying no to people and things that I don't want to do.
ReplyDeleteYou, Marilyn and Amy all look fab for your Friday night dinner. The dresses are all so pretty!
Yes! I love that you were nodding as you read the lists. I am getting better at saying no to people as well! It's empowering. Thanks, friend! Our server at the last restaurant we went to Friday night complimented us all as well. He said he loved our colors!
DeleteHi Jenn :) The "hard no" question has me thinking this morning. Hmmm...I think it would be - not living where my kids and babies live.
ReplyDelete37 years ago I moved 5 hours away from my hometown, my family and my friends, to get married and live in a place I had never been. So when my kids start talking about moving to the Nashville area, that's where I'll be too. I've spent my entire married life living apart from my own family, but I won't spend the rest of my life living apart from the family I created. Not gonna happen!
Good morning to you! I love your answer to the question. I could totally see that since you moved away from your own family. And hey, the Nashville area is great and close to me! Maybe that's when we could meet someday. ;)
DeleteThis was awesome to read and I can so relate. I was a lifelong people pleaser but after turning 50, I am getting smart and protecting myself. It is so liberating! So happy to read you are happy with your life- that is an awesome goal for all of us!
ReplyDeleteThanks, friend! I totally get how liberating that would be. Maybe it's something about turning the big 50...I turn 50 in December.
DeleteAn intriguing list. There ist one item on your "hard no" list that piqued my curiosity: "being unfriendly to people I've never met". You don't strike me as someone who would be unfriendly to people. What made you think of this one? Have you observed others who are unfriendly to strangers or generally unfriendly & mean?
ReplyDeleteI'm not an unfriendly person...but I've experienced this a lot lately. Some of the people I've been with or have seen as I'm out and about have been very unfriendly, and that is always baffling to me. I'm the kind of person who smiles at someone and looks them in the eye and greets them.
DeleteSame here 😃. I have come to the conclusion that being unfriendly to others is often a reflection of how people feel about themselves and has very little to do with the "target" of their rudeness. Sadly, these folks haven't noticed that smiling at and connecting with others is an instant mood lifter. Fingers crossed that you will encounter lots of cheerful people this summer.
DeleteYes! I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks for that, friend!
DeleteI love these lists! I love the brown dress and sneakers for work and I found myself in flip flops again in a torrential downpour and was kicking myself for not wearing sneakers!
ReplyDeleteI always smiled and said hi in the hall to students or teachers.
I think you will need to protect your Fridays to some degree. Saying no is such an act of self-care.
Thank you! I was inspired by an email I got from Sophie Hudson, and inspiration struck. I do love a dress and sneakers on a rainy summer day. I may do the same thing again today since rain is expected later. I bet you were kicking yourself for wearing the flip flops! I cannot stand for my feet to be wet. I do the same at work! I smile and greet everyone. I will definitely protect my one day at home; I have plans this Friday to do something that makes me happy! I'm so excited. I love that last thing you said: that saying no is an act of self-care. You are so right!
DeleteI might have missed you saying in an earlier post that you were working one-on-one with a child with a terminal illness. I bet you are exceptionally gifted with this precious child! I can imagine that you approach this as a ministry and bring great joy! Have a wondeful day!
ReplyDeleteI probably actually never shared that. Thank you for the kind words!
DeleteHard "no" for me is negativity (not the type you were listing here - to me that was recognizing it and avoiding it) - I'm so tired of people complaining about this-and-that. When I find myself doing it I am reflecting on "why" and how to get out of that spiral. This includes impatience. . .time is finite, figure out how to manage it so the little you have you aren't annoyed with - ha!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving these summer mornings!! I wish I lived in a climate that allowed this year-round. . .I hate being cold so much. BUT, there I go complaining, when I'm sitting on my back deck at 7:50 in the morning with a sweatshirt on - PERFECTION. Enjoy what is in front of us, right??? And change what we can, which is always our mindset :)
Yes! I wholeheartedly agree with the no negativity rule. I also love a leisurely summer morning. They're the best! I would love to experience a sweatshirt summer someday.
DeleteHi, my name is Amber and I'm a recovering "people pleaser" LOL-with God's help I'm slowly getting better and starting to put myself first and set boundaries. It's hard! but, every day is better! This may be a long comment, but I will try to keep it short. Love the clutch-would love more details or a link if possible! same with the scarf necklace-I'm loving this new fashion trend and yours is super cute! My "loving" list will be easier so I will list a few: I'm loving my hydrangeas that are in full bloom right now in my yard. I'm loving CeCe Winans new album, & lastly I'm loving all the new shows/true crime docs that are streaming currently. This is a suggestion for a future post: please share your fave protein meals/snacks. I would love some new (to me) ideas!
ReplyDeleteGirl, I am the same. I get it, trust me! The clutch was from a boutique, but let me do some research and I'll share it on Friday. Stay tuned! I love all the things you love right now. CeCe Winans is at the very top of my list! I love her so much...and have for a long time.
DeleteI love this idea for a blog post and might have to borrow it. I’m a lifelong people-pleaser and am only now trying to break out of that mold. I had to wear sneakers to school when my foot got bad. This was waaay before it was chic to do so. Of course, I wasn’t wearing them with cute socks or none at all. One of my students said, “What’s up with the sneakers?” And, I hated them ever since. Now, I wear my Sambas with so many dresses and just love them. I just love your hair…it’s so beautiful! Thanks for linking up with us.
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thank you! Borrow away, please. I was inspired by Sophie Hudson myself...and that is what this little community is all about. That's so funny about the sneakers that your student commented on!
DeleteI love when Sophie talks about things being a hard no. She always cracks me up! That clutch...wow!!
ReplyDeleteI do too! I love her so much.
DeleteI love a sneaker with a dress and yesterday was the perfect day for it.
ReplyDeleteI do too! I felt the same way; sandals are slippery when the ground is wet, so I was glad to have them on when I walked both in and out of work on Monday.
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