Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T
Hello and howdy! Welcome to the first Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T of the year!
In this series, it’s my goal to be open and transparent about some of the good areas in my life recently. You could even consider this series to be a place of gratitude and reflection from the previous week.
If you didn’t notice, R.E.P.O.R.T is an acronym made popular by the hashtag of the same name on TikTok. This is my spin on the trend in one of my favorite ways of communication – writing! Check back weekly for each edition of Mattie’s Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T!
R - Reading
Before the turn of the year, I finished reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I’ll be honest - this book took me forever to read. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but simply because time passed before I picked it up in between sittings. To me, the entire plot was easy to follow, even after I went a month without reading a lick of it.
If you are looking to dive into fantasy but not quite ready to commit to large series (Sarah J Maas) or highly detailed world building (J.R.R Tolkien), then I highly suggest starting with Fourth Wing. The second book, Iron Flame, was released in 2024 and the third installment, Onyx Storm, will be released on January 21st, 2025.
E- Eating
It is no lie that the art of meal prepping and getting enough protein can be so overly convoluted. However, I recently discovered the easiest lunch meal prep that reheats well and satisfies. Hamburger Bites have recently been my lunch of choice because it takes under 30 minutes from prep to bake and they are PACKED with protein.
What I really love about this lunch is how easily they are to customize. I add cottage cheese for a bigger protein boost, but I think they would be delicious if you added caramelized onions, bacon, and swiss. Just an idea!
For the full recipe and macro breakdown, check out this TikTok.
P - Playing
Recently, I’ve been on a big Lizzy McAlpine and Carol King kick. On my off days, I try to go on walks in parks or beaches while these two female folk artists raise my energy. These two songs were recently featured in my Sunday Feel Good Mix curated by Spotify©.
Listen to Spring Into Summer by Lizzy McAlpine
Listen to Too Late Baby by Carol King
O - Obsessing
I am going to sound like a total grandma here, but you have to understand that prioritizing my sleep is a habit I have been building upon for a few months now. I don’t want to say that I’ve *perfected* my bedtime routine, yet I have crafted a formula that works for me. Developing a formula can assist in creating a routine while also allowing for some wiggle room when you don’t feel 100%.
My base sleep formula includes a sleep mask, mouth taping, easy listening or classical music, and some winddown time without electronics. Recently I’ve added a weighted blanket as well and I am sleeping like a BABY. Most nights I usually take a magnesium supplement as well, and when needed, some melatonin.
Getting high quality sleep helps me in many areas of my daily life that I rarely compromise on my eight hours.
R - Recommending
I know the holidays just passed and many of us are really trying to stick to a stricter budget this month (me included), but I MUST state my love for the Free People© Classic Striped Oversize Crewneck. For Christmas, I received the black combo but I think each option is adorable for casual errands or lounging around your living space. It is just the right amount of comfy and cute to make me feel put together on a day where I am anything but.
Now, that $98 is a steep price tag for most of us, so I found this dupe on Amazon with fantastic reviews. Of course, I do suggest checking third party sellers like Poshmark or EBay if you prefer to shop second hand or would prefer to be more conscious about where your money goes.
T - Treating
This week, I treated myself to a haircut! I guess you could say “New Year, New Do” if we wanted to cheese up this post. But the truth is, my hair was the longest it had been since I was a freshman in college and it was a drag to style and maintain the long hair. So I ended up taking off 5-6 inches and adding in some layers to keep it fun.
Part of why I call this cut my “Treat” for the week is a) you don’t get a haircut everyday (unless you’re Anna Wintour) and b) my stylist made it such a great experience. If you’re currently in the Sarasota/ Venice area, I highly recommend visiting Montero Styles. This husband/ wife duo are genuinely so kind and welcoming, plus are fantastic stylists!
That’s all for this edition of the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T! See ya next week!
