Hi, friend! How are you? I’m doing well.
It’s been a strange week in North Carolina though. Here in Charlotte, life is totally normal. Starting last Thursday, we had some bad weather and school closures due to Hurricane Helene, but other than a few power outages (none of them affected our home or work), we fared very well. But just a few hours away in other parts of the state, there’s been pure destruction and devastation. I didn’t realize how scary or bad it was elsewhere in North Carolina until I was scrolling social media and talking to people who have family members in western North Carolina. It’s incredibly sad to see towns completely washed away and flooded, and my heart goes out to everyone who’s been affected by these natural disasters. My home state of Florida also got hit badly again (I was home for one of those devastating hurricanes many years ago and will never forget what it was like), and it’s just terrible. It’s always hard to know how to give during times like these, and here’s a list of reputable charities, where you can donate funds and/or supplies, if you’re moved to do so.
All that being said, we’re feeling extra grateful to be safe and sound. And now, changing the subject to some lighter stuff, because there are always good things to share, mixed in with the tough stuff. It’s been almost a month since we caught up on the blog on what’s been going on in our world. Today, I’ve got a list of current faves for you from the last few weeks.
We’ve been busy with school, sports, work and all the regular stuff. I can’t believe it’s already October. To mark the occasion, Brady and I pulled out our minimal fall decor this week, and I bought this half-priced fall bouquet at Publix too, featuring my favorite flower — the sunflower …
Family
Brady’s 7th birthday
Brady is 7! Our little man turned 7 on September 30th, and we did a lot of celebrating him the last few days. Here’s a video tribute for our guy too.
We held a party for Brady at our house the Friday before his birthday. And while the party was great, it hadn’t been the original plan at all. I was going to host his party at Chick-fil-a (I know that doesn’t sound like something I’d do, I’m aware, but I’ve been doing a lot of things as a mom I never expected to do, and so there you go). Nonetheless, on the day of the party, school was cancelled because of the storms, and the power was out at most of the Chick-fil-a locations near us, except for one that only had a drive-through option. After I got home from work around 2pm, we made the decision to move the party to our house instead, so I texted all the moms bringing their kids and got to work getting the party ready.
We did a little cleaning, I took a shower and got changed (I started this adventure in sweaty gym clothes after teaching two classes), then I went to Publix and bought nearly everything we needed in one 30-minute trip (outside of the nuggets and fries we were able to get from the Chick-fil-a drive-through for the kids’ dinners). Luckily, I had already made some small party favors the day before and ordered a big 7 balloon, and the rest came together so quickly. (It was a not a Pinterest-worthy set-up this time, and I barely took any pictures. I’m also leaving out the pictures I did take of Brady’s friends.)
Brady had six little boys come over to play (and a few little sisters), and they ran around upstairs at our house and had a total ball, before coming downstairs for dinner and cupcakes. Honestly, when all is said and done, it was probably much better for both the kids and the parents to have the party at our house, because people stayed longer, and I was able to serve wine and spend quality time chatting with the other moms (who are also my friends) too. It was perfectly informal and casual, and I think everyone had a good time, as you can tell by Brady’s red and sweaty face …
Sometimes I think we tend to stress about hosting. And really, when it comes to kids, it doesn’t take much to keep them entertained. This hastily arranged party was a great reminder of that. Brady loved it, his friends loved it, and so did we. Birthday success!
And for one final shot taken from my friend as she left the party and we were standing in the doorway …
Brady also got to celebrate with us on his real birthday and have both his soccer team and his class sing happy birthday to him. He’s feeling good about 7.
Books
“One True Loves” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I loved this book! It’s fiction. It’s light. Yet, at times, it doesn’t feel all that light, if that makes any sense. And I flew through it, staying up late a couple nights getting through this book in maybe a week.
