December 23, 2023 • 32 mins
As the festive season envelops us in its warm embrace, my podcast, Five Years Time, becomes a place where we hold dear our traditions and the new memories we create. This episode finds me, Grace, and my little Ro basking in the quietude of slow mornings and the vibrant energy of holiday preparations. We're making the kitchen the heart of our celebrations, welcoming my mom's cherished roast recipesstraight to your ears. But it's not just about the food; it's the shared anticipation, the laughter, and the soft glow of reflection that lights up our conversations. I recount the restless nights and the search for the best children's Christmas movies, all while finding solace in the comfort of familiar festive rituals.
Ro and I stumbled upon a little breakfast haven called "Pure & Simple," where a menu delight bore her name—a serendipitous moment that we had to share with you. The nostalgia runs deep as I consider a return to vlogging, capturing these fleeting moments that, like the winter solstice, promise a new beginning. We're embracing the quieter side of December, prioritizing intimacy over grandeur, and cherishing the low-key moments with loved ones. Join us as we muse on the past, savor the present, and look ahead with optimism to the fresh starts that January offers. We invite you to settle in, pour a cup of your favorite holiday cheer, and enjoy an episode that wraps you in the heartfelt spirit of the season.
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- Grace
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
My mic just turned.
Hey, cuties, welcome back toFive Years Time podcast with
your host Grace.
I literally just got sodistracted.
First of all, today is thesecond last episode.
I can't believe that.
How has it been almost 12 days?
That is just wild.
Second of all, I need to take asip of water, so cheers.
(00:29):
Third of all, wow, there's alot of agenda items here.
Third of all, I just put Rodown for nap time.
As you know, she's on Christmasvacation.
I can't believe that.
I've been so thrown off withher because her vacation started
halfway through the week andnow it's finally the weekend and
(00:51):
it's like, oh, okay, christmasis actually here.
I just keep thinking like everyday is Christmas.
I'm like, oh, tomorrow'sChristmas, tomorrow's Christmas
Also because Christmas is on aMonday, throwing me off.
Anyways, it is finally theChristmas weekend, but I just
put Ro down for a nap.
We had actually a really great,chill, super chill morning,
which I think we were bothlooking for.
I need to update you on whatwas happening at 9 am, because
(01:13):
yesterday I got that text, thatmysterious text, from a number I
didn't know, saying like hey, Ihave a meeting at nine or we're
meeting at nine, and I was likeis this Trevor texting me or is
it someone else?
Do I have a commitment?
It's like 8 30.
Do I have to leave the house?
But anyways, I will update youon that in a second.
But this morning we had a superchill morning, which I think Ro
(01:33):
was really, really excited for,and we really just hung out
until like 10 am and then Ineeded to get up and start doing
some of my cooking videos,because I got to get them up and
got to get them going, andtoday the one I was making was
for our focaccia, which wouldhave been posted yesterday so
you would have seen it already.
But that one has it's a process, right, because it's bread, it
(01:54):
has a few rises, a rest period.
So I was like, okay, I got toget this going because then
we're going to my mom's latertoday for our first dinner of
the holiday season, in the sensethat it is her or my brother is
in town now.
So we're kicking off.
We're kicking off the Christmasseason with a family dinner and
I'm filming with her becausewe're going to cook our roast,
(02:18):
which I'm already telling youthe recipe of the day is a
classic Christmas roast.
It doesn't have to be aChristmas roast, but we're
having it as that, but a classicroast.
And she's even going to doYorkshire puddings for me
because I love them and they'reso easy, honestly.
But I'm going to I was going todo it myself a roast.
And then my mom was like, oh,I'm going to make a roast for
(02:38):
our dinner when Richard's hereand I was like, oh, amazing, I
was going to make a roast, butif I can get you to teach us,
that's even better.
So we're going to have my mombe a special guest, which will
be so fun.
So that is our recipe of theday and this is just like the
best thing you can know for thewinter.
Like we had our winter solsticerecently, and I think that this
is one of those meals that like, honestly, it's super simple
(03:01):
once you get into the groove ofit.
It's just chopping stuff andthrowing it in a dutch oven and
into the oven, and it's so homeyand delicious you can even do
it in the slow cooker.
Oh, I just love a good roastand I think it's such a classic
winter meal for a cold winter'sday, so lots of good tidbits
will be in there.
But what I was going to say wasthat I just put row down for an
(03:24):
app and so I have limited timeto record this.
I was like all day allyesterday I was like, oh, I
really need to record thisepisode.
When am I going to get a chance?
Because I knew today would bebusy.
And then I did not sleep well.
I was like maybe I'll doanother morning chat, but I did
not sleep well at all.
Last night I fell asleep way tooearly, accidentally, around
(03:46):
like 8, 8 30.
Trev put a row to bed and thenI fell asleep.
He was putting her to bedtrying to watch the crown second
part, and I felt myself fallingasleep and I was like I should
just turn off the TV, I shouldgo to my bed, and I didn't.
I was watching in the gas bedand so I fell asleep there
really uncomfortably, likepropped up with pillows and with
a blanket with like a knit itblanket with like holes in it.
(04:08):
So I was like so cold.
I was wearing t-shirt and shortpajamas.
I was like so cold and then Iwoke up at like 11 and could not
fall back asleep and then Iended up going on my phone,
which I know I told you I'm.
Next week is the week that I'mstarting to implement my new
routine to help help figure outmy sleep and what all that stuff
(04:29):
that I talked about in a coupleepisodes ago about not having
my phone with me and all thatstuff.
Anyways, I went on my phone forlike literally ever and then I
fell back asleep, I put on apodcast and I finally fell back
asleep at like four and then rowwoke up at six and I was up at
six.
So, yeah, then we just chilledfor the whole morning until 10,
which is like a really goodchill.
(04:50):
We chilled.
I tried to get her to watch theGrinch.
She like came into the guestroom because that's where our TV
is and that's where I hadfallen asleep, and I was like,
oh, let's watch a Christmasmovie.
It'll be so cozy and then maybeI can like you know, just like
drift off, and I could not.
What are good Christmas movies?
Can someone tell me what is agood Christmas movie for like a
three, four-year-old?
Because I have no idea, like Idon't.
(05:10):
I was, I went through Disneyand I went through Netflix and I
couldn't find anything that Ithought was like good.
What's a good animated movie?
Because I feel like she likesto animate at things, someone
tell me.
And the Grinch was a little tooscary, I think.
So part way through she waskind of over it.
She also really doesn't likewatching things that aren't
animated yet.
But yeah, I feel like I havenot watched a single Christmas
(05:34):
movie this season because I justhaven't and she hasn't been
interested in any.
So someone tell me what a goodChristmas movie is for like that
age group.
And then we moved downstairs andjust cuddled.
Trevor made us a fire.
I was still so cold because allnight I was like sleeping under
this blanket, just likefreezing.
I know I could have put anothermulling on me, I could have
done a lot of stuff, I couldhave moved to my bed, I could
(05:55):
have done so much stuff, butwhen you're like out of it in
the middle of the night youdon't think about it, right?
So, anyways, I, we both moveddown to our beanbag chair in
front of the fire.
Well, trevor made a fire for usand coffee will coffee for me
and breakfast for row, and wejust chilled and it was so
lovely.
And then I eventually was likeokay, I got to get up and start
(06:18):
on the spread.
So I just took a quick showerand start it on the focaccia and
then it's now resting.
So it's resting.
It had about 45 minutes, wellbefore I came to sit down here,
before I can put it in the oven,and Rose asleep.
So I was like I need to crackout this podcast as quick as
possible so that I can go finishthe fucacha, because I have to
(06:40):
bake it before we go to mom's,because I'm bringing it to mom's
as an appetizer tonight.
So I was like, and we're gonnago to mom's right after nap time
because we need to film thevideo and whatever, and then we
can get Trevor after work.
