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You are here: Home / Real Meals / Empty Nesting

August 8, 2018

Empty Nesting

It has been so quiet here that I don’t know what to do with myself! I’m trying to work ahead as much as possible given that my workdays can start at 7 and end at 7, and my life is going to be turned upside down sometime this fall. (This is me speaking from experience!) I have a handful of sponsored posts scheduled for Nov + Dec that I’m trying to tackle now so that I can really embrace some maternity leave this go-around. (Side note: Does anyone know where I can buy eggnog in August?! I might have to just make it from scratch!) 

I’ve been missing my West Coast boy so much and Facetiming with him when I can. Just a few more days until we fly out! I’ve been pulling on my invisible string and embracing our E.T. & Elliott connection while he’s gone. (His Abercrombie Kids shirt has me all excited for fall!)

One of the biggest differences I’ve noticed between life with and without having a child around is the time I’m spending in the kitchen. When it’s just me, cooking is something I love to do to relax and unwind. There’s no rush to get anything on the table because there is no looming bed/bath time routine and Thomas and I can easily wait until dinner is ready to eat.

Even though Mazen is very self-sufficient these days, I still find it overwhelming at times to cook dinner and have it perfectly timed for our family to eat. While I get him to help out sometimes, that in itself is an extra challenge. I think the bottom line is if you have anyone depending on you to eat at a certain time, you must do planning and prep in advance.

Smoothie bowl fun with bananas, yogurt, milk, Vega, and cinnamon topped with turmeric granola.

this !

Sandwich dreams!! All that yellow is a fat heirloom tomato. Plus lots of Seaside cheddar, avocado, a tiny slice of ham, pickle on Cville Crunch bread from Great Harvest.

More of the same the next day plus chips + cherries + arugula.

T and I have kept dinners lighter the past few weeks and have been loving dinner salads. They are heartier than they seem. This one had rotisserie chicken, homemade croutons, goat cheese, green peppers, avocado, greens, and Whole Foods brand lemon basil dressing.

Virgin margarita for adult mocktail hour and dinner making time! I am all about limes right now and squeezed a TON of fresh lime juice into this!

I have also realized that before having a child around I used to spend more time on my house. I’ve been in nesting mode and totally organized the kids’ bathroom.

I bought this teal drawers piece when I moved in, and it provides wonderful bathroom accessory storage space. But the drawers have never been organized well by category. I would sometimes open 5 of them to find what I needed (Bandaids, soccer pre-wrap, washcloths.)

So I labeled each drawer (minus one that is TBD!) with letters. I thought about writing whole words, but the chalk pen I have is fat and I didn’t want it to look sloppy so I just simplified things with a letter. Here’s the easy-to-memorize guide:

W: Washing

M: Mazen

B: Brother

*Blank*

i: iphone things (random, I know, but I needed an upstairs place for this with our office moving)

S: Sports

O: Outdoors (sunscreen, etc)

Everyday items are in the baskets. Also: Note my Birchbox collection. What should I do with them?!

Now: What to organize next?!

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Comments

  1. Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says

    August 8, 2018 at 7:05 am

    I think it’s awesome that you’re able to enjoy your time cooking, Kath. Cooking is so therapeutic! 🙂

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

    Reply
  2. Jackie says

    August 8, 2018 at 7:16 am

    I love using birch box boxes for my daughter’s arts and crafts supplies! Markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, you name it!

    Reply
  3. Carla says

    August 8, 2018 at 8:16 am

    My favorite egg nog: https://www.melskitchencafe.com/homemade-eggnog/

    This does not taste like store bought egg nog (I personally think it’s disgusting, even the super nice expensive ones). I think it must be the freshly grated nutmeg that I prefer used in the recipe above.

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      August 8, 2018 at 8:18 am

      Thanks!!

      Reply
  4. Andrea says

    August 8, 2018 at 8:27 am

    I love using cute boxes like that for gifts! One year I made a big batch of homemade cookies or granola and package din some cute boxes I had left over.

    Also, major sandwich envy. Need to try that!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      August 8, 2018 at 8:32 am

      But then I would have to say goodbye to them!! 🙂 I suppose I have enough…

      Reply
      • Anne Weber-Falk says

        August 8, 2018 at 10:26 am

        Keep three for yourself and use the rest for gifts. Make sure you put something special and lovely inside of them for those you feel are special and lovely to you. A special scarf, framed photo, or a few mementoes from an occasion you had togetherr. Don’t wait until a holiday or birthday. Do this just because. A special gift in a special box for a special person. It will make you feel so happy and saying goodbye to them won’t be so very hard.

        Reply
  5. Barbara Younger says

    August 8, 2018 at 8:39 am

    Love the new organizer! I miss Maze too and I wasn’t even going to see him over this two week period. He just seems so far away. But so glad KK gave him this wonderful opportunity.

    Reply
  6. LynninRI says

    August 8, 2018 at 9:06 am

    I too hated to pass on my Birchbox boxes. However our local charity thrift store was happy to have them to box up jewelry and small items they sold…

    Reply
  7. Lindsey says

    August 8, 2018 at 9:39 am

    I really enjoyed reading this post! Thanks for the updates and interesting mix of topics.

    Reply
  8. emily says

    August 8, 2018 at 9:52 am

    That first photo is so pretty!!

    Reply
  9. Jess says

    August 8, 2018 at 11:03 am

    I wish I had your organizer spirit

    Reply
  10. Claire says

    August 8, 2018 at 11:16 am

    Come home Mazen! We miss you too! I’ve been on an organising stint this week too after reading up on the Konmari method. Very addictive. Love your teal drawers and the cute labels.

    Reply
  11. Stacy B says

    August 8, 2018 at 3:25 pm

    I’m glad you listed the ingredients in your sandwich. The yellow tomato looks a bit like cheddar and for a second I was like, “whoa, Kath, that’s a lot of cheese!” 🙂

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      August 8, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      Hahaha don’t act so surprised because I’m sure I’ve eaten that much cheese before. It’s my favorite food! :mrgreen:

      Reply
  12. Leatitia says

    August 8, 2018 at 3:34 pm

    Your organizing posts makes me want to organize so much!!! I’M LOOKING AT YOU ENTRY WAY CLOSET!!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      August 8, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      Haha!

      Reply
  13. Tara says

    August 8, 2018 at 7:29 pm

    I love so see how other people organize! Whatever you do next, please show us. My fav blog is I hear Ly organizing. Do you read?

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      August 8, 2018 at 9:12 pm

      Yes she is my idol

      Reply
      • Brigid says

        August 9, 2018 at 10:28 am

        What’s the name of the organizing blog you are talking about? I couldn’t find I hear Ly?

        Reply
        • KathEats says

          August 9, 2018 at 10:30 am

          I Heart Organizing is what she meant I think

          Reply
  14. Valerie says

    October 29, 2018 at 5:15 pm

    WAIT a MINUTE!!! Is your baby what you are going to use all your old BIRCHboxes for??? 🙂

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 29, 2018 at 7:51 pm

      Yessss!!! Haha.

      Reply

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    hi! Im Kath.

    I'm a Registered Dietitian, healthy eater, and mom of two from Charlottesville, Virginia. Here you’ll find a healthy mix of real-life meals made from whole ingredients balanced with the pleasures of life, including buttercream frosting and good wine. Plus a sprinkle of nutrition, home life, beauty, parenting, and travel.
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