Is It Wrong to Say This Week Almost Drove Me to Drink?

I'm kidding. Sort of. It's a saying - you know? "That _____ is going to drive me to drink!" It's a thing, right? I don't think it's a Southern thing but then again I might be wrong. I do know I'd never turn to alcohol to solve problems...so the title is meant to be funny; don't feel like you need to call for help just yet!

The last week was ever so slightly stressful for just a few reasons and I was pretty happy to see Friday arrive; although Friday turned out to be the most stressful day, by the time I left work at 5:45 (boo) I was pretty much done...and the weekend had only just started. Thankfully the weekend was much better than the week itself and so last week wasn't totally a loss...ha-ha!

Monday night my Mom and I went to see The Girl on the Train and I'll elaborate more on it in my Things I Loved in October post...but basically Emily Blunt should win so many awards for playing Rachel. She was amazing in that role! The food at the Alamo is always delicious, the movie was good and it was a nice way to finish up Monday. It was also a nice way to take my mind off the fact that my sweet pup had decided to snack on the walls!

Tuesday was another busy day at work and as soon as I was in the door from work I had about thirty minutes to change and catch my breath before we were off again - you know how those weeks go! My Mom and I joined our friends Jen and Jennie for supper, some chatting and laughing at their goofy kids, Jimmy, Emily and Amelia. We ate yummy potato soup and French bread with some delicious cupcakes as dessert since this was a belated birthday celebration for me! My sweet friends gave me gift cards to the Alamo and Starbucks, some lovely smelling soap, chocolate and wine - movies, coffee, candy and wine - what's not to love?

Wednesday was another whirlwind day at the office - all the days at the office last week seemed whirlwindesque. And that's not a word, but I'm still going to use it! I finally relaxed a little bit on Wednesday night but it wasn't quite as relaxing as I'd hoped. I wanted to take a nice long bath but I also felt like I couldn't leave Watson alone since he apparently still has a penchant for gnawing on walls in his spare time...so I ended up putting him in his crate while I hopped in the tub. And the whole time I was in the tub I felt so badly because I knew that he was in his crate...so...there you have it. Blah!

 

Thursday after work and some pretty delicious supper (cooked by me - so I'm bragging on myself a little bit) my Mom and I walked through the neighborhood and one street over to try out a book club that is being started. We missed the meeting where the first couple books were chosen but we both read the book for October (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) and so we joined in some discussion with some other ladies from the area. The home hosting the book club had a lovely fluffy cat named Ella and she and I became fast friends and she spent a large portion of the discussion perched on the end of the couch beside me!

Friday - well Friday was not a great day. I'll put that out there and just say that on the way home...well...let me backtrack. After finally leaving the office at 5:45 (still boo) and driving across town a bit intending to join my Mom and our friend Angie for Ladies Game Night, I arrived and just decided that I didn't even feel up to getting out of the car. I called and told my Mom that and then proceeded to cry all the way home. It wasn't a proud moment by any means but my week had been less than great and I guess it finally took it's toll and I was just in tears. It was nothing that a warm bowl of chili, some TV (This Is Us and American Horror Story) and a glass of wine couldn't begin to mend and by the time I went to bed, I was feeling somewhat less emotionally destroyed.

Saturday morning I slept in and had my required cup of coffee - coffee is a requirement for any and all days; if I'm required to be a functioning member of society. Our longtime family friend Angie had stayed the night and so we all got ourselves looking acceptable and headed into Front Royal for a late breakfast at D'Lee's Pancake House; definitely one of those places that doesn't look like much, but trust me when I tell you - the food is delicious! If you're ever visiting the National Park and want a place to eat; cruise into Front Royal and grab breakfast at D'Lee's - it was yummy!

After our delicious breakfast, we did what all ladies love to do: we shopped! We went to some of our favorite stores in the area: Miller House, Lantz's Pharmacy & Gifts; Ann Taylor Loft and Country Treasures! I found three awesome tops (two on sale) at Loft and fell in love with all three...so I got all three, ha-ha! All sweaters were 50% off and with Winter right around the corner, that was a deal I couldn't pass up! I was lazy for a little while on Saturday afternoon and then ate some yummy chili for supper...which would have been perfect except that the temperatures this weekend shot into the 80's. What in the world?

