RIP Latte: Losing Our Guinea Pig, Sleepover Madness, and What’s Next on Netflix?

Today was a tough one. Our little guinea pig, Latte, passed away this morning. We only had him since July, but it’s wild how attached you can get to something so small in such a short time. He quickly became part of our routine – his little squeaks, his endless munching on veggies – and now, the house feels weirdly quiet. Breaking the news to the girls was brutal. This isn’t their first experience with death, but it doesn’t matter – losing a pet hits hard every single time. Both of them were gutted, and I don’t blame them. Latte was family.

So, today has been a full-on comfort fest. We’ve been cocooned on the sofa in a sea of blankets, with snacks in hand and movie after movie rolling on the TV. It’s that kind of day where everything just feels too heavy to move, and honestly, I’m fine with it. Grief needs space sometimes, and for us, that space looks like popcorn, animated classics, and zero motivation to do much else. I think we all needed a bit of a mental break after this morning’s emotional whirlwind.

And if that wasn’t enough, the youngest’s best friend arrived this afternoon for a sleepover. They’ve been excited about this for days, and I wasn’t about to cancel – especially after Latte. Plus, let’s be honest, sometimes the distraction of a friend is exactly what kids need when life throws them a curveball. So, we’ve added a third into the mix, and the giggles, snacks, and chaos are in full swing. It’s good for them, but I’m already feeling the cabin fever creeping in.

We’ve barely left the house this week, and I swear, by midweek, the walls start closing in. I thought staying in would be a nice little break, but now? I’m itching to get out. Tomorrow, no matter what the weather does, we’re going for a walk. Rain, shine, apocalypse – it’s happening. I don’t care if we get soaked, we all need fresh air before we start climbing the walls. The kids might be thrilled with the sleepover bubble they’re in, but I need out.

And here’s where I admit something: after the kids are asleep, I’ve been sneaking off to Netflix for a little sanity break. I just wrapped up the entire season of “Nobody Wants This,” and now I’m left with that empty, slightly heartbroken feeling you get when a great show ends, and there’s no more chaos to dive into. If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to. The characters are a mess, the plot is a beautiful disaster, and it’s the perfect escape from real life. But now that I’ve finished the whole season, I’m in that post-binge limbo – like, what the hell do I watch now?

It’s weird how much I’ve leaned into Netflix as my escape lately. After the day winds down, the kids are finally asleep, and the emotional toll of the day hits, there’s nothing better than slipping into a show that’s a total train wreck (in the best way). But now that “Nobody Wants This” is done, I need a new obsession. Any suggestions? Because winter’s coming, and I fully intend to spend it wrapped up in blankets with a new series to lose myself in – preferably something equally messy, with characters making the kind of wild choices that make you yell at the screen.

So yeah, today’s been a lot. Losing Latte, navigating the kids’ grief, and now a sleepover on top of it all – this week has definitely thrown a lot at us. But tomorrow, we’re getting outside, shaking off the cabin fever, and embracing the chaos of the outdoors. Maybe I’ll even feel a little less guilty about my nightly Netflix binges after we’ve stomped through some puddles.

By the time the kids pass out again tomorrow night, I’ll be back to my routine – curling up in bed with something new on Netflix, probably with some snacks of my own. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this week, it’s that sometimes the best way to cope is to lean into the little comforts: blankets, movies, and guilty pleasure TV shows that let you forget about real life for a while.

Here’s to getting through the tough days, finding peace in the little things, and figuring out what the hell I’m going to watch next.

Mellow ✌️