But oh my gosh, I just feltlike today was like, okay, I
gotta fit this in, I gotta fitthis in.
And then, as I was reading withRo, we've been reading actually
the Dr Seuss Fox and Sox, whichhas been amazing to put her to
(07:02):
sleep.
I love Dr Seuss books that arelike the tongue twisters.
There's also, I think, redfish,bluefish, onefish, twofish is
super tongue twistery as well.
And there's also one that'scalled like this book will put
you to sleep or something Ican't think of what it's called.
It was a library book we had,so I can't remember, but it's
another Dr Seuss one.
Those ones are so amazing forputting your kids to sleep, like
(07:24):
I find that as I'm reading itshe eventually is just drifting
off.
So that was great.
I was like I really need her tofall asleep for this nap because
yesterday she did not take anap.
So I was like I need this girlto fall asleep so I can finish
all the things I have to finish,because I just know I won't
come back tonight and recordthis podcast and I don't wanna
have to do it tomorrow firstthing in the morning because I
(07:44):
still need to record our finalpodcast and I wanna give that
one our really good chunk oftime because it's gonna be our
year in review and I need toreflect and everything.
So anyways, here we are, I'mfeeling good and I'm really
excited to be sitting down withyou.
I actually was feeling Icouldn't tell.
So I try not to drink too muchcaffeine.
(08:08):
If I'm not gonna exert theenergy, I always try to just
like BD calf cutie or like stick, to like a lighter tea of some
sort.
But I did have a coffee thismorning because I was literally
like a real coffee, likecaffeinated coffee, and so I
couldn't tell what I was feelingLike when I was starting to put
(08:30):
road to bed.
I had told her, like goupstairs and watch an episode of
Bluey, and then I'll be up in acouple minutes because I just
needed to do the last step ofthe focaccia.
And so as I was doing that, Iwas like am I exhausted or do I
have too much caffeine in me?
I feel like you know, when youhave too much screen time and
like your eyes feel all like.
I kind of felt like that.
(08:50):
But I was like I haven't hadthat much screen time because I
was just like I guess I waslooking at my phone in the sense
that I was recording myself,but that's different than like
scrolling.
I guess I had a lot last nightactually, when I was on my phone
all night, but anyways, I waslike I can't tell what's going
on and I was like do I just needlike a power nap or what is
happening?
And then I was like maybe I'mjust so tired and I was like am
(09:13):
I gonna be able to record thepodcast?
I was like let's just sit downand get it going.
So I actually feel so muchbetter now for doing it.
So I think it's caffeine,because normally it's exerting
my energy that needs to be done.
We did go on a nice walk justbefore lunchtime outside it's
actually quite pleasant outside.
So we went for a nice walk andwe did bring some peanuts but
(09:33):
didn't see any squirrelsliterally not one squirrel.
We were so excited to feed somesquirrels and we couldn't find
one.
We did go on a nice walk andget some fresh air, so I'm sure
that helped as well.
But then when I was thinkingabout what drink I was gonna
make for this I don't know Ijust had this feeling like, oh,
I really want a warm drink, awarm, I really want a warm drink
.
Or I want a sweet drink.
(09:54):
But I was like I don't want acoffee, I don't want a hot
chocolate.
I was like I don't want likepop and I was like I don't know
what I want.
So I just got water.
I was like what am I thinking Iwant?
But then I came and sat downhere and I went on YouTube just
to make sure.
I forgot to check if, liketoday, yesterday's vlog or vlog
(10:14):
podcast went up.
So I quickly went on YouTubestudio just to make sure that it
was like all up and groovy andit was, but then someone had
commented on a vlog from liketime ago.
I haven't vlogged since, I feel, like September, like I haven't
vlogged for a long time, so itwas a vlog from before.
But I feel like a lot of peopleare who are coming to YouTube
(10:36):
to watch my pod miss are nowseeing that I had vlogs and I
don't know if I ever I feelingmaybe I addressed it here.
I definitely people have DM'dme and been like, oh, we missed
your vlogs or whatever, and Imiss them too.
Like I loved doing the vlogs.
Sometimes it felt a little toomuch and then eventually it was
just like it is too much, like Ican't do this right now and do
(10:57):
all the other things I'm tryingto do.
So I had to like cut back onone thing and that was it, and I
felt good for that decision.
But then I clicked on the videothat someone had commented on
and I started watching it and Iwas getting so nostalgic, like I
was gonna sit here and watchthe whole thing.
I was like, grace, you onlyhave 45 minutes before you have
to do the rest of the bread andI probably watched like five
(11:18):
minutes of it and I could havekept watching it like I was like
, oh my gosh, it was from Juneand it was like a week that my
brother had come to visit.
So I was like feeling sonostalgic.
I was like, oh my gosh, Imissed this.
So, yeah, that was aninteresting feeling and made me
think some things, maybe maybebringing vlogs back, I don't
know, but anyways, I was.
(11:41):
I'm just in a very distractiblemood in that sense, like
especially with the digitalworld.
So I need to.
I need to chill, which is whyI'm excited for next week when I
can really just step back for abit and chill and not have my
phone with me as much or be onthe computer checking YouTube
and seeing if things haveuploaded and all of that stuff.
But anyways, we're just havinga quick catch up episode today
(12:07):
because I have all the reasons Ijust said.
But yesterday we had our coffeechats, which was so fun.
I actually loved that episode.
I loved just sitting down andtalking with you, which is why I
was like today let's just havea sit down and chitty chat.
But there was that message.
So basically, I logged off thepodcast and got it exporting and
everything, and then I quicklyclicked onto my messages and I
(12:30):
was like oh, it's my mom.
And I was like why is my mommissing?
So I messaged her back.
I was like, who's meeting where, when?
And then all of a sudden itclicked and I was like oh wait,
you said you were havingbreakfast with my aunt and uncle
and that me and Ro, if wewanted to join, like come.
And I was like okay, like we'llbe there.
And so I was like okay.
So literally it was like 8 30when I logged off and we needed
(12:51):
to be there for nine.
So I like got up and I was likeokay, ro, let's go get dressed.
So we like literally gotdressed as quickly as possible
and ran out the house and got tobreakfast and we went to this
new place I think it's a chain,but it's new to us and it's
called peer and simple and as wewalked in I was like oh, ro,
what do you want for breakfast?
Like before we sat down oranything, and she's like oh, I
want a crepe with straw.
(13:12):
Uh, yeah, with strawberries.
She loves crepes withstrawberries, like me, I do too
and I was like awesome, I'm surethey have that.
If not, like they probably havewaffles or french toast or
whatever.
So we sit down and there's likea big picture of like a crepe of
strawberries, bananas, and it'slike on, I didn't even know
they had a kids menu um, it waslike on the normal menu and I
was like, oh, perfect.
And she's like I want that, Iwant that, I want that.
(13:32):
So then we were there first andthen my mom and aunt came and
my mom was looking at the menuand she's like, oh, there's a
kids menu on the back.
And I was like, oh.
And she was like, oh, my gosh,grace, look at, they have a
crepe for Ro with strawberriesand um Nutella.
And I was like, oh, perfect,like it'll be a kid's size,
whatever she's like.
But look at the name of it.
The name of it was Ro, ro, likeR-O-R-O.
(13:54):
1, 2, 3.
Ro, ro, 1, 2, 3.
I was like Ro, this isliterally named after you and
it's the exact thing that youwanted.
I thought that was so funny.
But anyways, this was a newbreakfast place.
It had great potatoes, so peerand simple.
If you have one around you,like their breakfast potatoes
were so crispy and delicious andhad like nice seasoning on them
(14:15):
and a few onions, fried onions,really good.
Um, the crepe was really good.
I got the I'm gonna pronounceit wrong, but you know that, so
you know the one with the eggsand the tortilla.
It's like a Mexican stylebreakfast Huevos, huevos
rancheros.
It starts with an H, but Ithink it's called huevos
(14:37):
rancheros, I don't know, butanyways, but it was.
