why wait? things I am doing RIGHT NOW anyway

 I listened to The Lazy Genius podcast a couple weeks ago, and she was talking about how you can make your home feel the way you want it to right now without probably spending any money on decorating because a vibe doesn't usually require any dollars to achieve-- it's more about making sure you can live comfortably. And I was like oh my gosh you are so right. 

For over a year, I have been complaining that we only have 6 chairs at the kitchen table for a family of 7 and shopping half-heartedly for both tables and dining benches to go with our existing table (we really need to buy new couches for the basement before we commit to any other piece of furniture because one of them is actually broken. But every time we go shopping we think that maybe we should be sending the 15 year-old living room couch downstairs and starting fresh up there and it turns into a whole give-a-mouse-a-cookie thing and we leave empty handed). 

But after that episode, I realized I have 4 more chairs that coordinate with our table in our storage room AND ALSO three more counter stools. Like, those things exist IN MY HOUSE ALREADY. Are they exactly what I would choose if I were going to the store? No. Will they work to increase seating from 10 to 14? YES YOU GUYS. THEY WILL. The vibe I am going for is relaxed and comfy and enough room at the table. I CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.

I actually think the mismatch is cute, and I love the woven bottoms on the extra chairs- they match one of our lamps. I am thinking about putting the other 2 at the head and foot of the table, so we could have 4 and 4, but we'll see (the current head and foot chairs have arms, so they are already slightly different-- I like that). I ended up only using 2 extra bar stools-- they are holding plants right now, but could join the other 4 at the island easily. So, there you go. Seating for all. RIGHT NOW.

On the way to my office the other day, I saw a bunch of happy people working at the coffee shop on the corner by my building and I was like I really need to spend more time writing at coffee shops someday. And then I turned around and went in and got a flat white and spent a lovely 75 minutes before my class working at a crowded coffee shop. I wrote my whole dissertation in coffee shops, you guys. and I miss the vibes.

(unrelated, this gd dance convention/competition website said it would give us schedules on 4/7 and DID NOT and I have 2 kid sports and an 18th bday to plan that weekend)

Also! That random morning was great, but I need MOAR coffee shop time and am going to pencil it in.

I have also started reading 50 pages of whatever I am reading as soon as I wake up. This has been an excellent practice-- I can have a cup of coffee and wake up without getting stuck in the scroll. It takes me about 25 minutes, and then I am ready to exercise.  

To answer Daria's question from comments the other day, I usually do not buy books. But! Lately, I have bought a ton of Audible titles on sale (Judge Stone; More Than Enough; So Old, So Young; Once and Again) and realized I spent about $55 on them **yikes face**.  I have a $15/month Audible subscription, too. I have also started buying or pre-ordering about 2 Kindle books a month ($30), and I have a Book of the Month club membership, meaning I get a book a month for $17. So. Guys. I actually do spend a bunch of money on books. Oops. I do get the majority via Libby (I have 4 cards! For 35 holds at a time! Some of my kids don't ever read, so I took their numbers! And my school ID gives me 5 extras!) or the library. But, most months I spend right around $60 for a couple Kindle reads and my subscriptions.   Not counting my recent Audible sale binge. **another yikes face**

One more thing! That we did  right now anyway: we wore spring clothes on Easter even though we had to cover them up with our parkas. Wisconsin, get it together!

The E.B. booked the boys a tee time, and Harry wore shorts. He is a true Sconnie.

Ben celebrated the slightly warmer afternoon weather by taking Minnie and Cooper to a new barnyard-themed park for kids ages 2-5. Where they played a rowdy game of tag that saw Ben sustaining a major injury dashing to the chicken coop (home base). He fell down and called for Cooper, whom he had just tagged. Cooper thought Ben was trying to trick him into getting tagged again. But no! Ben was really hurt.

Just a sprain! Phew!