Life Lately #7

Friday at last! John surprised me with a Starbucks Pink Drink just because—and honestly, that alone could’ve carried me through the whole weekend. I haven’t had one in months, so it was a tiny luxury in the middle of an ordinary day.

Yuuuumm!

When we got home, he mowed our lawn for the very first time. I joked that he was really leaning into the handy husband role… and between the Pink Drink and the fresh-cut lawn, I think he might be gunning for Employee of the Month at home.

Saturday

John went to work for overtime, leaving the house unusually still. I didn’t get up until after 8, which already felt like a solid win. Breakfast was leftover eggplant parmigiana—a bit unconventional, but delicious and filling for a day of cleaning.

With no excuses left, I finally tackled the last two moving boxes that had been judging me for weeks. Found a few more books to add to our slowly growing bookshelf. Washed the dishes from the night before and wrapped up all the chores… which meant one thing: guilt-free gaming. I haven’t opened a game since before the move, so it felt like reclaiming a small piece of myself.

When John came home, we grilled mussels with butter and cheese!! And since it’s now summer in NZ, the days stretch on like they’re refusing to end. By 5 pm, we drove to the lake with a picnic blanket, ate popsicles, and people-watched while kids splashed along the shore. After an hour of watching the waves and clouds, we dipped into the lake for a quick swim before heading home.

Sunday

Sunday is always church day for us. Even though we’d already eaten breakfast at home, after mass we still went to Taupo Market Central to grab a fizzy iced drink and caramel popcorn while listening to live music. Somehow, we also came home with a wooden chair from one of the stalls—the one we’ll be placing at the end of our bed.

The heat sent us home early, and I napped while John changed the locks on the back door. For dinner, we made garlic butter shrimps with a side salad, then headed back to the lake because the weather was too lovely to stay indoors. John went for a run while I finished my book, and when he got back, we both slipped into the water for another swim to cool down.

We didn’t go far or do anything extraordinary, but somehow it ended up being exactly the kind of weekend we needed. ♡

No Rhyme, Just Reason is a Taupō, New Zealand–based blog by Ariane about books, good food, long walks, and unapologetic naps.