I'm gonna say it was like thehealthier version of that
because it was like on, justlike normal tortillas.
It was good.
It was good.
I'm not against it, but I couldmake that more delicious at
home.
But I also had the mostdelicious one in Hawaii After me
(14:58):
and Trevor did.
When we went to Hawaii, we didthis bike tour where you like go
up and do a sunrise on top ofthe volcano and then you bike
down, and when we got to thebase we went for breakfast and
we had the most amazing.
I think that was also the firsttime I ever had huevos
rancheros I'm probably saying itwrong.
That was the first time we'dever had it and it was so good.
It was on this big crispy,fresh tortilla, fresh fried
(15:22):
tortilla, and it had all thedeliciousness on it.
It was so good.
Anyways, that kind of unlockedFarm Boy does sell, like those
tortilla chips that are likejust the round deep fried ones,
and I was like, ooh, I'm gonnabuy those in the new year and
make that for breakfast becauseit is delicious and I do love
savory breakfast.
I go back and forth, but anywho, we had a wonderful breakfast
(15:45):
and then the restaurant's kindof close to the mall and I had
remembered that the mall haslike a train for the kids to
ride on.
That row's never done.
So I was like, oh, we should goover there.
So we headed over to the mall,me and her, and the train was
gonna open in like 20 minutesand she was like I wanna wait.
I was like we can go look atthe shop.
She was like, nope, I'm sittingand waiting.
(16:05):
So we sat and we waited untilthe train opened.
And it's free.
How amazing is that?
So we went on the train and itwas next to like where Santa's
village was, where, like theywere taking pictures with Santa
and row.
Last year we went to somethingthat had like a Santa and row
was like not into it at all.
So I like, which is totallyfine.
So I was like, 100%, she's notgonna wanna do it.
(16:27):
I won't even like point it outor whatever.
And so we're like going on thetrain and she sees Santa, cause
it's like going past, and she'slike, oh my gosh, I have to tell
Santa what I want for Christmas.
And I was like, oh, okay, let'sgo see, like what the situation
is.
I didn't know if it wasappointment only or whatever,
but they did have a line whereyou could just like do drop-ins
(16:49):
to do photos with Santa.
So I was like you really wannado this?
And she was like, yep, yep, Ireally wanna do it.
I was like, are you sure?
She's like 100%.
I was like, okay, queen, likelet's do it.
So we waited in line for photoswith Santa and as soon as we got
up to like walking to Santa,she was like terrified, like
held onto me would not look likethe photo is actually hilarious
(17:11):
, because she's just likesmiling as far away from Santa
as possible, which is totallyfine, like she was sitting on my
lap.
And then they were like oh, doyou want a photo with just
yourself?
Like not your mom.
And she was like, no way.
But then after that she I waslike, did you want to tell Santa
what you wanted for Christmas?
And then she was like totally,like, yes, I would like a robot
(17:31):
dog, santa.
Like she was so confident.
So it was just a funny, funnycombination and I'm glad that
she's really sticking with thatrobot dog.
So I just like literally cannotwait for Christmas morning
because she just keeps sayingthis to everyone and it's like
been a month now that she's beensaying that, and ever since I
got that epic one, I'm like Ican't wait.
(17:54):
She's going to freak out.
So, yes, that was lovely.
And yesterday was also thewinter solstice, so we did that,
and then it was nap time.
We came home but Roe did notnap, and then we spent the
afternoon making my mom's fishpie for our TikTok slash reel,
(18:15):
and I ate some for lunch justnow.
Oh, I love it so much, it's sogood.
And actually Trevor made dinnerlast night too.
He had a chili going in theslow cooker all day, so I had
some of the fish pie just beforedinner.
And then we actually went for awalk.
The sun sat at like 445 and wegot the neighbors out and we
(18:36):
went for a walk around theneighborhood a few times to see
all the lights and lasers andeverything and the sun and the
moon, and so that was awonderful way to celebrate the
solstice.
And then we had some chili andit was so good.
He made it with, like a roastinstead of beef ground beef,
because we had a roast in ourfreezer.
So he actually spent one daycooking the roast in the slow
(18:57):
cooker and then left it in thefridge overnight with its juices
, and then the next day he putin all the beans and tomatoes
and spices and onions and allthat stuff and I think he
caramelized the onions first andthen he like chopped up the
roast and it was so tender anddelicious, something unique,
like not a chili I've had before, but it was so, so yummy.
(19:18):
Anyways, we had that for dinnerand then you already know how
my night went, but it was awonderful day of vacation, of a
winter vacation for Ro.
Like I had no plans and I justgot up and was like, okay, let's
record the podcast.
And then all of a sudden theday started and we ran out the
door and had a wonderful festiveday.
So that was perfect.
(19:38):
And now it's like, oh my gosh,it's Saturday and I need to wrap
and things, but I don't knowwhat I'm gonna get the chance to
do that I think Trevor actuallyhas an appointment tonight, so
that's perfect, and I hope it'safter Ro goes to bed.
I think it is after Ro goes tobed, I think it's in the evening
.
Okay, so if Trevor has anevening appointment, then I can
(19:59):
sneakily wrap some gifts.
I hope I wrapping paper.
We have lots of stuff likehidden away in a cupboard.
I don't know if it'snecessarily Christmas themed,
but I don't care.
Use what you have.
I'm just gonna wrap what needsto be wrapped, which, honestly,
is mostly other people's gifts,not our families, cause we
really just did stockings andthen I got something for Trevor
(20:22):
and something for Ro, but Idon't really have to wrap those
cause I'm gonna put the dogunder with the bow.
Anyways, I'm super excited forRo, for Koccha tonight and see
my brother, see what's up withhim, and I'm just like can't
believe that we're wrapping upthe year already and that
Christmas is here.
(20:42):
And I'm just like feeling Ikeep I think I talked about this
how like I feel so much I'mhaving a hard time being present
with my time and then I feellike the pressure of like I have
to do this, I have to do this,I have to do this, but like I
don't have to do it all rightnow.
I can't physically do it allright now and it's like
something that's gonna be donetomorrow or the next day or
(21:04):
whatever, but because I havelike one thing right in front of
me that I need to do, it justlike, for some reason feels so
hard to like time myself, Idon't even know how to explain
it, but anyways, I was justfeeling like that today.
So it just feels good to likesit down and record this and
check it off the list.
But I'm super excited fortomorrow's episode, our final
episode, our Christmas Eveepisode.
(21:26):
We're gonna do a year review.
I need to sit down and reflecton this whole year and I'm
excited to share it.
And I feel like I feel like Iliterally haven't reflected on
this year yet.
Usually I like spend a littlebit time here or there, but I
feel like I actually haven'tjust like sat down and like
(21:46):
wrote out anything to do withthis year.
Like I can think in my mind oflike the past three months, but
I honestly can't think of past.
That Like that's.
When I pulled up the vlog todaythat someone had commented on
from June, I was like oh yeah,like June, this was what June
was like.
Like it's like, oh, I can'teven remember.
I'm glad I have the vlogs forthe I have actually vlogged from
(22:09):
prior to.
What I can't remember is fromSeptember before.
So it's like, okay, I can goback and click through the vlogs
and kind of remember everything, but everything feels good and
I am feeling like organized andgood and like I almost was
feeling sad.
Actually, oh, I forgot to tellyou this.
(22:30):
Cute, let me talk about this.
I actually was feeling notyesterday maybe, like a couple
days ago, before Bro got out ofschool I was feeling like I
haven't done anything likeholiday-y, like I haven't gone
to any holiday parties or seenany friends or done anything
(22:52):
like that, and I don't haveanything planned necessarily,
except for our familyChristmases and things.