My friend Danielle and I had plans to go see Rocky Horror on Saturday night at 11:30 and all day we sent text messages to one another saying "what were we thinking when we bought those tickets?!?" and "we are never going to be able to stay awake for this!" - old lady alert! We finally decided around 8:00 that we were going to cut our losses and pass on going; Danielle didn't feel well and I was dreading being up until almost 2:00...when it was all said and done. I was so happy to not be going somewhere at 11:00 at night that I hopped up off the couch and cheered. Ladies and Gentleman - at the ripe old age of 32 - I cannot hang with the kiddos anymore!

Sunday seemed like it passed much too quickly - I think with Monday always looming on the horizon, Sunday flies by every week! After church I ran to the store to grab some last minute party supplies and then spent some time sitting outside in the sunshine with my dog. He decided he was just going to "give up" in the middle of the grass and after a few minutes, I just sat down on the sidewalk and let him nap in the grass for about thirty minutes.

After lunch, I picked up and cleaned up and did some general tidying up in preparation for hosting my LuLaRoe Pop-Up. I also made some delicious ghost cookies to serve at the party and they turned out really cute! Around 4:00 Mackenzie (my wonderful LuLaRoe consultant) arrived and I helped her...well really I just watched...as she put up racks of beautiful clothes! I also took picture after picture to send to my sister so she could decide what she might want to buy for herself.

 

Once my party - which was a wonderful success; and I think everyone had a good time - was over and done with, I took my parents out for supper at our local Mexican restaurant. We got home around 9:00 and I decided that I was just going to go ahead and crawl into bed as soon as possible. I was feeling tired and a little gloomy about the week ahead and I figured at least if I started the week feeling rested, that would be something, right?

And now here we are - Monday once more - and Halloween at that! And this will be two posts in one day! Anyhow; another week has begun and here's hoping it's better than the last one (that rhymed...ha-ha!) So - I'll leave it at that and check back in tomorrow!

Currently: October

I may have mentioned this yesterday - I may not have - there was that whole thing with starting one post and then having to start all over again, so I'm not 100% sure. There is only a week of October left - a week!?! Where in the world did this month go?? I was JUST in Las Vegas and that was at the start of the month...

Moving right along....currently I am... *wanting and wishing the formatting of this would adjust itself the way I fix it...but that isn't happening, so excuse the wonkiness*

Wanting: The election to be over and done with. I'm not a fan of politics; it always seems to be oily and deceitful, but this election has taken politics to a whole new low. The arguments on Facebook with people bashing candidates and one another is bad enough...but the actual candidates are on a whole different level of shameful. I'll just let my meme below speak for how I feel about all this silliness...where are you November 9th?

Watching: Too many things, ha-ha! That's the story of my life! I have really gotten invested in This Is Us (makes me cry every time...) Timeless, Westworld and American Horror Story. All four shows are really different but engrossing in their own ways and so I'm enjoying watching all of the different stories unfold!

 Enjoying: The cooler weather! It feels like Fall and I'm just so very pleased! I love living in a place where I can actually experience four seasons as opposed to the two seasons Mississippi had: Winter for two months and Summer for the other ten, in varying degrees. The wind is currently whipping past my window and scattering red, yellow and orange leaves all over the place and I love it!

 

Making: The most of this week! I have something happening every night this week and my normal homebody self would normally want to (maybe) scream a little bit at being so busy, but I'm trying to make the most of it and take it all in! I should mention all the things on the calendar are things I WANT to do/be present for/see...but I know that sometimes even when I want to be doing something, the Introvert in me takes over and kind of squashes that. So - I'm enjoying all my outing this week: a movie, coffee with friends, Bible study, book club and game night...whoosh!

 

Cooking: Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup...I found it on Pintrest and so tomorrow I'll be testing it out to see how it goes! It looks absolutely delicious and I'm thinking all my people will actually eat it and enjoy it - so wish me luck! If it turns out, I'll share the recipe!

Reading: Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs; it's the third book in the Miss Peregrine's Trilogy and I'm more than halfway through the book. I can't wait to see how it concludes!

