Day One Hundred Eighty-Five: Calathea Lancifolia

The truth is, I spent most of this day in my bed, wondering if it would be my last. I certainly didn't have the energy or consciousness to think about Firsts. But at some point during the day, my sweet husband went to the store to pick up some things that might ward off my death and also picked up a lovely plant, which I noticed and loved even in my flu fog. I have never had a Rattlesnake Plant, as this species of calathea is commonly known, and it was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak day.

Day One Hundred Eighty-Four: Non-Optimal Drive from Austin to Dallas

Well, Weston's last game got pused back by an hour and a half, so we didn't leave Austin until about 5:30. By the time we got to Waco, Weston was starving and craving Italian food, so we stopped at Olive Garden. When we finished up there, the temperature had dropped to right around freezing, and it was drizzling. Weston fell asleep almost immediately, and I spent the rest of the drive home trying to convince myself, between deep, chesty coughs, that I was not getting sick. It was not my favorite drive, but we made it home safely, which it what matters.

Day One Hundred Eighty-Three: National Pizza Day

Weston and I celebrated National Pizza Day while watching the Olympics Opening Ceremony in our hotel room. And even though we couldn't be with the rest of our people, they were celebrating too, and there was a lot of texting of pictures back and forth. We love any excuse to party!

Happy National Pizza Day!

Day One Hundred Eighty-Two: Red Horn Coffee House and Brewing Co.

After Weston's basketball game this morning and lunch with my mom afterward, Weston and I found ourselves with no other plans for the day. I took him by the first house Jeff and I ever owned, but that wasn't much of a time filler. So I hopped on Google Maps to explore my area and found a fun coffee house and brewery, where Weston and I spent several very enjoyable hours this afternoon playing board games and enjoying some snacks and drinks. It was such a great place to hang out with my game loving guy!

Red Horn Coffee House and Brewing Co.

Fun times at Red Horn

Day One Hundred Eighty-One: Road Trip with Weston

Weston has a basketball tournament in Austin during the next few days, so he and I took off this evening on our first-ever, just-us road trip. Our first order of business was to grab some dinner, because food obviously figures prominently in a road trip with Weston. I hardly ever get to hang out with the kids one-on-one, so I'm super excited to have this opportunity!

First stop: Panda Express

Hmm. I'm not so sure about this fortune. What do you think?

Day One Hundred Eighty: Restorative Yoga

Today's First was a true "Yes, And" experience. There was no premeditating or looking back on my day to see what I did that would "count." It was simply an opportunity that presented itself, which I said "Yes" to. I took Max to try out a kids' yoga class, not knowing that they had a restorative yoga class going on simultaneously. I was sitting on a bench outside Max's class, trying to decide which book to read next, when the restorative teacher came out of her room to get something. She asked if I wanted to join the class, and at first, I declined, citing the fact that I wasn't dressed appropriately for yoga. But then she explained that there was barely any movement at all in the restorative class and that I could wear what I had on with no problem. Knowing that I was going to miss my regular gentle yoga class tomorrow evening, I decided to kick off my shoes and join the class. It was truly restful, and I'm so glad I did it! And, I'm also proud of myself for being spontaneous!

Day One Hundred Seventy-Nine: Makeover

Looking for faces on which to practice makeup application for her business, a woman posted a plea on a local Facebook group for volunteers. I decided it would make a good First for me, so I offered my face. This First was way outside my comfort zone, since I'm not that in to people, makeup, or being touched. But getting outside my comfort zone is definitely the spirit of this Year of Firsts project, and I'm glad I did it. I made a new friend, tried a new look, pushed past some of my issues, and grew as a person.

Before

After