Holy moly, you guys. What. A. Week. One of those weeks where on paper I look very together and productive and like maybe I drink enough water and answer emails in a timely manner... and in reality I’m held together by espresso, taco leftovers, and pure denial about the moving boxes stacked in the corner. So yes, solid week? Absolutely. Also a wildly avoidant week where I found approximately 27 things to do instead of actually packing? Also yes. Two things can be true!

First things first, the biggest stressor: my poor pup had surgery. I was an absolute basket case about it, obviously, because that is who I am as a person. So what did I do while he was in lala land? Played a round of mini golf and got a crispy small Dr. Pepper from McDonalds. But he’s recovering well and officially back to doing that dog thing where they act deeply inconvenienced by rest while also milking it for every ounce of sympathy possible. Tiny king. Honestly, once I knew he was okay, the whole week felt lighter. Not less busy, not less chaotic, just... less like my nervous system was being chased up the basement steps. Y’all know what I’m talking about.

And the chaos was still very much chaos-ing. I had meetings, saw my mom a few times (love her, my emotional support human), got in some friend time, and had cotton candy ice cream from Sully’s with my kiddo, which weirdly does count as therapy in my book. It was one of those full weeks that felt good and exhausting at the same time.

The Big 3-9: Tacos and Ticking Clocks

So, Sunday night dinner was a big one. It was my husband’s and his twin sister’s birthday, and the theme was basically: welcome to 39, here are some tacos. Truly a beautiful celebration. We did a full taco situation because obviously that’s the ideal choice. Tacos are festive, low-pressure, delicious, and forgiving, which is the exact energy I want around any birthday at this point in life.

Big spread, happy chaos, everyone eating, leftovers for days... my kind of party. I’m at the age where I don’t need bottle service or a fancy dress code, I need good food and enough time to digest before bed. That’s luxury now.

Also apparently this week’s accidental theme was just... Mexican food in every possible form, which really feels correct for me. I had impromptu nachos on Monday, birria tacos on Friday, and if we’re really committing to the bit then yes, maybe a Corona-Rita made an appearance at those two different places. At that point it stops being a coincidence and becomes a lifestyle, and I for one support it fully.

The Meal Prep Win

This weekend’s meal prep was actually elite, if I may gas myself up for a second. Since it was April vacation, I had fewer people on the list than usual, and instead of doing the classic “great, let me fill every open inch of time until I cry,” I actually left those spots open. Growth! Maybe? I needed the breathing room with the birthday dinner, the dog recovery situation, work, a toddler, and the looming move hanging over me like a weird cardboard cloud.

The menu this week? Genuinely rude in how good it was.

Chicken and Steak Stir Fry with Jasmine Rice: Super simple in theory, but in reality one of those meals that just hits every time and makes you feel like maybe you do have your life together.

Chili Lime Beef Taco Bowls with Adobo Honey Sauce and Crushed Cool Ranch Doritos: Loud, messy, spicy. The smoky spicy adobo honey sauce alone deserved its own fan club, and the crushed Doritos on top? Absolutely unnecessary in the best possible way.

Honey Mustard Shrimp and Orzo Feta Salad with Snap Peas and Corn: This one felt very fresh, very spring, very “I’m trying to be put together” while still being actually filling and not just decorative lunch energy.

Maple Sriracha Tofu Bowls with Fresh Veggies, and Black Rice: Sweet, spicy, a little chaotic, and honestly one of my favorites because the extra sauce situation is always needed.

Sunrise Bowl with Passion Fruit Yogurt, Seedy Granola, Maple, Berries, Citrus, and Hemp Seeds: She is beauty, she is grace, she is the kind of breakfast bowl that makes you feel like maybe you should be answering emails from a sunny porch somewhere. I see you Bermuda!

Mango Sticky Rice Chia Seed Pudding: The star. The icon. The emotional support dessert-breakfast-snack situation. Honestly, this one deserved its own little spotlight and possibly a standing ovation.

I did end up making some off menu meals for clients with allergies and somehow it didn’t take nearly as long as I imagined so that’s a win for me. Them too I guess.

And this is where the balancing act starts to feel like one of those circus tricks where all the plates are spinning and you’re smiling but internally you’re like haha okay cool cool cool I’m gonna pass out. I love birthdays, I love being with my family, I love feeding people, but trying to juggle family stuff, business stuff, meal prep, and the general maintenance of life? Yeah... But really, looking at that lineup, I’m choosing to take the win. A lot of people got fed, the food was actually exciting, and for one brief shining moment I actually had leftovers from meal prep.

The Great Moving Box Strategy (Or Lack Thereof)

So, we are moving. Or, more accurately, we are talking a lot about moving while I continue to be deeply unserious about actually packing. This is the part of the week that really cracks me up, because I can have a super solid, productive, emotionally resilient week... and then absolutely refuse to put one single mug into one single box. Like somehow my brain can handle meetings, meal prep, events, dog surgery stress, work logistics, and life admin, but the second it’s time to label a box “kitchen,” I go NOPE.

When I moved into my current house, I had way less stuff. Now? I appear to own enough kitchen gear to open a very niche museum. Boards, bowls, random serving pieces, tiny spoons, backup tiny spoons, seasonal nonsense, and things I’m sure I needed at the time but cannot currently identify. My strategy, if we are being generous and calling it a strategy, is to buy a ton of boxes and panic-pack when the pressure becomes spiritually appropriate.

Is it efficient? Absolutely not. Is it predictable? Painfully. But this is the weird contrast of the week: I actually had a really solid week. Productive! Full! Kind of crushing it. And yet the moving situation remains in the “I’ll deal with that later” zone, which is now less of a zone and more of a lifestyle.

Pool Person Aspirations

I am so incredibly ready for warm weather. I want sunshine, I want breeze, and I want pool parties. The only problem? I’m not entirely sure how to be a "pool person."

I’m thinking I should probably hire a pool boy just so someone can explain to me how the chemicals work so I don’t accidentally turn my hair green or create an algae monster in the backyard. Anyone remember that Are You Afraid of the Dark pool episode? And speaking of pool-green-hair trauma, I did just get 6 inches chopped off Tuesday and a fresh new bleach, so I would like to keep this hair era alive before bromine comes in swinging. Yea, it’s a bromine pool, not chlorine whatever that means? Does that even turn hair green? If I’m going to be a pool person, I want to do it right. I want to be the person hosting the most epic summer backyard pool parties plus my husband bought me a Blackstone. While I use it quite often year round I can’t wait to make him use it while I float on a cheese shaped floaty.

Looking Ahead

The week ahead is looking decently full. I’ve got deliveries tomorrow (because of course I do), and then I’ll be attempting to use my “free” time for packing instead of just thinking about packing while doing literally anything else. Manifesting progress. Manifesting labeled boxes. Manifesting not losing every charger I own in the process.

And honestly, that feels like the theme right now: trying to hold the sweet stuff and the stressful stuff at the same time.

Thanks for hanging with me through all of it, truly. Whether I’m on top of my game or one tiny inconvenience away from a dramatic floor cry, I’m glad you’re here. If you need me, I’ll be eating mango sticky rice out of a meal prep container and pretending that counts as self-care (it does).

XX,

Abby

Song of the day: “Freaking Out” by Dexter and the Moonrocks.

Throw it on. Grab a leftover taco. Maybe some packing tape.