Week 37 In My Notebook | 2024

Happy Fall! Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox so we can officially say the season has begun. I am happy to share that the unrelenting sunshine of the last few weeks finally relented and we had a day full of clouds on Friday. Can you can imagine my happiness? And the weekend was perfect: a light rain nearly all day on Saturday and partly cloudy on Sunday.

Mondays are an opportunity for us to reflect on the previous week and think about everything that went right. I overcame quite a bit of fear last week and am delighted to add that particular achievement to my list today!

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Notebooking tools:

• The notebook: Hobonichi Hon A5, which is the same as the 2025 A5 Cousin but in hardcover.
• Pen: Zebra Sarasa 0.4
• Highlighter: Mild Grey Mildliner 
• Dots: Washi Paper dot stickers

We won’t dwell on what I didn’t do this week, but let’s talk about what went RIGHT:

• It rained on Saturday! Humans have no control over the day-to-day weather so maybe that doesn’t belong on this list, but it definitely helped.
• I filmed two YouTube videos! Way out of my comfort zone and super scary but something that has been in my thoughts for a long time and is scratching the itch I thought Substack would take care of. YouTube has proven to be much easier. Just turn on the camera on my computer and yack away.
• Two resistance workouts and three spinning sessions.
• Journaling completed every day.
• So much time outside! I’m looking forward to reading outside this week.
• Mopped last night (just in time to check it off the list!) and it’s wonderful to wake up on a Monday morning with clean floors.
• We also used the fire pit last night! The kids love it and so do we.
• Less black and white thinking about my time. My brain blocks off certain times for certain activities and I have a hard time not following those “rules.” I’m challenging those rules little by little and finally getting somewhere.

One of my biggest challenges over the last year has been Colton’s sleep schedule, but lately it seems like he’s typically waking up between 5 and 5:30 (despite the 3:30 and two 4:30 wake ups last week). Knowing that there’s a 50+% chance of having a quiet house until 5am has been a good motivator for me in the mornings and I’ve gotten better about just bringing out my computer and working amidst his chaos. Who knows what will happen when the time changes again soon? But we’re in a workable place right now.

This week’s forecast?

Highs in the 60s, lows in the 40s. We’re getting there, friends. Such a beautiful sight!

This week won’t be a typical one for us because Matthew is on vacation! Colton is still going to school and we’re having our homeschool every day, but it will be so nice to lean on him a little more in the evenings. I have ideas for blog posts and YouTube videos, want to exercise every day, have a library trip planned with Bryce and Bronwyn, want to visit an apple orchard to collect the goodies needed to bake a pie, and it’s fair season. Expect my moka pot to be working overtime to help me keep up with it all!

How about you? How was your weekend? How did last week go for you? I hope you’ll share something that went right in the comments. Or share what went wrong and we can talk about it. I know how it feels when it seems like nothing is going right — you’re not alone.

I hope Monday treats you well. Take good care!