The Weekend Edit No. 19
5 fun things, including our couples massage, a NSFW game to play with friends, and the paint color we chose for our living room refresh
Dear reader,
Happy Friday! I’m currently sitting at the desk in our office and the entire house is quiet. PJ just left for the farm, and there are still a few more hours until the kids need to be picked up from school. I am thankful for this time in the afternoon because I remember when the kids were younger and home with us during the day, and we would try to work and balance time with them and it just didn’t work out well for anybody. Now, I relish these hours and am able to crank out this newsletter and other pressing items.
In other news, PJ and I both want to tackle painting projects this weekend. He has been going over different red paint colors for weeks, spending over $100 on samples to get the perfect shade for our chicken coop on the farm. He originally wanted more of a maroon color, then a true red, and now has settled on one that’s sort of in-between. I absolutely love it and I can’t wait for you to see it!
My painting project is our living room at home. I have been wanting to paint it for months to make it feel more cozy and more in-line with what a classic Craftsman-style home would have, and after many, many samples on my end as well, we officially decided on a color this morning that we’re both happy with. I am so excited to get started, hopefully tomorrow! You can see the color down below.
Also, and this happens pretty much every Weekend Edit- this newsletter is too long for email, so you may want to click through to Substack see the whole thing.
Here’s what else went on this week:
We treated ourselves to a couples massage earlier this week, something we haven’t done in over three years. It was so wonderful. Every time we get one and we’re checking out, we swear we’re going to book one the next month, and for some reason, we never do, and the next thing you know it’s been three years. We both got deep tissue massages, but I think next time I just want a more gentle, relaxing one. What kind of massage is your favorite to get?
PJ and Ethan made a tire swing for our kids in the new sheep barn last weekend! After the new barn was built, the two of them put up a wooden beam, tied some sturdy rope to it, and hung a tire. The kids spent the whole day on it, spinning and laughing and having the time of their lives, and I think this will become a new core memory for them. PJ makes life so fun for our family.
Severe storms came through our area last weekend, and my sister (okay and PJ, too) got really freaked out and wanted to do whatever she could to protect our family. Since our house is the only one with a basement to hide out in should the storms get that bad, everyone came to spend the night at our place! My brother and his wife and their dog, and my younger sister and her wife and their two dogs, and my mom, all came for a sleepover that was way too much fun. We stayed up late and watched Lord of the Rings and Wicked and ate food and just had the absolute best time. I am petitioning to make this a tradition every other month or so, not just when there are storms or during the holidays. How fun does a family sleepover sound every now and then?
We had our friends over to Holiday House the other night, and after dinner, we played the NSFW version of our favorite game, and we were howling laughing the entire time. Definitely wait until the kids go to bed to play this one.
Lastly, we settled on a paint color for the living room! I have been daydreaming about painting this room for months, and I am hoping to start tomorrow. Just prepping to paint a room can sometimes be a full-day job, so we’ll see how far I’ll get with it. The full reveal is coming soon!
Have a cozy weekend, friends.
Welcome Distractions
Something to Watch
“The Baldwins” on Max. We don’t watch much reality TV, but I am a sucker for a show that displays a real family with a bunch of little kids running around in a big, full house. Such is this show, featuring Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria and their seven (!) kids as they shuffle between their gorgeous NYC apartment and their beautiful Hamptons home. It’s loud, chaotic, and highly relatable for us in this stage of our life. The show deals with the aftermath and trial of Alec’s fatal shooting back in 2021 while on the set of “Rust”, and the toll it takes on their family. It’s heartfelt, funny, and so enjoyable to watch.
Something to Read
Gwyneth Paltrow in Vanity Fair (paywall). She’s this month’s cover star, and I feel nostalgic about it for some reason. Even though she hasn’t had a true starring role since 2010, Gwyneth is a true movie star, the kind that doesn’t come around too frequently anymore, and I long for the “good ole days” of her kind of celebrity. This was a fun interview with Vanity Fair where she talks about Goop, her role in the culture, making out with Timothee Chalamet, and so much more. I know she gets a lot of hate, but I’m actually so inspired by her and what she’s been able to create and for sort of being the first celebrity influencer. It’s all so fascinating to me.
Something to Listen to
“On Purpose with Jay Shetty” Podcast. This particular episode is called “Do This Every Morning to NOT Feel Tired & Focus Your Mind”. It’s an interesting listen. He gives you some tips and tricks to wake up feeling like your best self, like not getting on your phone right away, taking a big drink of water before pouring your coffee, and turning on the cold water for the last 30 seconds of your shower. I won’t be trying that one any time soon, but it sounds like it would work!
Feature Friday
We rounded up a bunch of our favorite pieces from the week that we loved, and think you will love, too. Bonus: they’re all on sale!
This Week’s Vlog
In this week’s video, we're showing you the new man in our life, and why he isn’t the nicest (but will hopefully work out for the best!). Also, I go to my SIL’s epilepsy event in Chattanooga, and our family tours a camp just down the road from our farm that our kids might go to this summer.
Hope you enjoy.
You May Have Missed…
Have a wonderful weekend. We’ll see you on Tuesday. If you feel up to it, please like this post and share it! It helps get the word out and lets others discover Okay McKay. Thank you, friend!
Loved all the updates. As always, thanks for your efforts. Love catching up with your family and your friends.
The new coop looks like it turned out to be quite something - not to mention the joy that swing will bring to the kids, eh? Looking forward to seeing it painted.
You both looked so happy enjoying the massage. It should be a monthly treat for you both, together. You deserve the "us" time for sure.
Hugs home to all. Stay well and happy!🤗🤗🌈🌈
As to the redecorating, I love popping the energy in a room with a little bit of red. I just add a red pillow, or a red patterned blanket or throw. And let’s not forget a dog with a red collar.