Deer in the Backyard, Line Dancing, and a Broken Toe—Our Wild Week

You ever get hit with one of those Instagram ads that just hooks you? That’s what happened to me and Holly this week. It was this video of a guy walking out of Starbucks with what he called a “protein espresso.” Supposedly, it was packed with protein, low on calories, and perfect for people who track their macros.

Now, I’m not really a Starbucks guy. I don’t even drink a ton of coffee to begin with. But the idea of getting a caffeine boost and some protein in one drink sounded too good not to try. So we decided to check it out.

Turns out, ordering it in real life was not nearly as simple as the ad made it look. The video didn’t mention what size to get, how to order it, or which kind of milk or foam they used. And the price? Let’s just say it didn’t match what we saw on Instagram. After a few minutes of back-and-forth with the barista, we finally figured out a version that seemed right.

Once we got the drink, I have to admit, it was actually pretty good. Smooth, not too sweet, and it didn’t taste like one of those chalky protein shakes. We later learned that the “extra protein” came from adding a specific type of cold foam or cream to the top. We didn’t know that part until after we left, but we’ll definitely try it next time.

For someone like me who’s always counting protein, carbs, and fats, it’s not a bad swap if you want something different from your usual shake. And if you’re someone who already swings by Starbucks anyway, it might be worth trying just to shake up your morning routine.

After that, my algorithm must’ve thought I needed more “life organization,” because the next ad I saw was for holiday storage bins and racks. It showed these perfectly stacked tubs for Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, you name it. Everything color-coded, on wheels, sliding neatly into place. I’ll admit, it looked amazing.

I’ve seen those rolling racks at Costco too, and I love the idea of having everything on casters so you can just wheel it in and out of storage. Because if you’re anything like us, you’ve got a lot of holiday stuff.

For Christmas alone, we probably have enough decorations to do three houses. Then there’s Halloween, props, lights, inflatables, you name it. We’ve even got a few bins just for Easter and the Fourth of July. Every season, we’re swapping stuff in and out. It’s fun, but it’s also chaos. I’m curious—how do you all store your stuff? Do you use the fancy racks or just wing it with a bunch of tubs and labels? Send me some pictures or tips; I’m genuinely interested.

Meanwhile, out in the yard, it’s officially deer mating season. We’ve had deer all over our backyard this week, which I honestly love seeing. They disappeared for a while, probably because there’s been some bow hunting around Peachtree City where we live, and I guess they were laying low.

One morning I looked out the window, and there was a big doe standing in the yard, face-to-face with Luna, our dog. I couldn’t tell if they were having a standoff or trying to figure each other out, but Luna was definitely interested. I ended up having to pull her inside before things got too exciting. A few days later, we saw more deer near my parents’ place too, they hadn’t seen any in months, so it was nice to have them back.

On the health and fitness front, my trainer switched up my nutrition plan this week. Instead of eating the same amount of calories every day, he’s got me cycling, two low-carb days followed by one high-carb day. I’ll be honest, it’s been a bit of an adjustment. I’m so used to eating low-carb that trying to add carbs back in (and not saving them all for 8 p.m.) takes some planning. It’s definitely easier at home than when I’m on the road. But I’m rolling with it, and I’m curious to see how it affects energy and recovery over time.

Now, if you’re a UFC fan like me, you probably noticed the same thing I did last weekend, the fights were a little underwhelming. The card just didn’t have the same spark. My son and I were watching, and we both said the same thing: it feels like they’re holding out the good matchups for the new year.

And honestly, I think we’re right. The big news is that the UFC is moving from ESPN to Paramount+. That’s actually a win for me because Paramount+ is a lot cheaper than dropping money on pay-per-view every month. I think it’s going to be a great move for fans overall. Plus, the next card on the 15th looks stacked, so I’m optimistic we’ll be back to seeing some real bangers soon.

To close out the week, Holly and I went back to our line-dancing class. We’ve been doing it for a little while now, and it’s been a fun challenge, but I’ll admit, breaking my toe a couple weeks ago made things tricky. I can’t stay on my feet as long, and balance isn’t perfect yet, but it’s improving. I’m hoping another week or two and I’ll be back in full swing.

Overall, it’s been a busy but good week, trying new things, seeing the deer back in the yard, adjusting my macros, and just getting ready for the holidays. Hope everyone’s doing well, staying consistent with your goals, and maybe enjoying a little caffeine and protein combo like we did.

Until next week,
Shane

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