 

Wishing: ...for things I don't have. I definitely had a deep conversation with a friend recently and we both wondered if that was just the state of being human; you always want what you don't have, and you think if you just got that one thing...you'd be happier. Whether that want is a husband or a baby or a different job or a new home...the list could go on and on... Maybe I should be focusing (wishing) a little bit more on my walk with the Lord and leave all those other wishes to Him?

 

Loving: This "season"...not of life; although this season isn't so bad, the season in general. The last three months of the year are always my absolute favorite! I love Halloween and Thanksgiving and then...oh...then Christmas! Christmas is my most favorite and it's only 60 days away! And yes - I did just remind you that there are only two months until Christmas. Isn't it great?!?

  

Looking: For Christmas gifts! I have ideas here and there...but I like to get to work early on Christmas shopping (although not as early as my Mom...she's probably halfway done...) and be able to just enjoy the month of December without racing around finding last minute gifts. I have some of my people all sorted out but others, I have absolutely no clue. So the search for the perfect gift continues!

 

Eating: All the soups and stews and chilis! I think I've maybe mentioned how much I love this particular part of the year and one of my very favorite things about cooler weather is that soup weather is finally here! Granted; when I lived alone, I am not even ashamed to admit I ate soup in the middle of August in Mississippi. I love soup - so much! I've been hunting up some new recipes to try because if I had my way, we'd just eat soup for the entirety of Fall and Winter!

 

Needing: A closet! That's right - I am currently without a closet and it's making me a wee bit crazy. *sigh* I have clothes on hanging racks and boxes that are made to hang clothes and shoes just kind of...chaotically organized in one corner of my bedroom. The closet is in the works but clutter makes me feel a little bit unhinged. What can I say - I get it honest. Ask my Mom about that one. Also...that's not my room pictured below...but it could be...

Wearing: Fleece-lined leggings! It was in the mid-40's this morning and when I headed out the door to walk the dog the breeze was brisk...and that's putting it mildly. While I love the coolness, part of that is love is being able to walk around in the cooler temperature while still feeling toasty! I got a three pack of fleece-lined leggings last year and they are one of the best things I've ever bought! They keep my legs so nice and toasty and are perfect under dresses and tunics in this cooler weather!

 

Feeling: Glad that it's no longer Monday, ha-ha!

Hoping: That the rest of the week is smooth and calm and the weekend lasts a long time, ha-ha!

 

So...that's all for now. Are you glad it's Tuesday? I know I am! It means the roller coaster that is the work week is nearing the top of the lift hill...

Six on Saturday

So - I kind of missed Five on Friday - oops! Forgive me for that one, will you? I can't honestly say I was swamped at work on Friday, but every time I opened up a page to write yesterday...nothing came. So I'll try to make up for it by posting Six on Saturday. It's the least I can do, right?

One. Nationals Baseball - Which I'm woefully behind on posting about...woe being the key word in this sentence. Sadly, the Nationals fell to the Dodgers in game five of the NLCS...at home, no less. So there was certainly plenty of woe this past week in accepting that the 2016 season has ended...and not so much the way anyone who calls themselves a Nationals fan would have wished. However, 2016 was a great season to be a Nationals fan and so now I'm waiting for bits and pieces of off season news and counting down the days until Opening Day 2017 - there are 163 if you were curious. Ha!

Two. Thirty -One - Perhaps you've heard of the stuff? I'm not actually referencing an age here...it's a line of handbags, jewelry, canvases and pillows that you can personalize. Now, I'm not exactly in the market for any jewelry or handbags but I do need some storage totes and it just so happens my Mom is having a party today. So - I'll be doing a little shopping this afternoon!

Three. Movies - There are so many coming out in the next few weeks that I cannot wait to see! I just saw Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children last weekend and I'll be seeing The Girl on the Train this Monday. I absolutely cannot wait for November - Dr. Strange comes out on the 4th and honestly, I would watch Benedict Cumberbatch read a letter...oh wait...that's actually a thing. And then on November 18th Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them comes out...and well, I can't wait for that either! I just love going to the movies!

