Share Our Lives: How I Take a Break
This month for Share Our lives we're talking about how we take a break. I kind of struggled with this one. With my youngest turning 18 next month and no one needing much of anything from me, not working outside the home, and having more free time than I often know what to do with I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to be talking about taking a break from!
Mostly I feel like I spend the bulk of my time cleaning and cooking. We rarely eat out and I cook so much from scratch-- all our granola (well, not my husband's) and granola bars, BBQ sauce, seasoning mixes, breadcrumbs, pickles, jam, teriyaki sauce, etc. So I am constantly cooking or baking which means I feel like I'm constantly doing dishes.
When I want a break from that we plan a date night out-- usually once a month and I get a break from cooking.
Some nights we have a fend for yourself night; thankfully my boys all know some basic cooking since we pretty much never have leftovers. Any meal that is left over is typically gone by the following night as my whole family loves leftovers for breakfast or lunch.
On very rare occasions we get take out.
My favorite way to take a break though is to go on vacation! Then I don't have to really cook or clean.
I hope you'll join us next month when we talk about 5 things we like to do each season.
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Linking up with:
Yes to date nights! I forgot to add that one to my list.
ReplyDeleteRuth@playworkeatrepeat
We had JUST had one the night before I wrote this so it was already on my mind.
DeleteYes! You are lucky you get to travel pretty frequently. And, you do cook so much! That's like a full time or at least a part time job!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely feels like a full time job keeping us all fed... and yet I really can't seem to go back to processed foods.
DeleteWe have very temperatures today. I really want to it in that swing that your husband found in Turquoise Bay! I am glad you enjoy your vacations.
ReplyDeleteThat swing in Turquoise Bay was incredible..not that we could swing much but it was great to be both in and out of the water at the same time.
DeleteYes! I totally agree on eating out being a break for Mama- vacation in general, too, YES! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteEating out is a great break! We've stopped using our dishwasher so every dish has to be hand washed. Definitely appreciate eating out or take out to lessen the dish washing load!!
ReplyDeleteOh I could never keep up if I had to wash everything by hand! I can see how eating out would be a huge break in that case.
DeleteI do a lot of cooking too, which I mostly enjoy except when I don't. Then I want a break. We just got back from vacation with all the grands and both daughters and their husbands. Hubs and I said we should have planned to stay a couple days more on our own because we're not as rested as we normally would be post-vacation lo. Have a nice week!
ReplyDeleteYes, there are some vacations that just aren't as restful as others and one with the whole family would definitely mean a bit more on the go!
DeleteYou do so well to cook almost everything from scratch. We have started having one night a week where my family fend for themselves. They are really liking it and I get a break from cooking.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I haven't quite made it to one night a week but at least once a month.
DeleteVacations are the best breaks!
ReplyDeleteThey sure are!
DeleteThis is so relatable! It's important to find ways to take a break from the everyday routine, even if it's just from the endless cycle of cooking and cleaning. I love your idea of "fend for yourself nights" and that you have a regular date night. Vacations are definitely the best way to get a full break!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI understand about the part of cooking all of the time and vacations are a great way to take a break. I hope you have a nice week.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie!
DeleteJoanne,
ReplyDeleteI too can understand why you feel you are cooking all the time as you still have most of your family home...It can be daunting at times and I am glad you take a break by doing date night...Over the past year and a half, I am learning to take a break and give myself grace....We need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.....Thanks so much for stopping by!! Glad you enjoyed seeing my Coastal Tree....I hope you enjoy your week!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Thank you!
DeleteYou are definitely busy every day! Vacations are wonderful once you’re there!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
They sure are; I'm starting to rely on a travel agent more and more for planning the trips too so it's less work for me!
DeleteI could relate to this post! In my empty nester phase, my time is really my own, so I don't often need a break. Travel is my favorite way to change up my routine and relax.
ReplyDeleteThat's how I feel even if I'm not quite an empty nester just yet.
DeleteYou strike me as someone who fills your days with lots of activities and projects! I remember how hard it was on me mentally and emotionally when (1) we became empty nesters and then (2) when we both retired. All of a sudden, we had more breaks than we knew what to do with and sometimes I struggled with feeling like my time was being wasted, etc... Somehow, I've adapted! 😉
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! I definitely find ways to fill my days.
DeleteIt is constant but we are lucky to have leftovers...I count on those to make some days easier.
ReplyDeleteTheres still dishes but my husband is a 50/50 spouse.
I wonder how much time over our lifetime is spent cooking?? Then again its the healthy way to go. Look how we got in so much trouble with "convenience " foods.
Xoxo
Absolutely! I can't see going back to convenience foods but I do look forward to the day that everyone eats ALL the same things for dinner. Right now I often make something different for me..
DeleteI love the picture of you and your husband and the one on him on a swing in the water. Your breaks sound lovely. Even though I always love to stay home, I can see how going on vacation and not having to cook and clean can be a lovely break.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteThat's awesome that you cook so much! I definitely love taking a break from cooking, too. Cooking is one of my least favorite things to do. Haha.
ReplyDeleteLuckily I really enjoy cooking; I'm sure if I didn't I wouldn't make nearly as much as I do.
DeleteI love that you cook and from scratch is quite impressive! Right now, it’s all about quick meals for us due to our hockey schedules. Vacations are the perfect way to take a break!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Weirdly we hardly ever needed quick meals. Even this summer with a 17, 19 & 21 year old we almost always had time to sit down and eat dinner together most nights without a problem. But I know sports is a huge part of it and none of mine really got into team sports.
DeleteI didn't think about getting take out as "taking a break" but it absolutely is, especially for the person who carries the bulk of the responsibility for thinking about food/meal planning/cooking.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for clarifying next month's topic. I wasn't sure if it was "5 things I could enjoy in any season (reading)" or "5 things about each season."
I'm thinking I'll probably actually cover a bit of both since there are some things we tend to enjoy doing in all seasons but then there are definitely other season specific things too.
DeleteI do a lot more cooking when we winter in AZ. Here in Pennsylvania we have many places with great food in walking distance. So we head out to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI garden when I am here in PA and I love a break. I put my feet up and read or scroll social media.
Your date nights look incredible!
That sounds wonderful! We have nothing at all within walking distance of our house so I love when we vacation in neighborhoods that do!
DeleteOh you do so much more though that just cooking and cleaning. I see you doing things for your family, arrange parties, making scrapbooks and cards, painting and the list continues. I often wonder how you find time to do all that along with taking care of a family. Going on trips is certainly one of my favourite ways of taking a break.
ReplyDelete-Soma
Aw, thank you!
DeleteYes I am so over cooking everything, but I feel better when I make it from scratch.
ReplyDeleteI do too!
DeleteVacation sounds like a great way to take a break. In summer our breaks are evening walks followed by swimming in the pool under the stars...and like you, a rare take out meal!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a lovely way to take a break!
DeleteYou've taken some fabulous vacations. I'm in the throes of being very busy, but I know I will blink and the kids' activities will be over and I will have too much time on my hands.
ReplyDeleteYes, it happens so fast!
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