Nashville Wife

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Beauty in Quarantine

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2020 has already been a year that will go down in history, and it’s not even half over. We all would have laughed if we had been told on January 1st that we would soon see empty shelves at nearly every grocery store, news articles about people hoarding toilet paper, or a worldwide shortage of hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, N95 masks, and disinfectant spray.

Being unemployed for two months was not on my husband’s radar, nor did we expect to witness the government send billions of dollars through the mail to private citizens. When I offered to help my brother-in-law find a deep freezer, I was prepared to research the best brand and model, not to be told that there were literally none available on the market and likely would not be for months. And so much worse than all the inconveniences that our society has faced are the deaths that have resulted. While I only know of two friends who have tested positive for COVID-19, my heart break for those who have lost loved ones.

Here in Nashville, residents were still dealing with the fallout from the March 3rd tornado when the Coronavirus shutdown hit. Our city’s economy is fueled by the entertainment and health care industries, both of which are experiencing major setbacks. Two credible sources told us that one of the area’s leading hospitals is facing financial stress due to elective surgery cancellations, and no one knows how many months will pass before large concerts and conventions will resume.

But in the midst of all the upheaval, uncertainty, and heartbreak, there is still beauty to be found. I have especially enjoyed the extra time that I have been able to spend with my family, the opportunity to have long telephone or video conversations with friends and other loved ones, and the chance to work through house projects. It’s encouraging to see others getting out and enjoying nature, while still social distancing. Some of the smaller parks have been closed, but those with ample field space and wide trails have remained open.

So that brings me to my next discussion question: What beauty have you found in quarantine? What new things have you done? How has your routine changed for the better?

We can all list the things we miss and are eager to get back, but let’s take a moment to focus on the positive.

Family Dynamics

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Mr. Handsome and I have been married five years and are in the early stages of our parenthood journey. We were talking the other day about how interesting it would be to have our readers tell us about their families. Some of you have done this in the comments section of other posts, and we have really enjoyed that.

So here goes: How many children do you have, and how far apart are they in age? Did you set out to have a specific family size, or did it just kind of happen? If you don’t have children, we still want to hear from you! Do you have a spouse? Live with other family members or roommates? Or perhaps you live alone? Hoping to jump-start an interesting conversation.

Freedom From Quarantine

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One of my loyal readers posed a great discussion question this morning, so I thought I would share: What are the first things you will do when quarantine is over?

Federal, state, and local governments are working tirelessly to come up with detailed plans to open up up the economy without jeopardizing the safety of citizens. It will likely be a slow process, but I am definitely looking forward to having some semblance of normal life back.

Below is a list of a few things that I am excited about doing when quarantine is lifted. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

-Going out to coffee

-Hanging out with friends (Little Buddy and I really miss our playgroup)

-Attending church

-Going thrift store shopping

-Taking a vacation (likely still a few months away, but a girl can dream, can’t she?)

On Becoming a Coffee Addict

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Looking back at how much of a fad coffee–particularly espresso–has become over the past several years really fascinates me. The regular coffee, whether black or mixed with a bit of cream and sugar, that folks have brewed for centuries has sort of become passe. In its place are lattes, mochas, frappes, americanos, cappuccinos, and a host of other drinks that I can’t name, let alone tell you how they are made.

Before we became parents, Mr. Handsome and I were not big coffee drinkers. We would occasionally pick up a latte or mocha on car trips, but that was it. Enter Little Buddy, and everything changed. It was Mr. Handsome who started the trend, claiming that he needed it to function at work.

I somehow survived the newborn days without coffee, but it just made the house smell so good that I eventually got into it. I usually don’t drink it in the morning, but it makes a great mid-afternoon pick-me-up. In fact, I’m drinking a cup as I write this.

When we’re at home, we drink black coffee, made in our $20 French press, with a good amount of milk and a tiny bit of cream (the real stuff, not creamer). But when we’re out and about and feel like treating ourselves, we love to stop by coffee shops and pick up one drink to share. Over the summer, we did mostly iced lattes, but now we’re into hot lattes. While we enjoy the more sugary drinks, we usually ask the barista to hold off on any sweetener or flavoring. But every once in a while, we’ll try one of the advertised seasonal lattes, like lavender or pumpkin spice.

I still remember the day I told Mr. Handsome how delicious the fancy coffee drinks from Starbucks were and that he should try them. He laughed and told me that he would never get into that. Fast-forward about three years, and he is quickly becoming a coffee connoisseur. We haven’t been to Starbucks in months because we both agree that the coffee sold at independent coffee shops is much more delicious.

