It’s Friday—my second favorite day of the week. (Saturday comes in first, if you were wondering. On Saturday I sleep in…and do I ever love that.) So…who is up for another round of Finish It Friday? I am in and very excited about the upcoming (birthday!) weekend.

Before we get into list sharing mode, I wanted to share a couple of thoughts. This week, while waiting at the doctor’s office for my annual exam, and while waiting for my kids during classes and practices, and while waiting to go to sleep, I read Brene Brown’s latest book The Gifts of Imperfection:  Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. Brene dedicates an entire chapter to play and rest. In this chapter, Brene says that “…play is as essential to our health and functioning as rest.”

Now I realize some of us have been known to deprive ourselves of rest…as well as play…but that only works for so long. Eventually we crash and burn, and let ourselves catch up on rest. But, I know fewer people who “catch up on play.” Today, as you put together your Finish It Friday list, embrace the notion that play isn’t optional. It is as essential as rest. I love that.

(By the way, if you’re in search of a book to read this weekend, or any upcoming weekend, I really enjoyed Brene’s book—both for the message and for how it was communicated.)

Alright…on to my lists! This week, in the spirit of embracing play, I’m going to put my play list first.

Play List

    • Make birthday cake.
    • Wrap birthday presents. (While this is a must-do…I think it is great fun, so it’s play for me.)
    • Write up clues for scavenger hunt.
    • Make list of possible holiday creative projects. (A list of even more play items! Fun.)

To do list To Finish List

  • Finish laundry. (I love putting this one on the to finish list…it really motivates me to get caught up and get it done before the weekend is over.)
  • Start and finish coordinating Thanksgiving plans.
  • Start planning Kailea’s birthday party.
  • Start brainstorming holiday gift ideas.
  • Hair appointment for Kailea.

Okay, it’s your turn. Are you in this week? If so, just post your “play list” and “to finish list” in the comments, and then check back in on Monday to let us know how things went. I hope you’ll join the fun this week! Have a great weekend!

By the way…if you’re a local reader in the St. Louis / Edwardsville, Illinois area, here’s something to consider for your Finish It Friday list. There is a dress drive going on tomorrow at Edwardsville High School. This dress drive is part of “Project:  Fashion” a club that was founded my neighbor’s daughter. You can read all about the club and the dress drive here*. Wouldn’t this be a great reason to get some of your old formals out of your closet (or your daughter’s closet?)

(*Updated…the link has been removed by the newspaper’s website. Leave me a comment if you want info on donating a dress. The dress drive is over now…but the club will continue to collect dresses for some time. Thanks!)