Overdue Post

Hello, everyone! It has been way too long since I’ve written. Things have been kind of crazy, as I’m sure they are for most people lately. The last time I wrote, I had a few upcoming vacation days, and I planned on being outdoors (safely). Then, I found out we were expected to return to the office for work and since then, life has been pretty hectic. However, I’m about three weeks in now and starting to settle back into the routine. Luckily, I have my own office, and there are only about 4-5 other people on my floor, so I am avoiding everyone as much as I can, wearing a mask, and being incredibly diligent about disinfecting and sanitizing.

Over the past month or so, I’ve been sticking to living a gluten-free lifestyle. Admittedly, I’ve had dairy a couple times, but with all the different options out there using nut products, it’s pretty easy to not use dairy! I’ve found some awesome products at Trader Joe’s. I went back there for the first time in months and found their cashew cheese, coconut yogurt, and vegan ice cream. I’ve been eating a lot of summer fruits and salads, and I’ve been guzzling water.

I still haven’t drank alcohol, and I have stuck to my workout routine completely. In addition to working out, I’m also taking lots of walks and some bike rides. In fact, I take an evening walk daily. It’s pretty relaxing and therapeutic, and I’ve seen some amazing sights — beautiful sunsets, gorgeous shades of blue in the night skies, glittering fireflies, and stunning moon phases.

During my time off, I was able to go to a state park, several nature preserves, and a farm! I’m sharing some of those photos here. I loved meeting the goats at the farm. I feel like if I could choose a dream home, it’d definitely be on a farm — but not a farm for production (other than produce!). I really have always adored the idea of “country living,” even though I have always been a city girl. I think I just love the idea of fresh air and being away from people and pollution!

I know it’s only the end of July, but I can’t believe places are bringing out Halloween decor already. Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday. Unfortunately, I started experiencing issues with my thyroid and anxiety last October, and I didn’t get to enjoy it nearly as much as I usually do. This year, I vowed to make up for it, and even though I know Halloween will look very different this year, I plan to watch scary movies, eat pumpkin treats, light fall-themed candles, carve pumpkins, paint, and decorate with spooky decor!

I do have a few more days off coming up in August (and I took all of Halloween off — I really mean it when I say it’s my favorite holiday!), so hopefully there will be a few more adventures to share. In the meantime, here are some photos from some of my other outdoor adventures this summer, and I promise to get back to regular posting!