So I was like, oh my gosh, likeI wasn't feeling so more left
out because it's not like therewere things that were planned
that was going on, but I wasjust thinking my mind, like I
normally always, I don't know,carve out a bit of time, but
like I really want it to slowdown this December, especially
(23:14):
because we were feeling sounwell in November, and so I was
like I don't want to like ampmyself up and burn out or
anything, I just want to take itnice and slow and go into the
new year with like a clear head.
And I kept saying like toTrevor and I think I mentioned
it on here like oh, okay, I'mgoing to plan small things with
friends, like just have in moreintimate get togethers.
(23:37):
So we have lots of differentcouple friends that live all
over and so it's like dosomething with one couple and
then another couple and whatever.
That's like very nonchalant,just chillax.
And I just never got around toit.
I did message my one friendbeing like okay, we need to do
something, but it probably willhappen in January or well, yeah,
january, it's pretty much theend of December.
(23:58):
So I put out one vibe, but it'slike I was feeling sad about
that, for I just a glimpse, justa glimpse, just a, just a blip.
It was just a blip.
I was feeling like, oh, likewe're not really doing too much
festive stuff, like celebratingthe holiday.
But then I was like I think Ijust got over it, like I don't
(24:22):
know what I did.
I think I just like I felt thatI allowed myself to feel it and
then all of a sudden I was like, do I want to do that?
Do I want to be getting up andnot getting up, but like, do I
want to be like getting dressedand going out and celebrating
this or that, or is thatsomething I want to be doing?
No, like if I wanted to bedoing it, I would have planned
(24:42):
it and I don't want it.
Like, I really want to just bechill right now.
And I'm so glad that we didthat, because I already feel
like time is obviously just likegoing so quickly.
So I'm happy to have this chilltime.
And now that rose out of school,it's like, oh, it feels nice.
We're even more so slowing downbecause we don't have the rush
(25:03):
and hustle and bustle of goingfrom here to there.
And then now we're going to gofor dinner with my mom or like
go over to my mom's for dinnerand that's like a lovely, like
such a chill evening.
Like we are going to record,but recording is easy.
Like with your, with otherpeople, but like it's going to
be so chill and just like arelaxing evening in at my mom's.
(25:23):
And then we have a relaxingSaturday and then Sunday is
going to be also relaxingbecause we're just having my mom
and brother over for ourclassic Christmas Eve appetizers
, movies and gifts, and thenMonday, like actual Christmas,
is going to be busy, but stillchill, like we're just, but then
it's going to be like nice.
It's like it's like these arejust the perfect amount of
(25:45):
little little bits of joy hereand there and the traditions
that we've always had every year.
And I'm not worried about likemissing out on time with family
or family with friends, becausewe are doing something for New
Year's, I'm pretty sure, butwith Trevor's friends, which are
fine, not that I don't likeTrevor's friends.
I actually hope my bestie umDustin's going to be there, but
(26:07):
I don't actually know what thatis going to consist of, because
it's not me that has to plan.
So I'm just like not eventhinking about it.
But I did think I was like, oh,I have to plan an outfit, but I
actually don't know.
Are we going to be goingoutside?
Cause I'm pretty sure it's inToronto, so like, are we just
staying inside?
Are we going outside?
So I have to think about likethat type of stuff, like what am
I going to wear?
But other than that, it's likeI I feel very, very content in
(26:31):
my decision to just like behands off, chillaxed, slowed
down.
It feels good, like it feelsgood.
It feels like this is what theyshould be like, because I know
that after Christmas and NewYear's that the winter can seem
so dark and all of that.
But now though, days aregetting lighter, the winter
(26:51):
solstice has happened, but Ialways do feel like rebirth,
like January, february.
As soon as it's March, I'm likeit's spring.
I know it's not, I know it'sstill snow here, I know it's
still winter you can go skiing,all of that stuff but in my mind
I'm like it's spring.
There's days where the birdsare chirping, spring Patrick's
Day, spring break, like all ofthese things I'm like.
So it's like January andFebruary are going to be.
(27:12):
I feel like December, januaryand February are my slowdown
months, but then I also feellike I want it to like really
rest into it.
So December, rest into it, andthen January and February that's
when I can take those slowmoments to have those intimate
connections with my friendswhere we can hang out and spend
time together and it not be ahustle and bustle type of thing.
(27:36):
It's really like make fires,eat delicious food, watch movies
, have slumber parties like justchillax, like all that stuff.
And then spring comes and it'slike, oh, the days are longer,
the sun is shining, the birdsare chirping and it feels so
good and there's newrejuvenation, all of that beauty
(27:57):
.
Like I love spring, I love allthe seasons.
I always say I love everyseason for a time.
I love the beginning of everyseason and the end because it
switches into another one.
But like, I feel like everyseason kind of like goes a
little long.
Sometimes it's like, okay, it'shot.
Like it's like, oh, I lovesummer, and then it's like it's
(28:17):
too hot and it's like, oh, Ilove fall.
And then it's like, oh, it's sogloomy.
And it's like I love winter.
And then it's like, oh, it'sslushy.
It's like I love spring.
Actually, I feel like spring isthe only one.
Maybe it's like I love spring,but then it keeps like
pretending it's going to getwarmer and then it doesn't.
I'm trying to think of thenegative of spring.
I actually think spring mightbe my favorite because it really
(28:38):
is about new beginnings, newgrowth.
You get.
You really see, like the second.
You see the buds starting toform on the trees, like it's so
beautiful and all the colors.
Oh, I love when it's purple.
Like I only noticed that when Imoved into this neighborhood,
because people really havebeautiful gardens here not me
(28:59):
but I noticed like there'sdifferent color times of spring,
but purple is a really big partof spring.
And we do have our not Hosta,what is it called Wisteria that
we're trying to regrow or likefigure out what we're doing with
it over our pergola.
But we do get one little bloomfrom our Wisteria, one one
purple bloom.
But I love when everything ispurple and then it all starts to
(29:23):
turn green.
Oh, I just love it.
I love when the tulips come upEvery fall.
I'm like I'm going to plant mybulbs I didn't do it this fall,
maybe next fall, but I reallywant all of.
We do get some things thatobviously were planted by past
owners some daffodils and sometulips but I really want to just
go full out.
Anyways, all this to say is thatI'm happy with my decision and,
(29:46):
that being said, you can behappy with a decision.
You can make a decision and behappy with it, but there can
still be discomfort in themiddle, like you can still feel
like, oh, maybe I'm missing outon something, or oh, is this
really what I wanted.
Oh my gosh, everything justwent by so quickly and I didn't
take a time to enjoy.
But it's like no.
I'm now reflecting back on mydecision to have a slow December
(30:09):
and not an isolated December,but like a very much family
oriented December and like I'mso happy with it and I feel like
I had way less pressure on meand I'm so glad that I did that
and now I feel like I'm ready totake on my winter with a warm
(30:30):
heart and rosy cheeks fromwinter wonderful walks and
implement Next week.
I can't wait to start doingthat because I just haven't had
a chance this week to startimplementing my morning and my
morning routine of like 15minutes a piece for me.
I can't wait, and I reallycan't wait, to set up a proper
(30:50):
charging station in general,just in general, a proper
charging station, because wehaven't had that sorted for a
while but have it in the kitchenand the only thing that will be
on my bedside table is mye-reader.
So, yes, please message mebooks that I should be
downloading Good winter romanceor war novels, anything like
that, okay, or even biopics thatyou liked.
(31:13):
I've probably read a lot ofthem already, because me and
Trevor used to do the my e-bookson our long drives and then
I've read all the ones that havecome out recently.
I think that I was interestedin, but let me know I always I
always love a celebrity, butthat's where we're at.
We're at about the 30 minutemark and I started late because
(31:33):
I was getting distracted on myown YouTube channel.
That being said, if you haven'twatched any of my vlogs, feel
free to check those out.
They're great for getting readyor putting them on in the
background while you're cleaningor slow Sunday mornings.
They're just something nice andwarm and cozy and I just like
(31:53):
they're very realistic to mylife.