 

Four. Curtains...& Things - You know...related to the home? I'm finally getting things mostly together in my new little place. Perhaps in the coming weeks I'll share some pictures...a virtual tour of sorts. I finally got my second set of curtains hung literally about thirty minutes ago and I love them! There isn't much else to do for things to be complete, just some tweaking and tuning here and there!

Five. Fall Colors - I think they are finally starting to show up! I plan to join my family for a little drive into the Shenandoah National Park tomorrow afternoon to see how things are coming along a little higher up, but here in the valley there are reds, yellows, oranges and purples popping up all over the place! I love Fall for so many reasons but the gorgeous fall colors have to be at the top of my list! I hope we are in for a show tomorrow - I can't wait!

Okay - I'm just kidding. It's actually just Five on Saturday...but Six on Saturday rolled off the tongue so much better, didn't it? Oh well...I tried, ha-ha! Until the next time, I hope you're enjoying your weekend and especially your Saturday!

Back on Track

Forgive the radio silence over the past few days - I was living wild in Las Vegas over the weekend.

Ha! If your definition of living wild includes touring a Titanic artifacts exhibit, perusing the Grand Canal Shops and The Forum and being asleep by like...oh...11:00 at night...then yea, I was living wild! I'll recap my weekend in Vegas more in the coming days but before I get too far ahead of myself, a few pictures from last week!

The first week of October started off lovely enough; granted it obviously started on Sunday the 2nd and that included a Nationals win, so I guess really lovely would be a better description. After work on Monday, I joined my Mom at McAlister's for supper and at her suggestion we brought Watson along so he could be included and we were able to sit outside and take in the cooler temps and plentiful sunshine! I love how fall-like it felt last week...and is still feeling this week!

After dinner on Monday night, Watson promptly positioned himself in the front seat of the car...forcing me to climb in the back seat for the ride home. He knew what he wanted and he wasn't moving! We laughed until we were almost in tears watching the little nugget position himself in the passenger seat and then look at me as if to say "I'm not moving, so I guess you better get in the back."

Another thing he loves is rugs! The new house has plenty of them - in the entry way, the living room, the dining room, the hallway and don't even get me started on the carpeting. Watson loves a good rug and apparently even a rug pad will do in a pinch...

My Mom and I were trying to get a new rug laid out on Tuesday evening and Watson would not move off the padding... Once we finally persuaded him to move, we placed the rug and he promptly jumped on it. Getting him to move (again!) was like pulling teeth; we needed to adjust the rug and he just wanted us to leave him alone and let him stretch out. We finally got the rug situated and he got himself situated on it as well...and there he stayed for a large chunk of the night.

I spent a good portion of my weeknight(s) getting things together for my trip to Vegas. I put together outfits (because I'm so fashion forward you know...), sent pictures of the outfits to my sister, packed, added to the packing, rolled up and crunched in and picked this over that. You get the idea. I had no intention of having to check my bag...and this was only a weekend trip, but I wanted options.

  

Wednesday morning was foggy and brisk; the mountains completely disappeared from the view down in the valley. After a busy day of work, I came home and scarfed down some supper before going to church for the start of the Entrusted (by Beth Moore) Bible study. Because I'm a goofball and feel like the most awkward person in new social situations (really just social situations in general, who am I kidding?) I almost bailed completely but I told myself to get it together and just go - it wasn't like anyone was going to bite me! The irony of this is (no - I didn't get bitten) that one of the first points made by Beth Moore on her video was that God did not make me (you...anyone...) a wimp. Point taken Lord - point taken.

 

Thursday was - of course - my birthday! My sweet friends (who I also happen to work with) showered me with awesome presents at work, my Momma took me out for lunch, I got some free Starbucks for dessert and of course, there were presents and cake at home after work. It was a good day - and that's probably an understatement. I didn't celebrate too hard once I got home on Thursday because I had to be up on Friday morning at 4 AM - yes, you read that right - 4 AM. So, I celebrated turning 32 in a very old lady like fashion...I was in the bed by 9 PM!

  

See that face up there? That's the face of someone who is obviously VERY excited about boarding an airplane...and then I'm excited that I'm on an airplane, you know? Actually, I'm not - but then, I'm fairly certain that's obvious. If you've read this blog very much, you'll know flying is not my favorite thing. However, I take a little pill called Ativan and it usually helps curb any anxieties I might have about the plane falling out of the sky with me in it. *sigh* The struggle is real.

