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Coffee Talk

Coffee Talk with Jo-Lynne

Greetings, friends! Happy Sunday!

Some weeks I sit down to write these posts with so much to say, and other weeks there seems to be so little to say. This week is the latter, but I hate to skip my Coffee Talk again because it seems like I haven’t written one in ages.

On the other hand, it feels rather presumptuous to think that you really care about what is going on in my day to day life. I mean, I spend the larger part of my days sitting at the computer putting blog posts together. I get up occasionally to change over the wash or make another cup of coffee. It’s really not all that exciting. (Of course, it also feels presumptuous to think that anyone cares what I wear on a daily basis, and y’all seem to like that, so here we are!)

This week I did a lot of running, with my daughter taking PSSAs at a remote location (she does cyber charter school from home) and then various appointments sprinkled in there.

Then my younger daughter ended up staying home from her school on Friday with a sore throat and head congestion. I took her to the Urgent Care (best invention since sliced bread) to rule out strep, but it appears to be something viral so there wasn’t much they could do for her. She started to perk up yesterday, so that’s a relief. She can’t afford to miss more school this year.

After a week of running hither and yon, I’ve stayed put all weekend, and it’s been nice to just be home.

I wish I could say that I accomplished all I’ve been wanting to accomplish as far as getting the house organized, but I ended up working on blog posts most of yesterday. Since I wasn’t home much this week, I was behind, plus, I’ll choose to work on the blog before organizing the house anytime!

I appreciate all the feedback on the white jeans post and just your support in general this week (and always.) Sometimes I really wish I didn’t have such an unconventional “job” and the baggage that comes along with it, but I guess all jobs have baggage. They’re just all different. I’m sure I’d still be blogging even if were just a hobby; I like the community and the camaraderie too much to give it up, so I guess it’s cool that I was able to make it into a source of income as well. It just seems like it would all be simpler if the line between work and play wasn’t so blurry.

Let’s see, what else?

Well, I have another trip coming up next week. I know I said I’d be home for a while, but this invitation came up suddenly. In fact, it’s been a bit of a logistical nightmare to get my travel arrangements secured. It doesn’t help that I’m a bit of a diva when I travel. I don’t want to deal with connecting flights (I live in Philadelphia, so I rarely have to) and I’m picky about my seat assignment. I usually plan my trips far enough in advance that it’s not a big deal, but at this late date, pickin’s are slim. Why PR companies wait until the very last minute to schedule these press trips is beyond me, but that seems to be the way it goes.

I’m not supposed to say where I’m going just yet… but I can soon! I’m looking forward to it, as long as I can get a decent plane flight. (I’m hoping to finalize that tomorrow.)

Today we have our usual church commitments this morning, and then the rest of the day is free. I’m not EVEN going to say I hope to finish my spring organizing. We’ll just see how it plays out.

Actually, with the weather we’re having this week, it’s a good thing I still have some winter clothes laying around. We are getting some unseasonably cold temperatures right now — the highs are in the 50s. At least the sun is shining, so I can’t complain, and it also makes for great running weather.

I’m still struggling with consistency on that front, but I’m doing a little better. I hope to keep the trend going. It’s easier to fit it in now that it’s getting lighter earlier in the mornings; I just have to be disciplined enough to get off my tuches and get out there before I need to start getting ready for outfit photos or whatever else I have on the day’s agenda.

Well, for having nothing to say this morning, I guess that’s something.

One final thing. You may (or may not) have noticed the new email signup on my sidebar. It isn’t working yet, but it will be soon. In a few days, I’m rolling out a new and improved email format that I think is really exciting.

It has taken for.ev.er. to get it up and running. I really don’t know why it’s taking so long, as I paid for it months ago, but as they say, it is what it is. Once it’s finalized, I think it’s going to be really cool. If you’re not signed up and you want to be, you can sign up for the daily option here, and the weekly option here.

Updated to add – the book I mentioned a while back, Slightly South of Simple, is now available for sale! I’ll attach a quick YouTube video of the author, Kristin Harvey, talking about the story and her inspiration for it. It makes a good summer beach read!

https://youtu.be/kciiDd6Uf7g

Okay, I think that’s it for me! I hope you all have a restful and blessed Sunday.

Join The Conversation

40 Responses

  1. A couple months ago you mentioned a book you we’re going to read , it wasn’t coming out until April ,
    Do you remember the name. I thought I wrote it down somewhere but can’t find it ????
    Glad your daughter is feeling better , a lot going around.
    Thanks and have a great week !!