I feel like I just turn on thecamera and try to.
I always try to be asunfiltered as possible.
I never I never put filters onthings or edit to change
anything or like do things justfor the camera.
I try to just like turn it onand be as much as I can for
myself or be as true to who I amand in that moment.
(32:15):
So, yeah, if that's somethingyou're looking for, easy breezy,
go check those out.
Maybe more will come, maybe.
Love you.
See you tomorrow for our lastpodcast and our year in review.
I love you all so much.
I'm sending you so many kisses.
You're all the best.
And go check out our roastvideo over on TikTok and five
(32:37):
years time on it and InstagramFive years time podcast,
whatever you like.
My mic just turned.
Hey, cuties, welcome back toFive Years Time podcast with
your host Grace.
I literally just got sodistracted.
First of all, today is thesecond last episode.
I can't believe that.
How has it been almost 12 days?
That is just wild.
Second of all, I need to take asip of water, so cheers.
(00:29):
Third of all, wow, there's alot of agenda items here.
Third of all, I just put Rodown for nap time.
As you know, she's on Christmasvacation.
I can't believe that.
I've been so thrown off withher because her vacation started
halfway through the week andnow it's finally the weekend and
(00:51):
it's like, oh, okay, christmasis actually here.
I just keep thinking like everyday is Christmas.
I'm like, oh, tomorrow'sChristmas, tomorrow's Christmas
Also because Christmas is on aMonday, throwing me off.
Anyways, it is finally theChristmas weekend, but I just
put Ro down for a nap.
We had actually a really great,chill, super chill morning,
which I think we were bothlooking for.
I need to update you on whatwas happening at 9 am, because
(01:13):
yesterday I got that text, thatmysterious text, from a number I
didn't know, saying like hey, Ihave a meeting at nine or we're
meeting at nine, and I was likeis this Trevor texting me or is
it someone else?
Do I have a commitment?
It's like 8 30.
Do I have to leave the house?
But anyways, I will update youon that in a second.
But this morning we had a superchill morning, which I think Ro
(01:33):
was really, really excited for,and we really just hung out
until like 10 am and then Ineeded to get up and start doing
some of my cooking videos,because I got to get them up and
got to get them going, andtoday the one I was making was
for our focaccia, which wouldhave been posted yesterday so
you would have seen it already.
But that one has it's a process, right, because it's bread, it
(01:54):
has a few rises, a rest period.
So I was like, okay, I got toget this going because then
we're going to my mom's latertoday for our first dinner of
the holiday season, in the sensethat it is her or my brother is
in town now.
So we're kicking off.
We're kicking off the Christmasseason with a family dinner and
I'm filming with her becausewe're going to cook our roast,
(02:18):
which I'm already telling youthe recipe of the day is a
classic Christmas roast.
It doesn't have to be aChristmas roast, but we're
having it as that, but a classicroast.
And she's even going to doYorkshire puddings for me
because I love them and they'reso easy, honestly.
But I'm going to I was going todo it myself a roast.
And then my mom was like, oh,I'm going to make a roast for
(02:38):
our dinner when Richard's hereand I was like, oh, amazing, I
was going to make a roast, butif I can get you to teach us,
that's even better.
So we're going to have my mombe a special guest, which will
be so fun.
So that is our recipe of theday and this is just like the
best thing you can know for thewinter.
Like we had our winter solsticerecently, and I think that this
is one of those meals that like, honestly, it's super simple
(03:01):
once you get into the groove ofit.
It's just chopping stuff andthrowing it in a dutch oven and
into the oven, and it's so homeyand delicious you can even do
it in the slow cooker.
Oh, I just love a good roastand I think it's such a classic
winter meal for a cold winter'sday, so lots of good tidbits
will be in there.
But what I was going to say wasthat I just put row down for an
(03:24):
app and so I have limited timeto record this.
I was like all day allyesterday I was like, oh, I
really need to record thisepisode.
When am I going to get a chance?
Because I knew today would bebusy.
And then I did not sleep well.
I was like maybe I'll doanother morning chat, but I did
not sleep well at all.
Last night I fell asleep way tooearly, accidentally, around
(03:46):
like 8, 8 30.
Trev put a row to bed and thenI fell asleep.
He was putting her to bedtrying to watch the crown second
part, and I felt myself fallingasleep and I was like I should
just turn off the TV, I shouldgo to my bed, and I didn't.
I was watching in the gas bedand so I fell asleep there
really uncomfortably, likepropped up with pillows and with
a blanket with like a knit itblanket with like holes in it.
(04:08):
So I was like so cold.
I was wearing t-shirt and shortpajamas.
I was like so cold and then Iwoke up at like 11 and could not
fall back asleep and then Iended up going on my phone,
which I know I told you I'm.
Next week is the week that I'mstarting to implement my new
routine to help help figure outmy sleep and what all that stuff
(04:29):
that I talked about in a coupleepisodes ago about not having
my phone with me and all thatstuff.
Anyways, I went on my phone forlike literally ever and then I
fell back asleep, I put on apodcast and I finally fell back
asleep at like four and then rowwoke up at six and I was up at
six.
So, yeah, then we just chilledfor the whole morning until 10,
which is like a really goodchill.
(04:50):
We chilled.
I tried to get her to watch theGrinch.
She like came into the guestroom because that's where our TV
is and that's where I hadfallen asleep, and I was like,
oh, let's watch a Christmasmovie.
It'll be so cozy and then maybeI can like you know, just like
drift off, and I could not.
What are good Christmas movies?
Can someone tell me what is agood Christmas movie for like a
three, four-year-old?
Because I have no idea, like Idon't.
(05:10):
I was, I went through Disneyand I went through Netflix and I
couldn't find anything that Ithought was like good.
What's a good animated movie?
Because I feel like she likesto animate at things, someone
tell me.
And the Grinch was a little tooscary, I think.
So part way through she waskind of over it.
She also really doesn't likewatching things that aren't
animated yet.
But yeah, I feel like I havenot watched a single Christmas
(05:34):
movie this season because I justhaven't and she hasn't been
interested in any.
So someone tell me what a goodChristmas movie is for like that
age group.
And then we moved downstairs andjust cuddled.
Trevor made us a fire.
I was still so cold because allnight I was like sleeping under
this blanket, just likefreezing.
I know I could have put anothermulling on me, I could have
done a lot of stuff, I couldhave moved to my bed, I could
(05:55):
have done so much stuff, butwhen you're like out of it in
the middle of the night youdon't think about it, right?
So, anyways, I, we both moveddown to our beanbag chair in
front of the fire.
Well, trevor made a fire for usand coffee will coffee for me
and breakfast for row, and wejust chilled and it was so
lovely.
And then I eventually was likeokay, I got to get up and start
(06:18):
on the spread.
So I just took a quick showerand start it on the focaccia and
then it's now resting.
So it's resting.
It had about 45 minutes, wellbefore I came to sit down here,
before I can put it in the oven,and Rose asleep.
So I was like I need to crackout this podcast as quick as
possible so that I can go finishthe fucacha, because I have to
(06:40):
bake it before we go to mom's,because I'm bringing it to mom's
as an appetizer tonight.
So I was like, and we're gonnago to mom's right after nap time
because we need to film thevideo and whatever, and then we
can get Trevor after work.
But oh my gosh, I just feltlike today was like, okay, I
gotta fit this in, I gotta fitthis in.
And then, as I was reading withRo, we've been reading actually
the Dr Seuss Fox and Sox, whichhas been amazing to put her to
(07:02):
sleep.
I love Dr Seuss books that arelike the tongue twisters.
There's also, I think, redfish,bluefish, onefish, twofish is
super tongue twistery as well.
And there's also one that'scalled like this book will put
you to sleep or something Ican't think of what it's called.
It was a library book we had,so I can't remember, but it's
another Dr Seuss one.
Those ones are so amazing forputting your kids to sleep, like
(07:24):
I find that as I'm reading itshe eventually is just drifting
off.