  

 

Happily - my flight to Las Vegas was uneventful - even if the 4+ hours did seem to take forever - and by 10:00 AM Vegas time (1:00 PM to me) I had arrived in sunny...HOT Las Vegas.

  

 

One of the final pictures I snapped from the plane were some shots of the Grand Canyon (they're the two pictures directly above this paragraph) before we made our descent into Las Vegas.

  

And...that's all I've got for now. I'll be back later in the week to begin re-capping my weekend in Vegas. Picture heavy it will most certainly be; but then, you wouldn't want it any other way, would you?

Five on Friday

Another Friday has arrived - and as you read this post, I'm en route to Las Vegas! I'm flying the (hopefully) friendly skies to meet my sister and spend the weekend together. I know we'll have plenty of fun and there's sure to be good food involved...perhaps some shopping too? Maybe a show? I don't know - but I DO know it will be delightful. So, this is your weekly edition of Five on Friday, brought to you from somewhere above...I don't know...the Midwest?

One. Nationals Baseball - The regular season has ended and the Nationals ended the regular season with a record of 95-67, which puts them 14 games over 500. Tonight at 5:38 the first game of the National League Division Series kicks off against the Dodgers at Nationals Park. Max Scherzer will be facing off against Clayton Kershaw in what is sure to be an epic pitching duel. The Nationals won home field advantage and so the first two games will be at Nationals Park today and tomorrow; the second two games (if two more are needed) will be in Los Angeles and the fifth game (if it's needed) will be back at Nationals Park!

I won't be able to watch because...you know...I'm in Vegas, but I'm counting on Twitter to keep me updated and hoping that since I'm in Bryce Harper's hometown that will count as some sort of good luck charm...right?

Two. Coffee - I'm sure I've mentioned it on here before, but I'll say again how much I love coffee. It's especially important to me today because I had to wake up at 4:00 AM...4 in the AM...that's the morning time...to go to the airport! Yikes! You better believe that once I was through security, I made a beeline for some coffee to help power me through the morning! Coffee is tasty and delightful and if we're being honest, it just makes me a nicer person all around...ha-ha!

Three. Fall - As in, this week has finally felt like Fall! When I step outside to walk the dog in the morning and the evening, I can see my breath...poofing out in front of me like white fog! I suppose I've always wholeheartedly believed that when you can see your breath, it means that Fall has finally arrived! I've also been noticing on my drive to and from work that more and more of the trees are beginning to change over from their usual green to shades of yellow, orange, red and purple and I adore it! I love seeing all of the branches positively ablaze with color - it makes my heart happy! Which brings me to point number four...

Four. Hallothanksmas - That's definitely not a word but I'm thinking it should be. Surely you know what I'm talking about, right? September has ended and the decorations are now plentiful! And I don't just mean Halloween decorations...or Thanksgiving décor; no, the Christmas stuff has been flung out too! Let me be the first to say that October - December is the happiest time of the year for me; I love everything about the final three months of the year. I love Halloween candy and costumes and spooky movies (note, I said spooky and not scary...). I live for Thanksgiving and spending time with family and cooking wonderful things in the kitchen. I am absolutely obsessed with anything and everything Christmas, I think you always need more than one tree, Christmas cookies are a must and Christmas parties give me life! S0 yea...while some people might be complaining because you can find a skeleton on one aisle and a nativity scene on the next - I am NOT one of them!

Five. Halloween - As in, I already know what I'm being for Halloween! You see, my friends (who also happen to work with me) and I have started a tradition of dressing up for work. Last year we absolutely rocked being the Sanderson Sisters and this year we decided to go in a completely different direction and we will be dressing as members of Star Fleet! I'll be wearing a yellow uniform...in case you weren't aware, captains wear yellow in Star Fleet, ha-ha! So, I'm still looking for some trinkets to add to my costume...I'm thinking I need a weapon of some sort and perhaps a communicator, but everywhere I look they want something like $30! I mean, my costume didn't even cost that much! Nuts! Anywho - I can't wait to see how it all plays out on the 31st; I'm sure it will be epic!