I’ve read quite a few books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I’ve finished and enjoyed all of them. This one is about a woman who finds herself in a completely unlikely situation. She thinks her husband dies in a helicopter accident over the Pacific. And in order to pick up the pieces, she moves back to her hometown and rebuilds her life, finding love again. Then one day, her husband returns after having spent years trying to get back to her from the deserted island he was stuck on. So, she’s presented with the decision to choose between two “true loves.”
(“One True Loves” by Taylor Jenkins Reid)
I just really appreciate the way Reid tells a story, because her writing is very easy to read and you feel like you get to know the characters really well. They’re raw, they’re imperfect, and they’re honest … and I can relate to all of that!
If you’re a fan of light romantic fiction, which serves as a great escape, this one’s for you. I also loved Taylor Jenkins Reid’s other books, including:
- “Maybe in Another Life” (which for some reason, I never wrote about on the blog, even though I read it a few months ago and loved it)
- “After I Do” (reminds me of “One True Loves” in the way it questions relationships and has the main character deciding who she wants to be in her life)
- “Carrie Soto is Back” (loved this one so much and loved the tennis references)
- “Daisy Jones & the Six” (perhaps the only time that the TV show was as good as the book — I’ve been thinking of watching the show again, and I liked the book a lot too)
- “Malibu Rising” (also very good, but not my favorite of her books)
- “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” (I read this one a very long time ago and was so into the narrative and writing style)
When I find an author I like, I tend to read all of their work, and I think I’ve covered most of Reid’s by now. She hasn’t let me down yet. I’m back to nonfiction at the moment, but will be on the lookout for more fiction soon.
Concerts
Seeing Hootie & the Blowfish in Charlotte at the PNC Music Pavilion
For Father’s Day this year, I bought Dave tickets to see Hootie & the Blowfish, and the concert finally took place a couple weeks ago. (You know I love to give “experiences” as gifts.)
The concert took place outdoors at PNC Music Pavilion, which is a big venue on the other side of the city from us. We’d been to PNC Pavilion once before to see Zac Brown Band, during our first year of living in Charlotte. It’s quite the trek to get to this spot, and it’s really got to be worth it to go. I would say that the Hootie & the Blowfish show was worth it, mostly.
Our concert was on a Thursday, and we decided to head out there just before show time — knowing that traffic around the venue is usually a huge issue. In ended up not being that bad though. We brought Publix subs to eat in the parking lot, and it was literally picture-perfect concert weather that night to sit on the back of the car and people watch (very good people watching this night, might I say). We saw some people Dave knew through work, so did some chatting at the start, then went to our seats during the second act.
(Here are my black bootcut jeans. They are high waisted and have the perfect amount of stretch.)
The opening acts were Edwin McCain and Collective Soul, and while McCain sounded great (he came back out to perform with both bands, so even though we didn’t see his set, we still saw him), it did seem like the lead singer of Collective Soul had seen better days (I’ll leave my description to that). We weren’t super impressed with Collective Soul and ended up getting some refreshments during most of their set. I didn’t realize I’d recognize so many of their songs, but I would say the lead vocals were not great in person.
When we returned to our seats, it was time for the main event. And they really delivered. Darius Rucker, the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish, has such a rich and robust voice, and it sounds just as good live today as it sounded recorded more than 30 years ago when this group started as a college band in the south. It was so fun to sing along to the tunes that we knew and enjoy ones that we didn’t. We really loved this outdoor concert experience, and I’ve been listening to some extra Hootie & the Blowfish music since.
Seeing Guster in Raleigh at the North Carolina Museum of Art
We went to two concerts in the span of two weeks, and I have another one later this month too! I’m a big live music fan, and I rarely regret spending money on concert tickets.
Just this past weekend, Dave and I went on a 20-hour getaway to Raleigh for a night. Dave had bought tickets for us to see his favorite band, Guster, several months ago, and the date came up quickly. It was a super-fast getaway, because we had to be back early on Sunday to get ready to go to the Panthers game.