So that was great.
I was like I really need her tofall asleep for this nap because
yesterday she did not take anap.
So I was like I need this girlto fall asleep so I can finish
all the things I have to finish,because I just know I won't
come back tonight and recordthis podcast and I don't wanna
have to do it tomorrow firstthing in the morning because I
(07:44):
still need to record our finalpodcast and I wanna give that
one our really good chunk oftime because it's gonna be our
year in review and I need toreflect and everything.
So anyways, here we are, I'mfeeling good and I'm really
excited to be sitting down withyou.
I actually was feeling Icouldn't tell.
So I try not to drink too muchcaffeine.
(08:08):
If I'm not gonna exert theenergy, I always try to just
like BD calf cutie or like stick, to like a lighter tea of some
sort.
But I did have a coffee thismorning because I was literally
like a real coffee, likecaffeinated coffee, and so I
couldn't tell what I was feelingLike when I was starting to put
(08:30):
road to bed.
I had told her, like goupstairs and watch an episode of
Bluey, and then I'll be up in acouple minutes because I just
needed to do the last step ofthe focaccia.
And so as I was doing that, Iwas like am I exhausted or do I
have too much caffeine in me?
I feel like you know, when youhave too much screen time and
like your eyes feel all like.
I kind of felt like that.
(08:50):
But I was like I haven't hadthat much screen time because I
was just like I guess I waslooking at my phone in the sense
that I was recording myself,but that's different than like
scrolling.
I guess I had a lot last nightactually, when I was on my phone
all night, but anyways, I waslike I can't tell what's going
on and I was like do I just needlike a power nap or what is
happening?
And then I was like maybe I'mjust so tired and I was like am
(09:13):
I gonna be able to record thepodcast?
I was like let's just sit downand get it going.
So I actually feel so muchbetter now for doing it.
So I think it's caffeine,because normally it's exerting
my energy that needs to be done.
We did go on a nice walk justbefore lunchtime outside it's
actually quite pleasant outside.
So we went for a nice walk andwe did bring some peanuts but
(09:33):
didn't see any squirrelsliterally not one squirrel.
We were so excited to feed somesquirrels and we couldn't find
one.
We did go on a nice walk andget some fresh air, so I'm sure
that helped as well.
But then when I was thinkingabout what drink I was gonna
make for this I don't know Ijust had this feeling like, oh,
I really want a warm drink, awarm, I really want a warm drink
.
Or I want a sweet drink.
(09:54):
But I was like I don't want acoffee, I don't want a hot
chocolate.
I was like I don't want likepop and I was like I don't know
what I want.
So I just got water.
I was like what am I thinking Iwant?
But then I came and sat downhere and I went on YouTube just
to make sure.
I forgot to check if, liketoday, yesterday's vlog or vlog
(10:14):
podcast went up.
So I quickly went on YouTubestudio just to make sure that it
was like all up and groovy andit was, but then someone had
commented on a vlog from liketime ago.
I haven't vlogged since, I feel, like September, like I haven't
vlogged for a long time, so itwas a vlog from before.
But I feel like a lot of peopleare who are coming to YouTube
(10:36):
to watch my pod miss are nowseeing that I had vlogs and I
don't know if I ever I feelingmaybe I addressed it here.
I definitely people have DM'dme and been like, oh, we missed
your vlogs or whatever, and Imiss them too.
Like I loved doing the vlogs.
Sometimes it felt a little toomuch and then eventually it was
just like it is too much, like Ican't do this right now and do
(10:57):
all the other things I'm tryingto do.
So I had to like cut back onone thing and that was it, and I
felt good for that decision.
But then I clicked on the videothat someone had commented on
and I started watching it and Iwas getting so nostalgic, like I
was gonna sit here and watchthe whole thing.
I was like, grace, you onlyhave 45 minutes before you have
to do the rest of the bread andI probably watched like five
(11:18):
minutes of it and I could havekept watching it like I was like
, oh my gosh, it was from Juneand it was like a week that my
brother had come to visit.
So I was like feeling sonostalgic.
I was like, oh my gosh, Imissed this.
So, yeah, that was aninteresting feeling and made me
think some things, maybe maybebringing vlogs back, I don't
know, but anyways, I was.
(11:41):
I'm just in a very distractiblemood in that sense, like
especially with the digitalworld.
So I need to.
I need to chill, which is whyI'm excited for next week when I
can really just step back for abit and chill and not have my
phone with me as much or be onthe computer checking YouTube
and seeing if things haveuploaded and all of that stuff.
But anyways, we're just havinga quick catch up episode today
(12:07):
because I have all the reasons Ijust said.
But yesterday we had our coffeechats, which was so fun.
I actually loved that episode.
I loved just sitting down andtalking with you, which is why I
was like today let's just havea sit down and chitty chat.
But there was that message.
So basically, I logged off thepodcast and got it exporting and
everything, and then I quicklyclicked onto my messages and I
(12:30):
was like oh, it's my mom.
And I was like why is my mommissing?
So I messaged her back.
I was like, who's meeting where, when?
And then all of a sudden itclicked and I was like oh wait,
you said you were havingbreakfast with my aunt and uncle
and that me and Ro, if wewanted to join, like come.
And I was like okay, like we'llbe there.
And so I was like okay.
So literally it was like 8 30when I logged off and we needed
(12:51):
to be there for nine.
So I like got up and I was likeokay, ro, let's go get dressed.
So we like literally gotdressed as quickly as possible
and ran out the house and got tobreakfast and we went to this
new place I think it's a chain,but it's new to us and it's
called peer and simple and as wewalked in I was like oh, ro,
what do you want for breakfast?
Like before we sat down oranything, and she's like oh, I
want a crepe with straw.
(13:12):
Uh, yeah, with strawberries.
She loves crepes withstrawberries, like me, I do too
and I was like awesome, I'm surethey have that.
If not, like they probably havewaffles or french toast or
whatever.
So we sit down and there's likea big picture of like a crepe of
strawberries, bananas, and it'slike on, I didn't even know
they had a kids menu um, it waslike on the normal menu and I
was like, oh, perfect.
And she's like I want that, Iwant that, I want that.
(13:32):
So then we were there first andthen my mom and aunt came and
my mom was looking at the menuand she's like, oh, there's a
kids menu on the back.
And I was like, oh.
And she was like, oh, my gosh,grace, look at, they have a
crepe for Ro with strawberriesand um Nutella.
And I was like, oh, perfect,like it'll be a kid's size,
whatever she's like.
But look at the name of it.
The name of it was Ro, ro, likeR-O-R-O.
(13:54):
1, 2, 3.
Ro, ro, 1, 2, 3.
I was like Ro, this isliterally named after you and
it's the exact thing that youwanted.
I thought that was so funny.
But anyways, this was a newbreakfast place.
It had great potatoes, so peerand simple.
If you have one around you,like their breakfast potatoes
were so crispy and delicious andhad like nice seasoning on them
(14:15):
and a few onions, fried onions,really good.
Um, the crepe was really good.
I got the I'm gonna pronounceit wrong, but you know that, so
you know the one with the eggsand the tortilla.
It's like a Mexican stylebreakfast Huevos, huevos
rancheros.
It starts with an H, but Ithink it's called huevos
(14:37):
rancheros, I don't know, butanyways, but it was.
I'm gonna say it was like thehealthier version of that
because it was like on, justlike normal tortillas.
It was good.
It was good.
I'm not against it, but I couldmake that more delicious at
home.
But I also had the mostdelicious one in Hawaii After me
(14:58):
and Trevor did.
When we went to Hawaii, we didthis bike tour where you like go
up and do a sunrise on top ofthe volcano and then you bike
down, and when we got to thebase we went for breakfast and
we had the most amazing.
I think that was also the firsttime I ever had huevos
rancheros I'm probably saying itwrong.
That was the first time we'dever had it and it was so good.
