The Routine of Day to Day Life

Routines are what makes the world go round and I happen to be one of those extremely organized people that loves to have a good routine in place; although recently I've been itching to break out of the routine, if only to find a way to establish a new routine...

I told y'all, I like structure and organization. So, how about a little look at what my day to day looks like? It's riveting stuff, I promise. :)

• My alarm goes off at around 6:45...because I love to sleep. Love it. My alarm is not bells/whistles/etc...because I cannot stand that being the first thing I hear when I wake up. Currently my alarm is the Game of Thrones theme, before that it was the Dallas theme...it changes...


• If I wake up before my alarm goes off, I will check emails, Facebook or Instagram on my phone. If I'm awake quite a bit before my alarm I may even look up a video on YouTube. Sometimes I just lay there and stare at the ceiling, enjoying the last few minutes of calm before the rush of the day.


• I have to put my contacts in as soon as I get into the bathroom because without them I am BLIND. Blind as a bat.


• Brush the teeth, fix the hair, put on the make-up....


• Clothes, then body spray before jewelry because someone once told me that getting body spray all over your jewelry ruins them. Then, body spray or perfume!


• I get my lunch for the day packed and open the blinds to see what kind of day it is going to be...


• I let Watson out of "his" room and then I sit in the chair to read my Bible. Once I'm done with that, I might check some things on my phone or just sit and look out the window until 7:20 rolls around.


• I have to drive Watson over to my Nanny's house in the mornings; this wasn't a part of the routine but ever since the attacks I get to cart my dog around like he's my child. He loves his morning rides, even if we only go 100 yards next door. Goofy puppy.


• If it is Monday, Wednesday or Friday I go get the mail for the office, if it's Tuesday or Thursday I get a few extra minutes at the house before driving the 25 minutes into work. Usually I pass the time by talking to either my Mom or my Dad.


• Once I'm at work, I make the coffee for the day - that's right, I'm like the office barista. At least, I try to look at it that way.


• Once I've had my breakfast (either yogurt or a bagel with coffee) then it is done to the business of work, work, work...with a quick break from 12-1 for lunch and then back to work, work, work...till 5!


• If I have mail to take to the post office, I leave at 4:55 and head for the post office and then home. Again, I pass the time either talking to my Mom or listening to music.


• I pick up my little Watson from my Nanny's, where she always give me a full report of how many times he has been out and how many time he has used the bathroom during the day. Ha-ha! Thanks Nanny!


• Once I get home, I have to decide what to have for supper. It usually hinges on whether I actually feel like cooking anything or whipping up something that doesn't involve much; like last night I felt the urge to cook, so I made chicken, potatoes and green beans but the night before, I warmed up leftovers. It is all dependent on the mood.

• I normally listen to music while I cook and I clean up the kitchen, unload the dishwasher or tidy up in the midst of all that.


• I normally watch some form of television once 7 o'clock rolls around; I watch several shows: How I Met Your Mother, Bones, Dallas, Castle, Modern Family, Duck Dynasty, The Vampire Diaries, Elementary, Once Upon A Time and Game of Thrones...which all come on at different times, on different nights. And seeing them all written out makes it look like I watch too much TV - but I'm single and only have a dog to take care of, so I guess now is the time to do that sort of thing, right?


• I usually take a shower or bath before I go to bed because I've discovered that when I put my hair up slightly damp, I have instant wave! Who knew? Plus, it buys me more time to sleep in the morning, which is SO important. I finish off the evening by reading in bed and then it's off to sleep...to prepare to face another day of the routine.

So, there you go. A little look at my day-to-day routine. I know, it is amazingly fascinating and I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seat reading this. Hey, it may not be much but for now it's life and I'm sure one day when my life is far more hectic I'll look back on these "boring" days with a fondness. I guess we'll just have to wait and see, right?

Blink & You'll Miss It

Well - here we are again, at the start of another week. I swear, the past week went by so quickly it seems like it wasn't even here. Hence the title of the post; because if the week went by that fast then the weekend went by even faster. I wish for once there was a way to make the week speed along and the weekend slowly pass - but if I had the power to manipulate time, I think I'd do a lot more than that. I guess that is why we mere humans aren't able to do those things.

This past week was a really good week - probably in part because of the speed with which it passed; at least the week part of it. The days were fast, but they were also good. That isn't always the case, so it's nice to have weeks like that. Anyway, I think I've rambled enough about the week passing...on to pictures!

Monday night - being pressured to let him out. I appreciate the cuddles, the looks of begging & the kisses on the hand, but it just isn't happening dear dog.