  2. Hearing how ordinary a good chunk of your life is feels comforting to most of us I think, and is what gives your blog such a sense of community 🙂 Glad your daughter is feeling better, and hope you get what makes you feel most settled flight-wise

  3. I look forward to hearing everything that’s going on, you feel like a true friend, and I really miss the everyday stuff when you can’t do it!????

  4. I love your Coffee Talk posts! I almost feel like we are sitting at a table in a little cafe having coffee and talking. We are having some lows in the upper 40’s and low 50’s, which I love. I think it can be very hard to remain consistent with exercising because life gets in the way. Keep doing what you can. I have never been one to exercise in the typical way, but I do yardwork and housework, while in the hotel I am taking the dogs for a walk in the early evenings, if it’s not too hot. Since our Labradoodle is 11, we don’t walk far. Enjoy your Sunday afternoon!

  5. I think that you telling us about your daily life is great. You feel like one of our friends that go through the same struggles that we do. I appreciate you sharing details of your life with us. It makes us realize that we are all busy wives and Moms and that some days the struggle to get everything done is very real.
    Your posts have helped me think outside the box sometimes and I’ve came up with some great accessorized outfits.
    Please keep up the great work and thank you.
    I hope you have a wonderful week and all your travel plans fall into place. So glad your baby is feeling better.

  6. Excellent! I really admire the fact you got into blogging & that it has turned into a great job for you. I throw out the term “back in the day” quite frequently these days, so “back in the day” when I was a stay at home mom, I had a pretty good social circle of family/friends, as we were all in the same boat. Now so many moms work outside the home. And the ones that do stay home, I don’t see them having that large social network, since everyone else seems to be working. With all that being said, I’m guessing your blog has connected you to so many people socially without even leaving the comfort of your own home! What a great network of friends to have. And oh so many opinions! I can tell from your blog, you put a good deal of work into it. It’s interesting to get a glimpse into the workings of it and all that it entails, not an easy task. So thank you for sharing all that you do, both in work and in your personal life! Glad to hear your daughter is on the mend!

    1. I am very fortunate to have a network of mom friends — when my kids were little, we were all stay at home moms and hung out together. Now, most of my friend work, but we do hang out on the weekends and in the evenings. It’s nice to be in a neighborhood with families all in the same boat, more or less. That said, I love my social circle online and how easy it is to connect with women all over the world. It’s just so cool. 🙂

  7. LOL about you being a travel diva, Jo-Lynne. Me, too. I fly out of BWI or Philly, do straight flights and don’t fly crazy night flights. And I’m picky about my seat. I’m one of those who pays Southwest the extra $15 so I can get on the plane first! Happy Sunday.

    1. I usually pay extra to sit close to the front, and I NEVER sit in a middle seat. Well, guess what is available a week before a flight? Middle seats in the back. I am tempted to see what it costs to upgrade to first class. Oh, and I have to connect thru Charlotte. I know, #firstworldproblems. I am sure someone will tell me I am pampered. 😉 Why, yes. Yes, I am! LOL!!!

      1. Unapologetically pampered, I love it!! I sometimes struggle with not feeling guilty for having a nice life, but if we don’t enjoy our blessings, what’s the point of having them?! ????

      2. Unapologetically pampered, I love it!! I sometimes struggle with feeling guilty for having a nice life, but if we don’t enjoy our blessings, what’s the point of having them?! ????

        1. True, and I am sincerely grateful. Of course, I would give it all up in a heartbeat for the health and safety of my family and loved ones. There are no guarantees in this life, and I’m very aware of that.. probably to a fault. I’m the type of person who always worries about what the future might hold. I’m trying to learn to relax and enjoy the moment.

  8. Lol! I love your candor. As someone who flies out of Tucson, I can’t fly anywhere direct hardly! In a few weeks I’m flying to Atlanta via San Diego!! Here’s the good news: Charlotte is actually a pretty nice airport to go through. Good restaurants to choose from and white rocking chairs scattered around!

    Have a blessed and peaceful Sunday!

    1. Yes, that is why I picked it! Plus, it is on the way… most weren’t. I am crossing fingers that the flight is still available tomorrow. The firm doing the travel planning clocked out at 5PM on Friday, and a lot can happen in a weekend.

  9. Presumptuous, not at all! Your blog is a homey, fun place to check in. And the fashion ideas are the best! I have read it for a year but just started commenting recently. Not sure why I waited so long. With all the work you do, I should have shown appreciation sooner ! I felt a connection to your blog quickly because of your style but also, because I grew up in Pennsylvania. Still have a sister out there. Miss the beautiful terrain and the beautiful historical homes.
    Tomorrow is going to be fun as I have two packages being delivered. Two more Jo-Lynne tops! Approved by my hubby. I own several Jo-Lynne tops already. We have affectionately coined them as your tops. ???? Well time for more coffee and review of your posts.. Excited to hear about your trip! Have a lovely day everyone!!