(I bought this stretchy knit tank on my Montreal trip in two versions, and it’s the best fabric. It looks dressy, and it stays in place. I’m in a small. And here are my sneakers.)
Okay, so to be honest: I’m a Guster fan because Dave is a Guster fan. This was our fifth time seeing this Boston-based rock band together too. They’re not super popular, so you maybe haven’t heard of them, but they put on a great live show, and I’ve grown to love their music over the years.
The last time Dave and I saw Guster was on February 29, 2020 (Leap Day) back in San Francisco, and that was the last time we attended a big event before COVID took over the world just a couple weeks later. We’d been wanting to see Guster again, but they don’t come to the Southeast all that often. When Dave saw they were going to be in Raleigh, he jumped at the chance to get tickets. And although it ended up being a very, very busy weekend with Brady’s birthday and a Panthers game, I’m glad we fit it in.
(Here are my hoop earrings, which I wear every single weekend.)
The concert was outdoors, and once again, it was a perfect weather type of night for it — so we were lucky two times in a row. The show took place at the North Carolina Museum of Art’s outdoor amphitheater, and it was a small and intimate venue. We had front-row seats and were so close to the action.
Guster is a goofy band, and the lead singer ended up inviting folks to come down to the pit to stand in front of the stage (despite the fact that there hadn’t been any tickets sold for that area), so we scooted down and stood for much of the show. It was so fun to be so close and see everything on stage. Once again, another great live music experience this night. And a fun overnight getaway too, complete with a yummy dinner in downtown Raleigh at Barcelona.
Other recent favorites
A few other things worth talking about …
Oliveda skincare. I tried about five different lines of clean skincare over the last few months, while Beautycounter has been unavailable (the company changed hands and had to halt production).
And after all that testing, I finally found a serum and a moisturizer that are super luxurious, smell great and work well with my skin. And I think I may like them even more than the Beautycounter Countertime line I had relied on for a few years. My skin is very happy and hydrated when using this duo. If you’re looking for a new clean skincare option, Oliveda’s worth a shot. It’s waterless, so the products are very concentrated, and I’m a big fan of that. If you were a Beautycounter fan, I have a list of easy swaps to Oliveda, so just reach out.
All the sports. We spend a lot of time going to sporting events or playing sports in this family right now, between Brady’s soccer and tennis, my tennis and Dave’s job.
One of my favorite parts about going to most of the Charlotte FC soccer games and the Carolina Panthers football games is that we often get to bring friends along with us to enjoy the fun too. And also the fact that Brady is the number-one fan. We’ve been to a bunch of games recently with many more on the agenda throughout the next couple of months.
(Here are my sneakers, and here’s a similar version of my dress.)
Knit tanks and outings. Dave and I have done a good job of getting out lately. A few weeks ago, we went to a grand reopening of a rooftop lounge in Uptown Charlotte, which was a really nice night out in the city. And this gave me the perfect chance to debut one of those knit tanks I mentioned I bought in Montreal. I can tell that these two tanks will be staples in my wardrobe, because I love a good solid color. The one below is mockneck and sleeveless, and the other one is a square neck.
(Here’s my knit tank, and I’m in a small. It’s a snug fit.)
Best of A Lady Goes West lately
Here’s what we’ve been talking about on the blog …
Creatine. Does it seem like you keep hearing about this supplement? Here’s everything you need to know … “All about creatine: What is creatine monohydrate and what does it do for you.”
Music. I spend so much time looking for good music for my classes. And in this one, I’m sharing some of my recent playlists … “Three upbeat workout playlists for your next sweat session.”
Fitness. This post is inspired by conversations I’ve had with my group fitness class members recently … “Four signs your fitness and wellness routine isn’t working for you.”
That’s it for today! I hope you are safe and well, and I hope you have a great week, friend.
Questions of the day for you
What’s one good thing going on in your world right now?
What’s the last concert you went to?