life

5 on a . . . Wednesday?

October 30, 2024

What can I say, I just have a a few things that feel share-worthy today!!

LOVED Oliver Burkeman’s email newsletter today: here, which he entitled How Not to Freak Out About the US Election. Oliver put into words so well the perspective I think I have generally been taking. I am particularly impressed since he doesn’t actually live in the US (so this isn’t his election) but maybe that actually helps with his sense of perspective. Anyway, it was helpful for me to read today (and not even just applicable to the election, but other stressors too), so I wanted to share.

(Obviously still vote, if that applies and you haven’t already!)

KAE DISCUSSES MEAL PLANNING QUANDARIES. I love this perennial topic. It’s so individual from family to family, though! The things that save us sometimes (leftovers!!) don’t necessarily work for her. But I thought her analysis was interesting and the comments are too.

THE FRUGAL GIRL shares her “Bare-bones, Cheap Planning System”. Obviously I am interested in any planning system, and hers has some interesting quirks (and is, indeed, very inexpensive and minimalist!).

CURRENTLY READING talked about fall reading slumps this week and that definitely hit home (though I finally restarted). But also – did you know there is a Color Kindle coming out? I really prefer not to read on a device but still found that exciting.

(We will ignore the fact that I did not like the book pictured. I am possibly the only one, though! I know most people loved it.)

NEW HOBBY: Sharing just for fun!!

(This is a video, but it’s really just audio bc I did NOT want to video myself) — yesterday after helping G practice I sat down to play the piano. I never do this ever, but it hit me that hey, I could play some Taylor Swift! It made me way happier than I thought it would so maybe this will become my new hobby.

I also think it’s sooooo weird how musical knowledge just . . . stays. I guess it’s like speaking another language? Which I sadly still can’t do. So I guess it’s nice to have this skill set instead!

TS fans: can you ID the song 🙂 ?

23 Comments

  • Reply Lori C October 30, 2024 at 12:38 pm

    Ok, I never took piano but always wanted to. Hearing this makes me really want to learn and perhaps have my kids learn!! That is so amazing!!!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger October 30, 2024 at 12:44 pm

      aww thank you! It took Taylor to get me excited to play again, who knew?! G is the only one taking lessons now. I think all the kids are pretty musical (like they can all sing right on key, it is not something they have to try to do) but I just don’t want to force it.

  • Reply Gillian October 30, 2024 at 1:50 pm

    About 18 months ago I started singing again as a hobby and I am really enjoying it!

  • Reply jennystancampiano October 30, 2024 at 2:07 pm

    Great article! I love Eckhardt Tolle. Very helpful to always ask yourself, what is the problem RIGHT NOW. (er… there isn’t one?)
    I’m envious- I never learned the piano. My instrument was trumpet, which is very hard to keep up if you don’t practice a lot, and also not that much fun to just pick up and play all by yourself. You should definitely play piano more often!

  • Reply Amy October 30, 2024 at 3:29 pm

    Your playing sounds great! I took lessons in elementary school before switching to band, and like Jenny says above it’s hard to keep up with a band instrument (in my case, the French horn) the way you can with piano. My daughter takes lessons now and I sometimes trying to pick up what she’s learning, but my skills are nowhere as good as yours! I think it’s really cool that playing an instrument is something that generally sticks for good.

  • Reply Kat October 30, 2024 at 3:30 pm

    I started taking piano lessons last year after a ~30 year hiatus. I totally bought a TSwift book so I could learn pieces to sing with my kids. It makes it so much more fun to practice!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger October 30, 2024 at 3:36 pm

      This was just by ear not a book but now I want to get one!

      • Reply Lisa’s Yarns October 30, 2024 at 6:06 pm

        That is amazing that you played that by ear. You are so talented! I cannot play by ear – I need sheet music.

        • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger October 30, 2024 at 6:30 pm

          I guess it’s my hidden not terribly useful but fun talent!!!

  • Reply Grateful Kae October 30, 2024 at 4:55 pm

    I can’t believe you can play the piano so well and you never play?! I love to play the piano- though I CANNOT play by ear like that, that’s seriously impressive; I need music!- and I play usually at least a couple times a week!

  • Reply coco October 30, 2024 at 5:14 pm

    I didn’t know you play piano!!! for how long?
    I’m intrigued by kindle color, I think girls will love it, I don’t miss colors when reading books though.

  • Reply Lisa’s Yarns October 30, 2024 at 6:04 pm

    Who’s afraid of little old me!! Your piano playing is great! It makes me miss playing. I don’t know that I could right now with the never ending flare in my right pointer finger. I did play very briefly during Sunday school last week when I was volunteering so that was kind of fun (and unexpected! I was a bit nervous but the kids are 3-4 so not a judgey audience!!).

    I need to read Kae’s meal planning post. Meal planning can be such a drag! We eat lots of leftovers but I can eat the same thing over and over.

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger October 30, 2024 at 6:30 pm

      Finally someone named the song!!!!! 💖💖💖

  • Reply Katie G October 30, 2024 at 8:01 pm

    Hello Beautiful annoyed the heck out of me for the geographical references. I live in the burbs of Chicago – no one, I mean NO ONE is walking from Evanston to Pilsen. Driving will take an hour (at least) in traffic. I read the book for book club and the majority of our discussion was our frustration with geographical references. 😂

  • Reply Klara Furuberg October 31, 2024 at 4:42 am

    Who is afraid of little old me. You are really good! I 🤩started playing as an adult, it is a wonderful hobby.

  • Reply Sarah October 31, 2024 at 5:57 am

    I recognized the song within 4 measures! Wow, you are good to play that by ear. Really impressive. Feel free to post more bc I really enjoyed starting my day with that and now I’m off to look up more Taylor Swift piano covers to do my morning chores to.😂 ps I enjoyed this post and all the links. Thanks for curating a good list of thoughtful ways to start my morning.

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger October 31, 2024 at 11:49 am

      that is so kind. We will see if I can do a more regular feature, lol. I take requests . . .

  • Reply Rachael October 31, 2024 at 7:01 am

    I knew it right off too- you are amazing!!! That sounded so good! How did you learn to play like that- I’m inspired to learn!!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger October 31, 2024 at 11:48 am

      I played for ~10+ years growing up but the ‘by ear’ part just always came easily to me, my sister is the same way! My technique is not great at all (my left hand isn’t doing that much if you listen closely) but I can kind of automatically play whatever if I know it well enough. (And let’s just say I’ve played TS’s albums MANY TIMES!)

  • Reply Arden October 31, 2024 at 7:30 am

    Wow! Sarah that is really good! You are talented and should play more. 🙂

  • Reply Mara October 31, 2024 at 9:38 am

    Thank you for posting the “How not to freak out…” newsletter. I am, admittedly, freaking out a bit, but I am going to try to consider this perspective and share with others who I know are feeling the same. My elementary school kiddo has been VERY into the election… and I almost feel guilty about that. I told him the other day, just know that whatever happens, it will be okay. I sort of felt like I was lying to him. But maybe I am not lying. Because the day after the winner is announced, we will still have breakfast, and go to school, and play outside… our small world will be okay; and, that matters too.

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger October 31, 2024 at 11:46 am

      Yes. And I’d rather not miss out on life due to stress and worry, anyway!

  • Reply Raquel October 31, 2024 at 7:21 pm

    That sounds lovely. Wow!

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