Are you a coffee drinker? What are your favorite ways to drink it?

Our Favorite Movies

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Mr. Handsome and I are always up for a movie night, but finding good movies is a perpetual challenge. We both have fairly easygoing personalities and are happy to watch a movie that the other one chooses, even if it isn’t something that we particularly enjoy. We are always up for a clean comedy, but those don’t seem to be as common as comedies with excessive amounts of inappropriate content or clean movies that aren’t as funny as they claim. (Let us know if you have any suggestions.)

Unfortunately, whether we’re at a theater or at home, I have the terrible habit of falling asleep during movies, especially if it’s late. Thankfully, when it comes to long movies like Lord of the Rings, I can catch a short nap during the middle and not miss much. My habit has gotten worse since I became a mother. The trouble is that I am running around all day, and I rarely ever sit down for more than a few minutes. I eat while I stand, often feeding Little Buddy at the same time. And when I sit at my computer to blog, I’m up frequently to tend to him. If we watch TV or a movie in the evenings, I usually prefer to watch while doing stretches and light exercises because I know that if I sit down on the couch, I’ll have a hard time fighting sleep. Do you have this problem?

In the video below, we share our favorite genres and whether we like movie theaters or prefer watching at home. Feel free to chime in in the comments section.

Mr. H’s Surprise Part 2

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Two days ago, I wrote a post about the gift that Mr. Handsome surprised me with last week. If you missed that post, be sure to go back and read it before continuing.

When I left off, I had returned home and seen something very large in our house that had not been there before.

“Did you buy me a treadmill?” I asked Mr. Handsome, in shock.

“A what?” he responded, as if he had no clue what I was talking about.

“A treadmill,” I repeated.

“That’s really weird,” he replied, still trying to sound confused. “Little Buddy and I went outside to swing for a few minutes while you were gone, and I guess someone must have snuck in and left it.”

Now I know what you’re thinking. What kind of husband buys his wife a treadmill? But don’t worry, this wasn’t Mr. Handsome’s way of telling me that I need to lose a few pounds. I had wanted a treadmill for the past year because I really enjoy exercising, and I like having options, especially in the winter when the weather is blah and going outside is not feasible. (Let’s be honest, going to the gym with a baby isn’t an option.) But treadmills are expensive, and we had both agreed that we should wait a while before making such a big purchase. So you can imagine how taken aback I was when I came home to find a treadmill in our house.

For a few days, Mr. Handsome continued to pretend that he had no idea where the treadmill came from. I didn’t mind not knowing, but I knew that someone had delivered it because our vehicles are too small, and I felt like I should thank that person. So we worked out a deal. I would bake Mr. Handsome a blueberry pie (one of his favorite desserts) and he would tell me the story behind the treadmill. I finished the pie late in the evening and actually forgot to ask him about the treadmill, until he reminded me the next day.

He and one of his coworkers had been talking about gift ideas for spouses, and Mr. Handsome had mentioned that he wanted to get me a treadmill at some point. Well, it turned out that one of his coworkers had a treadmill in her closet that she was looking to get rid of. Her husband wanted it gone so badly that he even offered to deliver it. They didn’t want to take money for it, but Mr. Handsome wanted to give them something, so they suggested $40. I could hardly believe it! Some people might say that a low price for a big item diminishes the value of the gift, but I’m a sucker for a good deal.

It turns out that the massage was just a way to get me out of the house so they could deliver the treadmill. Both surprises together were probably the most thoughtful thing that anyone has ever done for me (aside from the elaborate beach engagement that Mr. Handsome planned four-and-a-half years ago). It’s not about the amount of money spent–it’s about the amount of time and thought that a person puts into something simply because they know how happy it will make you.

What was the most thoughtful gift (whether or not it was a surprise) that you have ever received?

Mr. H’s Surprise

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Last Friday, Mr. Handsome came home from work with an announcement: “Tomorrow at 11:00 in the morning, I have a surprise for you.”

“What is it?” I asked, intrigued.

“Just be ready to go tomorrow at 11, and I’ll tell you where you’re going,” he stated. “And make sure not to look at my phone before then.”