It was on this big crispy,fresh tortilla, fresh fried
(15:22):
tortilla, and it had all thedeliciousness on it.
It was so good.
Anyways, that kind of unlockedFarm Boy does sell, like those
tortilla chips that are likejust the round deep fried ones,
and I was like, ooh, I'm gonnabuy those in the new year and
make that for breakfast becauseit is delicious and I do love
savory breakfast.
I go back and forth, but anywho, we had a wonderful breakfast
(15:45):
and then the restaurant's kindof close to the mall and I had
remembered that the mall haslike a train for the kids to
ride on.
That row's never done.
So I was like, oh, we should goover there.
So we headed over to the mall,me and her, and the train was
gonna open in like 20 minutesand she was like I wanna wait.
I was like we can go look atthe shop.
She was like, nope, I'm sittingand waiting.
(16:05):
So we sat and we waited untilthe train opened.
And it's free.
How amazing is that?
So we went on the train and itwas next to like where Santa's
village was, where, like theywere taking pictures with Santa
and row.
Last year we went to somethingthat had like a Santa and row
was like not into it at all.
So I like, which is totallyfine.
So I was like, 100%, she's notgonna wanna do it.
(16:27):
I won't even like point it outor whatever.
And so we're like going on thetrain and she sees Santa, cause
it's like going past, and she'slike, oh my gosh, I have to tell
Santa what I want for Christmas.
And I was like, oh, okay, let'sgo see, like what the situation
is.
I didn't know if it wasappointment only or whatever,
but they did have a line whereyou could just like do drop-ins
(16:49):
to do photos with Santa.
So I was like you really wannado this?
And she was like, yep, yep, Ireally wanna do it.
I was like, are you sure?
She's like 100%.
I was like, okay, queen, likelet's do it.
So we waited in line for photoswith Santa and as soon as we got
up to like walking to Santa,she was like terrified, like
held onto me would not look likethe photo is actually hilarious
(17:11):
, because she's just likesmiling as far away from Santa
as possible, which is totallyfine, like she was sitting on my
lap.
And then they were like oh, doyou want a photo with just
yourself?
Like not your mom.
And she was like, no way.
But then after that she I waslike, did you want to tell Santa
what you wanted for Christmas?
And then she was like totally,like, yes, I would like a robot
(17:31):
dog, santa.
Like she was so confident.
So it was just a funny, funnycombination and I'm glad that
she's really sticking with thatrobot dog.
So I just like literally cannotwait for Christmas morning
because she just keeps sayingthis to everyone and it's like
been a month now that she's beensaying that, and ever since I
got that epic one, I'm like Ican't wait.
(17:54):
She's going to freak out.
So, yes, that was lovely.
And yesterday was also thewinter solstice, so we did that,
and then it was nap time.
We came home but Roe did notnap, and then we spent the
afternoon making my mom's fishpie for our TikTok slash reel,
(18:15):
and I ate some for lunch justnow.
Oh, I love it so much, it's sogood.
And actually Trevor made dinnerlast night too.
He had a chili going in theslow cooker all day, so I had
some of the fish pie just beforedinner.
And then we actually went for awalk.
The sun sat at like 445 and wegot the neighbors out and we
(18:36):
went for a walk around theneighborhood a few times to see
all the lights and lasers andeverything and the sun and the
moon, and so that was awonderful way to celebrate the
solstice.
And then we had some chili andit was so good.
He made it with, like a roastinstead of beef ground beef,
because we had a roast in ourfreezer.
So he actually spent one daycooking the roast in the slow
(18:57):
cooker and then left it in thefridge overnight with its juices
, and then the next day he putin all the beans and tomatoes
and spices and onions and allthat stuff and I think he
caramelized the onions first andthen he like chopped up the
roast and it was so tender anddelicious, something unique,
like not a chili I've had before, but it was so, so yummy.
(19:18):
Anyways, we had that for dinnerand then you already know how
my night went, but it was awonderful day of vacation, of a
winter vacation for Ro.
Like I had no plans and I justgot up and was like, okay, let's
record the podcast.
And then all of a sudden theday started and we ran out the
door and had a wonderful festiveday.
So that was perfect.
(19:38):
And now it's like, oh my gosh,it's Saturday and I need to wrap
and things, but I don't knowwhat I'm gonna get the chance to
do that I think Trevor actuallyhas an appointment tonight, so
that's perfect, and I hope it'safter Ro goes to bed.
I think it is after Ro goes tobed, I think it's in the evening
.
Okay, so if Trevor has anevening appointment, then I can
(19:59):
sneakily wrap some gifts.
I hope I wrapping paper.
We have lots of stuff likehidden away in a cupboard.
I don't know if it'snecessarily Christmas themed,
but I don't care.
Use what you have.
I'm just gonna wrap what needsto be wrapped, which, honestly,
is mostly other people's gifts,not our families, cause we
really just did stockings andthen I got something for Trevor
(20:22):
and something for Ro, but Idon't really have to wrap those
cause I'm gonna put the dogunder with the bow.
Anyways, I'm super excited forRo, for Koccha tonight and see
my brother, see what's up withhim, and I'm just like can't
believe that we're wrapping upthe year already and that
Christmas is here.
(20:42):
And I'm just like feeling Ikeep I think I talked about this
how like I feel so much I'mhaving a hard time being present
with my time and then I feellike the pressure of like I have
to do this, I have to do this,I have to do this, but like I
don't have to do it all rightnow.
I can't physically do it allright now and it's like
something that's gonna be donetomorrow or the next day or
(21:04):
whatever, but because I havelike one thing right in front of
me that I need to do, it justlike, for some reason feels so
hard to like time myself, Idon't even know how to explain
it, but anyways, I was justfeeling like that today.
So it just feels good to likesit down and record this and
check it off the list.
But I'm super excited fortomorrow's episode, our final
episode, our Christmas Eveepisode.
(21:26):
We're gonna do a year review.
I need to sit down and reflecton this whole year and I'm
excited to share it.
And I feel like I feel like Iliterally haven't reflected on
this year yet.
Usually I like spend a littlebit time here or there, but I
feel like I actually haven'tjust like sat down and like
(21:46):
wrote out anything to do withthis year.
Like I can think in my mind oflike the past three months, but
I honestly can't think of past.
That Like that's.
When I pulled up the vlog todaythat someone had commented on
from June, I was like oh yeah,like June, this was what June
was like.
Like it's like, oh, I can'teven remember.
I'm glad I have the vlogs forthe I have actually vlogged from
(22:09):
prior to.
What I can't remember is fromSeptember before.
So it's like, okay, I can goback and click through the vlogs
and kind of remember everything, but everything feels good and
I am feeling like organized andgood and like I almost was
feeling sad.
Actually, oh, I forgot to tellyou this.
(22:30):
Cute, let me talk about this.
I actually was feeling notyesterday maybe, like a couple
days ago, before Bro got out ofschool I was feeling like I
haven't done anything likeholiday-y, like I haven't gone
to any holiday parties or seenany friends or done anything
(22:52):
like that, and I don't haveanything planned necessarily,
except for our familyChristmases and things.
So I was like, oh my gosh, likeI wasn't feeling so more left
out because it's not like therewere things that were planned
that was going on, but I wasjust thinking my mind, like I
normally always, I don't know,carve out a bit of time, but
like I really want it to slowdown this December, especially
(23:14):
because we were feeling sounwell in November, and so I was
like I don't want to like ampmyself up and burn out or
anything, I just want to take itnice and slow and go into the
new year with like a clear head.
And I kept saying like toTrevor and I think I mentioned
it on here like oh, okay, I'mgoing to plan small things with
friends, like just have in moreintimate get togethers.
(23:37):
So we have lots of differentcouple friends that live all
over and so it's like dosomething with one couple and
then another couple and whatever.
That's like very nonchalant,just chillax.
And I just never got around toit.
