Friday Finds #64: Enjoying the Midwest

Welcome to September! The days are a little shorter, the temperature has dropped about 10 degrees, and the humidity has subsided. All within a few days time. And now it’s Friday which means it’s time to take a look back at the week. I’ve got a couple goodies from the Midwest.

Since I mentioned the Midwest, here where I live we have lots of great paths for walking, biking, or running. Last weekend I decided to add long walks to my exercise routine. I normally go for a run a few times a week, but I decided to add walking, as well.

Some of you may remember that I joined Noom last winter. I lost 15 pounds through the program and it wasn’t really that hard. I’d still like to lose 5 more pounds but I want to do it through exercise as opposed to dieting. I do still watch what I eat (I don’t want to un-learn the good habits I acquired from Noom) but I don’t want to physically track food intake anymore so I’ll rely more on exercise. Besides, I really enjoy walking.

I choose the prettiest paths and neighborhoods for my longer walks, which are 4 to 5 miles on the weekend. During the week I walk 2 to 3 miles per outing. One thing about running – you don’t get to enjoy the scenery as much as you do while walking. But I still like to run in order to strengthen my heart and lungs.

I did join a gym for weight training but I haven’t been as dedicated to that yet. I’m not gonna give up though – I just need to develop a habit of going. I used to lift weights about 5 times a week when I was younger. It’s actually a great way to deal with stress. When I was going through my divorce I’d cry after a set of bench presses when no one was looking. I always felt better afterwards.

I’ve always been pretty active and lucky for me I enjoy exercising. But I’ve always struggled with my weight going up and down. I’ve developed bad habits of eating when I’m bored or emotional. Noom helped me break those habits although I still enjoy my cookies and ice cream on occasion. I mean, who can expect a girl to give those up permanently?

Let’s get onto this week’s Friday’s Finds!

How about we start with a tour of a gorgeous Iowa home with a cool library and a dining room that features William Morris wallpaper?

Fellow blogger and friend Liz Marie shares a living room update in her Michigan home. Her entire farm and home are absolutely breathtaking. I love everything she does and one of these days I’m going to take another trip to Michigan to visit her store, Found Cottage located in Hudsonville.

And while we’re on the subject of travel, you might be interested in visiting one of the towns that made the cutest small towns in North Carolina list.

Are you a fan of the updated traditional look? According to My Domaine, it’s not going anywhere soon, which makes me happy. I love traditional style homes and decor. It really never goes out of style.

I’ll end with this collection of Friday Finds with pretty country home exteriors in Australia. Maybe some day I’ll take a trip to the land down under. I’ve always wanted to see a koala bear in person (and not at the zoo).

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend! I’ll be watching my grandson’s football game on Monday. He’s in his sophomore year of high school (and yes, he started driving) and plays right guard on defense.