My personality is not one that likes big, life-altering surprises, and Mr. Handsome knows that. For example, if someone gifted me a vacation and told me about it a month in advance, I would be thrilled. But if I walked in the door and Mr. Handsome (or anyone else, for that matter) told me that I was going on a trip the next day (or even the next week), I wouldn’t be excited. In fact, I would likely decline the offer. But surprises that don’t involve travel (or being away from Little Buddy for more than a few hours, as that is something I would need to plan for well in advance) are lovely.

With all that in mind, Mr. Handsome orchestrated a wonderful surprise. He wouldn’t give me any details, but he knows me well enough to know that I needed the assurance that I would only be gone a couple hours and that he would be staying home with Little Buddy.

So on Saturday morning at 11am, I was standing at the front door, ready to go. I felt like a child on Christmas morning.

“Are you ready to find out where you’re going?” Mr. Handsome asked.

“Yes!” I replied.

He put an address in my GPS and then announced that he had booked me a massage. How sweet is that? He knows that I rarely get a break, and he had paid attention when I had told him a few days prior that I was having lower back pain from lifting our incredibly heavy (but incredibly adorable) son. So I was able to enjoy a couple hours of “me” time, plus a wonderfully relaxing massage.

When I returned, Daddy and Little Buddy were reading books. My heart almost burst when my 7-month-old son started laughing and smiling uncontrollably as he saw me walk in the door. After we ate lunch, Mr. Handsome laid down on the couch to take a nap with Little Buddy, and I headed for my home office to do some work. On the way there, I passed something that definitely hadn’t been there when I had left a few hours earlier. Was it…no, it couldn’t be!

Come back to the blog on Saturday to find out what I saw and to read the story behind it. But for now, I would love to hear your thoughts on surprises. Do you enjoy them? Perhaps you don’t enjoy any kind of surprises, or perhaps you would be thrilled if someone told you to pack your bags and head to the airport. Let me know in the comments section.

In Case of Emergency

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“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” (Benjamin Franklin)

This quote can apply to many different situations–preparing to give a speech, preparing a meal for a large crowd, preparing a plan for sightseeing when guests come to town, preparing to lead an important meeting, preparing a lesson plan–but today I am going to apply it to preparing for an emergency situation, before that situation occurs.

On my post recent post about debt, the topic of discussion among a couple of my readers turned to emergency preparedness–specifically having a stock of food and supplies in case of disaster. That got me thinking, why don’t I create a post where everyone can share their ideas for making an In-Case-of-Emergency Kit (also known as an Emergency Preparedness Kit or Survival Kit)?

If you have such a kit, or if you know someone who does, go ahead and share your tips for creating the kit, what to put in it, where to store it, etc. I’ll see you in the comments section!

In Debt or Debt-Free?

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One of our readers asked us if we believe in the idea of being debt-free. We decided that would be the perfect topic for a vlog (embedded below). After you watch it, feel free to share your thoughts on the topic. Do you believe in living debt-free, or are there things for which going into debt is permissible?

Sleep Training

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Happy Friday! As Little Buddy approaches his five-month milestone, we want to hear your thoughts on sleep training. Since he was born, our routine has always been to wrap him up in his soft blanket, turn on a TV show, and let him fall asleep all cuddled up to us. (Mr. Handsome is usually the one to put him to sleep, while I get things done or relax.) Then once he is fully out, we swaddle him and put him to bed.

Some nights it’s very smooth and quick, other nights he fusses and fights it. When he was really little, we had to walk him around the living room for what felt like an eternity, and we are grateful that he doesn’t usually require that anymore. Little Buddy sleeps through the night most of the time now (usually wakes up between 5:00 and 7:00am), and to say that we are thrilled is an understatement. When he does wake up in the middle of the night, I am able to wrap him in his blanket and rock him back to sleep. On days when he wakes up early in the morning, he usually wants to go down for a nap almost right away. Our son definitely likes his sleep!

We are constantly being told to “watch out” because our next child is likely going to be a terrible sleeper. We have joked about it, but for now, we are just feeling very grateful.

I will say, though, that what Little Buddy lacks in overnight fussiness, he makes up for in daytime fussiness…

From the time he was a few weeks old (after the “baby honeymoon” phase passed, when he would just sleep all the time), he has been pretty fussy on most days. Not unhappy, but just especially particular about frequent diaper changes, feedings every two hours (that’s the downside of a baby that sleeps through the night–he still wants to eat the same amount in a 24-hour period, so that means feeding ever two hours during the day), and naps whenever he desires them. (Unless we are running errands and he conks out in his car seat, he requires that we hold him while he falls asleep, sometimes through a lot of tears.)…

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