I did message my one friendbeing like okay, we need to do
something, but it probably willhappen in January or well, yeah,
january, it's pretty much theend of December.
(23:58):
So I put out one vibe, but it'slike I was feeling sad about
that, for I just a glimpse, justa glimpse, just a, just a blip.
It was just a blip.
I was feeling like, oh, likewe're not really doing too much
festive stuff, like celebratingthe holiday.
But then I was like I think Ijust got over it, like I don't
(24:22):
know what I did.
I think I just like I felt thatI allowed myself to feel it and
then all of a sudden I was like, do I want to do that?
Do I want to be getting up andnot getting up, but like, do I
want to be like getting dressedand going out and celebrating
this or that, or is thatsomething I want to be doing?
No, like if I wanted to bedoing it, I would have planned
(24:42):
it and I don't want it.
Like, I really want to just bechill right now.
And I'm so glad that we didthat, because I already feel
like time is obviously just likegoing so quickly.
So I'm happy to have this chilltime.
And now that rose out of school,it's like, oh, it feels nice.
We're even more so slowing downbecause we don't have the rush
(25:03):
and hustle and bustle of goingfrom here to there.
And then now we're going to gofor dinner with my mom or like
go over to my mom's for dinnerand that's like a lovely, like
such a chill evening.
Like we are going to record,but recording is easy.
Like with your, with otherpeople, but like it's going to
be so chill and just like arelaxing evening in at my mom's.
(25:23):
And then we have a relaxingSaturday and then Sunday is
going to be also relaxingbecause we're just having my mom
and brother over for ourclassic Christmas Eve appetizers
, movies and gifts, and thenMonday, like actual Christmas,
is going to be busy, but stillchill, like we're just, but then
it's going to be like nice.
It's like it's like these arejust the perfect amount of
(25:45):
little little bits of joy hereand there and the traditions
that we've always had every year.
And I'm not worried about likemissing out on time with family
or family with friends, becausewe are doing something for New
Year's, I'm pretty sure, butwith Trevor's friends, which are
fine, not that I don't likeTrevor's friends.
I actually hope my bestie umDustin's going to be there, but
(26:07):
I don't actually know what thatis going to consist of, because
it's not me that has to plan.
So I'm just like not eventhinking about it.
But I did think I was like, oh,I have to plan an outfit, but I
actually don't know.
Are we going to be goingoutside?
Cause I'm pretty sure it's inToronto, so like, are we just
staying inside?
Are we going outside?
So I have to think about likethat type of stuff, like what am
I going to wear?
But other than that, it's likeI I feel very, very content in
(26:31):
my decision to just like behands off, chillaxed, slowed
down.
It feels good, like it feelsgood.
It feels like this is what theyshould be like, because I know
that after Christmas and NewYear's that the winter can seem
so dark and all of that.
But now though, days aregetting lighter, the winter
(26:51):
solstice has happened, but Ialways do feel like rebirth,
like January, february.
As soon as it's March, I'm likeit's spring.
I know it's not, I know it'sstill snow here, I know it's
still winter you can go skiing,all of that stuff but in my mind
I'm like it's spring.
There's days where the birdsare chirping, spring Patrick's
Day, spring break, like all ofthese things I'm like.
So it's like January andFebruary are going to be.
(27:12):
I feel like December, januaryand February are my slowdown
months, but then I also feellike I want it to like really
rest into it.
So December, rest into it, andthen January and February that's
when I can take those slowmoments to have those intimate
connections with my friendswhere we can hang out and spend
time together and it not be ahustle and bustle type of thing.
(27:36):
It's really like make fires,eat delicious food, watch movies
, have slumber parties like justchillax, like all that stuff.
And then spring comes and it'slike, oh, the days are longer,
the sun is shining, the birdsare chirping and it feels so
good and there's newrejuvenation, all of that beauty
(27:57):
.
Like I love spring, I love allthe seasons.
I always say I love everyseason for a time.
I love the beginning of everyseason and the end because it
switches into another one.
But like, I feel like everyseason kind of like goes a
little long.
Sometimes it's like, okay, it'shot.
Like it's like, oh, I lovesummer, and then it's like it's
(28:17):
too hot and it's like, oh, Ilove fall.
And then it's like, oh, it's sogloomy.
And it's like I love winter.
And then it's like, oh, it'sslushy.
It's like I love spring.
Actually, I feel like spring isthe only one.
Maybe it's like I love spring,but then it keeps like
pretending it's going to getwarmer and then it doesn't.
I'm trying to think of thenegative of spring.
I actually think spring mightbe my favorite because it really
(28:38):
is about new beginnings, newgrowth.
You get.
You really see, like the second.
You see the buds starting toform on the trees, like it's so
beautiful and all the colors.
Oh, I love when it's purple.
Like I only noticed that when Imoved into this neighborhood,
because people really havebeautiful gardens here not me
(28:59):
but I noticed like there'sdifferent color times of spring,
but purple is a really big partof spring.
And we do have our not Hosta,what is it called Wisteria that
we're trying to regrow or likefigure out what we're doing with
it over our pergola.
But we do get one little bloomfrom our Wisteria, one one
purple bloom.
But I love when everything ispurple and then it all starts to
(29:23):
turn green.
Oh, I just love it.
I love when the tulips come upEvery fall.
I'm like I'm going to plant mybulbs I didn't do it this fall,
maybe next fall, but I reallywant all of.
We do get some things thatobviously were planted by past
owners some daffodils and sometulips but I really want to just
go full out.
Anyways, all this to say is thatI'm happy with my decision and,
(29:46):
that being said, you can behappy with a decision.
You can make a decision and behappy with it, but there can
still be discomfort in themiddle, like you can still feel
like, oh, maybe I'm missing outon something, or oh, is this
really what I wanted.
Oh my gosh, everything justwent by so quickly and I didn't
take a time to enjoy.
But it's like no.
I'm now reflecting back on mydecision to have a slow December
(30:09):
and not an isolated December,but like a very much family
oriented December and like I'mso happy with it and I feel like
I had way less pressure on meand I'm so glad that I did that
and now I feel like I'm ready totake on my winter with a warm
(30:30):
heart and rosy cheeks fromwinter wonderful walks and
implement Next week.
I can't wait to start doingthat because I just haven't had
a chance this week to startimplementing my morning and my
morning routine of like 15minutes a piece for me.
I can't wait, and I reallycan't wait, to set up a proper
(30:50):
charging station in general,just in general, a proper
charging station, because wehaven't had that sorted for a
while but have it in the kitchenand the only thing that will be
on my bedside table is mye-reader.
So, yes, please message mebooks that I should be
downloading Good winter romanceor war novels, anything like
that, okay, or even biopics thatyou liked.
(31:13):
I've probably read a lot ofthem already, because me and
Trevor used to do the my e-bookson our long drives and then
I've read all the ones that havecome out recently.
I think that I was interestedin, but let me know I always I
always love a celebrity, butthat's where we're at.
We're at about the 30 minutemark and I started late because
(31:33):
I was getting distracted on myown YouTube channel.
That being said, if you haven'twatched any of my vlogs, feel
free to check those out.
They're great for getting readyor putting them on in the
background while you're cleaningor slow Sunday mornings.
They're just something nice andwarm and cozy and I just like
(31:53):
they're very realistic to mylife.
I feel like I just turn on thecamera and try to.
I always try to be asunfiltered as possible.
I never I never put filters onthings or edit to change
anything or like do things justfor the camera.
I try to just like turn it onand be as much as I can for
myself or be as true to who I amand in that moment.
(32:15):
So, yeah, if that's somethingyou're looking for, easy breezy,
go check those out.
Maybe more will come, maybe.
Love you.
See you tomorrow for our lastpodcast and our year in review.
I love you all so much.
I'm sending you so many kisses.
You're all the best.
And go check out our roastvideo over on TikTok and five
(32:37):
years time on it and InstagramFive years time podcast,
whatever you like.
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