Begging for a bite of red beans & rice - if I could get a nickel for every time this dog begs, I'd be rich. Very rich.

He loves him some Beggin Strips...almost as much as he loves getting a bite of real bacon.

Office flowers - they are so gorgeous & are something small that makes me smile at the office - which doesn't happen often.

I think I was most looking forward to Thursday of this week because I had a supper date with the Roberts. I've known Nickolee since we were three; we've been friends since we were three, twenty-five years is a pretty healthy base for a friendship don't you think? Nickolee, her husband Steve & their daughter Ryleigh have been in Madagascar for the past (almost) 2 years working as missionaries with the Mahafaly people & they are home for about 5 weeks for a wedding. I was actually nervous about seeing them, which now seems so silly to me because as soon as I saw Nickolee all those nerves disappeared and I knew I was seeing my precious friend that I've known since I was small. I guess a part of me just worried that in 2 years we'd both changed and maybe it would be too much...which was such an unfounded fear, because Nickolee is one of those friends that I will always be so close too; she is a lifetime friend and that makes me so happy and blessed.

Ryleigh was five months old the last time I saw her and now she is almost two and a half - it was such a hoot to see what a funny, fascinating little person she has become since the last time I saw her. She reminds me a lot of a mini-Nickolee, but of course as Nickolee explained, Ryleigh spends all day with Nickolee when they are in Mada, so who else would she be like. Personally, I think that sounds just fine - Nickolee is a wonderful woman of God and an amazing friend, so if the world is getting another person just like her it will be all the better for it.

I promise she didn't completely hate taking a picture with me...I don't think...ha-ha!

Kisses from my love on Friday morning - I know you like my beautiful scarf, courtesy of the Roberts...all the way from Madagascar!

The breakfast of champions on Friday morning at the office.

I do love Superman - hopefully this movie will be a little better than the last one...it's been almost 2 years since Smallville went off, I need my Superman fix.

My weekend can either be fairly active or absolutely lazy - thankfully this weekend was a combination of the two. I thought it was going to be absolutely lazy and I was somewhat worried that by noon on Saturday I'd be completely stir crazy. Watson & I spent Friday night taking a handful of short moonlight walks in the yard in between watching commentary on some episodes of Game of Thrones. Yes, you read that right - I am one of those nerds that watches the commentary on TV shows that I like; because how else would you really get the inside information on how the episodes are made? I cleaned a little bit on Saturday morning along with being something a bum...which is what Saturdays are for...but by about noon, I was getting a little bored. Thankfully my friend was in town and since he studied for a period that he deemed long enough, he came over on Saturday evening to save me from the monotony of passing another Saturday night on my own. Sunday was spent traversing the roads back and forth to the church - first for morning services, then for a shower and then again for evening services. As I've heard my Mom say, I was ratting the roads all day on Sunday!

Commentary on Game of Thrones - I mean, how else would I know Lena Headey was drinking Tesco grape juice for the hours that they filmed this? I wouldn't have known...but now I do.

TV time with Watson - he was obviously so interested in Dallas....he could care less who shot JR.

Another perfect blue sky kind of Saturday.

My Grandma says dogs eat grass when they have an upset stomach - well Watson must have been feeling rough on Saturday because he treated the front yard like a salad bar.

Trying (and failing) to get a little bit of sun on Saturday afternoon.

Supper at Los Rodeos with David - those people are going to assign us a booth, we eat there way too much.

New shoes! I saw them 2 weeks ago but refrained from buying them - so I told myself on Friday that if they still had my size, I could get them. There were 3 pair left...& one was my size!

It poured on Sunday morning...so we had to have our afternoon walk through the puddles. Thank goodness for rain boots!

A wedding shower for a dear friend's son - the food was good, the conversation was good & the couple was so sweet.

Oh yeah - I bought these shoes too...because they were on sale & they were absolutely awesome. I just couldn't resist because shoes are my weakness.

Sometimes I organize what I'm going to wear for the week...sometimes I get excessively organized & lay out jewelry & all, because I am just that crazy I guess. Sure makes the mornings easier.

The best way to end the weekend - a car ride with my pup, a bubble bath & a new episode of Game of Thrones. If only Sunday evening could last forever.

Back to Reality...

The past week has been interesting - I guess I should just leave it at that. It is always interesting to have to return to normal life and the routine of work when you've been on vacation. I've tried to make the most of the past week but it's hard - all I can think about is trying to get back to Virginia as soon as I can. I miss my family, I miss my friends...I even miss the new friends that I've made when I visit my parents. It's the struggle of making life work in one place when your heart want to be in another place - which sounds like I really dislike my life in Mississippi - and I don't. I'm just ready to pursue life in another place and see what the world can offer outside the lines of Mississippi.

