Let’s Catch Up (Thinking Out Loud #21)

Well hello strangers! It’s been forever, right? I know, I know. I’m working on it.

I’m currently typing this post up as I’m watching the 2016 Electoral Vote coverage. I’m usually on-call and answering phone calls for the studio at night, but it’s been pretty quiet. I think everyone is watching with me! Did you vote yesterday?

I’m not going into how I feel about the outcome, but I will say that — either way — we will be okay. Press onward, my friends!

Since it’s been quite a while since we’ve really chatted on the blog, I thought it would be nice to check in and create a Thinking Out Loud post today. I’m hoping to dive into more content (and, you know, one of the dozens of drafted posts that I’ve started to share with you) soon, but for today, let’s take a mid-week break and dive into some coffee talk, shall we?

I miss you guys! Let’s catch up!

 

• Scott has always been my number one fan  …

… and I couldn’t do what I do without him. Adjusting to not only working full-time, but working between 60 and 70 hours every week has been quite a transition for me. I knew that taking on the type of role that I did would be demanding, and I truly hope that the hours I currently work now will settle down — eventually.

Just like anyone, I have my good days and bad days. Some days I feel like I’m killing it and on top of the world, while others I miss running this blog on a daily basis, teaching fitness classes, and having the flexible schedule that I’ve been used to for years and years.

I had one of those bad days last week, and it was so nice to come home to a surprise bouquet of flowers and encouraging note from Scott.

He didn’t even know how much I needed the motivation to keep moving that day, either. I guess that’s how you know you picked the right one to marry … they just know when you need things. A little appreciation goes such a long way, and I’m just so thankful to have Scott in my corner all day, every day.

I know I wouldn’t be doing what I do without it!

 

• welcome, newbies

I’ve noticed a lot of new faces around here over the last couple of weeks. Most have come from the Friday Favorites link up, and I want to personally welcome you to this crazy corner of the Internet where you can normally find healthy living tips, workouts, recipes, travel recaps, and things to do in New York City!

Life In Leggings hasn’t been updated with the usual content in a bit, but I’m hoping that changes sometime soon. I miss sharing my everyday tidbits with you, and I really hope to get back in the kitchen and more creative with new workouts to share in the near future. Until then, thank you for joining the ride!

 

• we didn’t dress up for Halloween this year

In the past, Scott and I have gone all out. Halloween is always a fun celebration for us where we get to dig into our costume closets and create something new and conversational year after year. Last year, we were at a loss of what to dress up as at the last minute, so we spent a few hours constructing “White Trash” costumes.

Hey, we spent a total of ten dollars. You can’t really beat it!

With Scott working nights and me recovering from long days at night, we didn’t really make an effort to get out this year. Those of you who follow LIL on snapchat (username -> lifenleggings) probably saw how populated my neighborhood was with tiny costumes! There were children everywhere and barely enough room on the sidewalks to get home. It was like a movie set!

Along with dressing up, we usually watch a collection of scary movies leading up to the holiday. I’m a sucker for all of the classic throwback movie series like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street. Do any of y’all watch these on a yearly basis, too? Here’s hoping that we can get back to our traditions in 2017.

 

• speaking of movie sets, this is pretty cool

Last week I walked past the filming of the new Spike Lee movie, and this week I walked by a nighttime filming of Bloodline.

Both were located on main streets in the Park Slope area, and I stumbled upon them as I was casually walking to and from work. I also saw a commercial being filmed in cross streets last month. You just never know what you’ll see in these neck of the woods, and I just love, love, love this part of Brooklyn.

Also speaking of movie sets, did I ever mention that Scott has been keeping busy with extra work during the day time? Extra as in playing an “extra” on sets? He works at a popular restaurant in Midtown at nights, but has really immersed himself in what NYC has to offer by auditioning for random gigs all over town. He’s actually filmed for several television shows you would see on HBO. He usually comes home with interesting stories to tell, and I think it’s great that he’s exploring new avenues in entertainment. When in New York, right?

 

• we’re falling for Broadway

We don’t get to the City to see Broadway shows often, but we have been spoiled with out-of-town visitors getting us to the box office lately. We asked around to see what show to see when Scott’s mom was in town, and we got great advice to go see The Color Purple.

We walked in to a neat set that didn’t change throughout the entire show.

The writers did a fantastic job telling the story from the book I remember reading, followed by the movie I remember watching at school. There weren’t many costume changes, and the focus was purely on talent. Everyone was incredible!

I definitely teared up a time or two, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area in the near future. I’m already itching to see another show!

 

• what would y’all like to see next on the blog?

Since I don’t have much free time to create new content these days, I’m having a hard time deciding what to focus on next. Would you like me to get back to sharing new workouts? I’ve had a request or two to share more about Orangetheory and the science behind the workout — would that interest you? Would you like me to try and cover weekend recaps again?

Any special requests? I’m all ears!

 

• it may be too early, but I’m all about that holiday music

No? I tell ya, it took a lot of will power for me to scroll past the “Holiday Pop” music channel today. I will admit that I’m usually the first one to think that it’s too soon to see anything related to Christmas in November, but I’ve been hit with the holiday bug early this year. Maybe it has something to do with living in New York, but I feel like I’m already surrounded, and I’m not mad about it. This will be our first Christmas in NYC, and we’re pumped!

(throwback to a NYC visit, post-Christmas circa Winter 2012)

Now here’s the real question — when is it too early to set up a Christmas tree? We have a tradition to set it up on Black Friday, but our Christmas stuff is still in a storage unit in Michigan. We won’t really have enough time off to go get it, so we just might get our first real tree this year. Ahhh, so exciting!

 

• I’ve been really into hot tea and hot chocolate lately

Maybe this piggybacks off of gearing up for the holidays, but I can’t get enough hot tea and hot chocolate lately.

If I’m at work and need a warm pick-me-up, I’ll walk down to Starbucks and grab a hot tea for an afternoon treat. Whenever Scott and I are out at night or know that we will be walking outside for a decent amount of time, we have been treating ourselves to a couple of hot chocolates to help keep us warm and toasty. It’s the little things that make days a little brighter, so if that’s hot chocolate, so be it.

 

All right, I could keep rambling on, but my tired eyes are ready for bed. I hope you are all having a great week so far, and I’ll be back on Friday for the usual link-up!

Have a great day, and thanks for checking in!

 

Questions of the Day

• What would you say if you were thinking out loud today?

• Are you ready for holiday cheer or does the thought of hearing a holiday song make you cringe today?

 

Previous TOL posts: (Thanks for hosting the link-up, Amanda!)

• Thinking Out Loud #20

• Tuesday Thoughts & Life Updates

• Thinking Out Loud #18

• Thinking Out Loud #17

• Thinking Out Loud #16

• Thinking Out Loud #15

• Thinking Out Loud #14

• Thinking Out Loud #13

• Thinking Out Loud #12

• Thinking Out Loud #11

• Thinking Out Loud #10

• Thinking Out Loud #9

• Thinking Out Loud #8

• Thinking Out Loud #7

• Thinking Out Loud #6

• Thinking Out Loud #5

• Thinking Out Loud #4

• Thinking Out Loud #3

• Thinking Out Loud #2

• Thinking Out Loud #1