  10. I love your coffe talk !!! And I miss them when you are not able to write one. I feel you are my friend I am every day waiting for your e mail and your comments as well.
    Your advises about fashion, clothes and feeting help me a lot.
    Thank you so much for your hard work you put in the blog!!!!
    Have a great Sunday!!!
    And I read you tomorrow!!

  11. I traveled for almost 20 years. Hated it most of the time unfortunately but made it work. Clorox wipes and Bose headphones were critical , HA.
    I so enjoy your blog and appreciate all your work. Having worked at home for 20 plus years I found I had to set strict parameters on my work time. and then shut the “office door” or it became 24/7.
    Hope your trip is fun! Charlotte is a pretty good airport to pass through. Thanks again for all the good info you bring us!! Julie L

    1. I know I should do that – first I need to install an office door. Ha! And yes, that is why I chose Charlotte. It is nice, and it is on the way. As it turns out, they did find a direct flight with some seats left, so yay!

  12. I enjoy your Coffee Talk’s :). Hope your daughter keeps feeling better and that your travel plans work out wonderfully!

  13. Jo-Lynne, I’m sorry that last week was a rough one in terms of comments about your price points. I read your posts every day and enjoy seeing the outfits that you showcase. It does not bother me in the least that some of your items are pricey. I do what the rest of your faithful readers do, take your ideas and adapt them to what I have in my closet or to what I can afford to buy. Not only that, you are always up front about prices AND you provide less expensive options. Thanks to you, I also know on which items I should splurge. The main point of this post is: thank you for all of your hard work as it is much appreciated.

  14. I have to say, I truly enjoy your blog and love that you include your everyday life! I feel like you are a girlfriend that I can just listen to for hours…I’m definitely a listener – thanks for sharing! Your personality just shines through your words and lets your readers ‘get to know you’ as a caring and funny mom. On this journey through life, it’s nice to know that a mom in PA has a little bit of the same thoughts/issues as this mom in FL. Have a great week!

    1. Thank you, Denise. That is so sweet. I agree, it is neat to connect with women all over the world and realize we are all going through pretty much the same thing.

  15. I usually don’t catch your Sunday posts until Monday morning but managed to have some down time this evening. I like hearing how you juggle it all. I’m headed to a conference in a week and have used a lot of your Spring style suggestions to prepare. Everything from white jeans to dresses and jean jackets. I even latched onto Erin from Trunk Club! It’s the best I’ve felt about a conference in years. So excited to see Quebec too!!

  16. Thanks Jolynne. I really appreciate your coffee talks and you sharing your life and being so real. I don’t do facebook and I think some of it is because so many people only put out the look they think they want people to perceive of them and not being real. Kind of like the Christmas letter with only sharing how GREAT everyone is doing, but almost to a fault, never sharing the struggles. Do you know what I mean.? I had a friend one time who said she was tempted to do a Christmas letter putting things like….”Well…..little johnny just got out of jail and so and so just got her mouth washed out with soap etc. etc. 🙂 LOL So all that to say, you are much appreciated the way you share, letting us all know we are all celebrating and struggling in similar ways. A good book I’m reading now is called “Everybody’s Normal Till You Get To Know Them” by John Ortberg. Its about how God created us to be in community with each other and we all have quirks, sins and jagged edges and we need each other etc. etc. It has such good infor. and I recommend it to you all.

  17. I’m so glad that you didn’t skip Coffee Talk, I usually look for it on Sunday mornings but just now getting to it. Always glad to hear what’s going on.

  18. I always enjoy your “Coffee Talks.” It is the kind of things that you would chat with a friend over coffee. It helps give a context to all the fashion stuff you share. 🙂 Your flight requirements cracked me up. I usually travel with my family and end up between the 2 younger kids who spend way too much time laying on me. LOL

    When I was pregnant with my youngest, I spent one flight between 2 business men who managed to carry on a conversation over my head while I puked every 10-15 minutes. That’s my most memorable flight- good thing it was just about 2 hours. Fun times.

    Thanks for the author recommendation. I enjoy southern fiction, and I’ve added her to my “To Be Read” list. I have her first book “Dear Carolina” on hold at our digital library. 🙂

    1. That sounds like my worst nightmare. I HATE it when people talk loudly for an entire flight. I’m the girl who says “hi” and then promptly puts on my headphones and looks out the window. People don’t dare talk to me on airplanes, lol.

      I am going to try to get Dear Carolina on my kindle. I need a good book to read on the plane next week!

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