Trying to keep my desk colorful - it helps makes the days better. Sometimes.

The paw print of the attack dog next to my dog's teeny foot - absolutely crazy.

He knows he's been caught - rolling around & sleeping on the clean sheets. Good grief!

Exactly. This sums it up perfectly.

I've got him well trained - he knows to sit still & pay attention when Game of Thrones is on; especially when there are dragons or direwolves onscreen...

Tasting a bite of Turkish Delight - he was a big fan, but it was a little too chewy for him to eat more than a teeny bite at a time.

I made the mistake a few weeks ago of letting Watson sleep on my bed; he'd just been attacked by the neighbor's dog and wasn't feeling so bad. I felt horrible for him and so I just let him sleep there. I probably should have put an end to it after that once, but I didn't. Now he will stand at my bedroom door and cry if he can't get in to the bed...so I give in, because I'm a complete push-over apparently. He has somehow managed to figure out how to get IN the bed...not just lay on it. These naps on my bed, they may have to end soon. Little sneak!

Look what I can do Mom - isn't this where you usually sleep?

Yet another gigantic paw print in my yard. Boo.

I don't have a lot of pictures from the week itself - which is not the norm for me, but I guess I wasn't feeling too into taking photos. I'm not sure, it just seemed like other things took precedence or there wasn't anything to photograph but my dog...and while I love those pictures, I'm sure the only other person that doesn't get tired of them is my Mom, because he's basically the only grand kid she has right now.

Friday night, David came over so I could introduce him to the awesome TV show that is Game of Thrones. I'd already given him the first book in the series and while he is reading it, he says that it has to come second to his law school books - which I guess I understand. I suppose maybe that is more important, but I know it isn't nearly as entertaining. I made supper using a recipe I got from Lindsey (which, surprise...wasn't sure I'd ever say that since the kid really doesn't cook much) and then we had a marathon. That was basically the excitement of my weekend. My life is thrilling, to be sure. ;)

Supper...before. I totally forgot to take an after; well, I forgot & David started eating it...

He's better than an alarm - I always know someone is coming up the walk when Watson gets excited.

My newest kitchen tool is a little devil that you use to pull hot pans toward you to get out of the oven. Too funny!

Saturday morning errands with Mom!

Spring flag - just $1.50 at Dollar General for a little extra cheer.

I love the way red beans & rice smells when it is cooking - Watson & I both walk around sniffing the air, ha-ha!

Spring has definitely sprung in the past two weeks and Watson and I have been enjoying a lot more time outside. I'm so amazed by the blue skies, green trees and all the little flowers that spring up everywhere over night, so expect more outdoor pics for the next few weeks - it is all too pretty to resist!

This look of apprehension on his face kills my heart - he used to run around this yard like he owned it & now sometimes he is anxious to leave the porch. It kills me.

A random flower that has bloomed around this old branch - no clue what it is, but it sure is pretty.

The azaleas are pretty big this year - much bigger than I remember....

You couldn't replicate this color blue...it is too perfect.

I'm going to re-do my bedroom to this color scheme - the blues & greens of Spring.

Easter bunny candy - Key Lime Coconut covered with Chocolate it was nothing but delicious.

He was so angry about staying in on Sunday morning. I try to tell him it is for his own good - but he's not buying it.

No more babies - both of my boys have moved up & now I don't have anyone to cuddle. At least for a few weeks.

Again - this sky amazes me. I need to move my office outside if it is going to look like this...

Spring has sprung! Flowers, sandals & painted toes!

Flowers in bloom outside the sanctuary!

Pollen - the one downside to all this gorgeous Spring weather. Everything is covered in a fine layer of yellow.

Sunday is also Game of Thrones day - at least for the next 3 months and if it isn't obvious, I'm just ate up with it. It is one of the best shows on TV right now and I spend an hour every Sunday night completely engrossed. I was telling a friend last night that I laid across the ottoman to watch last night's episode and was so engrossed that I didn't move for the full hour it was on - which was a major mistake. Once the episode ended, I went to hop up and thought I was going to die. Maybe I'm not young enough to lay stretched out on my stomach for an hour anymore...oh well.

It was in my People magazine...most of them are only sort of similar, but the on in the bottom right - I'll never not see that now when I see Jaime Lannister.

I let Watson ride to church with me on Sunday night - as you can see, he loved every minute!

Brienne & Jaime - they are easily 2 of my favorite characters & will be my favorite storyline this season.

My new Life's a Hoot thermal from Thirty-One....this one is gonna make me smile when I see it.