What I Am Up To This Week #1

This week I am reading Laurell K. Hamilton's Incubus Dreams, I've read it a few times but it has been a while. I am almost done with and will be moving on to the next book in the series. I love the Anita Blake series and own every book either in print or digitally. 

I am impatiently waiting for the last book in Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass series to come out later this month. I am very excited to see how she ties everything up.

In craft news, I am working on completing a cross stitch for my friends wedding. I need to get a seam ripper so I can undo a chunk of it because I don't like the colors. I also need to do the outlining and then frame it so I can get it in the mail.

I will also be making my best friends veil for her December wedding. It is relatively simple but will take a lot of time because she picked a beautiful trim that needs to be hand sewn to the edge.

I have lots of tasty foods planned for this week, including Flat Bread Pizzas, Smothered Chicken Burritos and Tortellini with sausage. I will try to remember to take and post pictures.

Weekly Goal: Get my planner out and update it so I can actually use it to plan my life

Monthly Goal: Be more Active. I am going to try to get out and take a long walk with my dog every Saturday or Sunday morning for the rest of the month.

October

Today is October 1st. The start of my favorite month. All of my favorite things fall in October. In seven days I will be celebrating my 31st birthday, 13 days after that I will be saying "I Do" to the man of my dreams, and 10 days later we will be celebrating my favorite holiday, Halloween.

I am still deciding if I want to do anything for my birthday this year and if so what I want to do. I love my birthday and usually enjoy going all out to celebrate it. However this year it just feels like another thing that is going to cost money and doesn't need to be celebrated beyond thanking people for their birthday wishes.

I am excited to say "I Do" but a little sad that we have to wait to have the big party with all our friends and family. I am still excited to finally be able to call him my husband and to know that we have tie our lives together. I bought a simple little white dress, to make it feel more real, and will be wearing my FABULOUS orange shoes that I spent a tiny fortune on. And I know that this is what is we need to do right now to get our lives going in the right direction. I can't wait for our 5th anniversary when I get to make my Halloween wedding dreams come true.

I still need to get a few things for my Star Butterfly Halloween costume, even though I currently have no plans for Halloween other than going to work.

This month I am trying to be way better about planning things and using the expensive planner I bought. I want to try to plan out my meals for each week and write out grocery lists. My other goals this month include being way more active. I want to be able to do things with becoming winded right away. I know I just need to commit to being more active. I think I will set myself up a reward chart and treat myself to things I don't usually allow myself to spend money on if I am active for a set amount of time on a set amount of days a week.

That should help me be more active and help me be a little selfish and teach me some good self care habits. I need to work on making my feelings and wants more important to me and to others. I want to try to write here more often. Maybe do book reviews for all the books I read. Craft project updates. A little of everything while I try to find my place in the world now that I am an adult and no longer live at home and am about to make a big change to my life.

February 15-28

15. Last thing you wanted but didn’t get?

To take home the dog we adopted on the day we adopted her. Instead we had to wait for her to be spayed and picked her up the following day.

16. What mood were you in today?

Probably a good one. It was a Friday and I brought my dog to work with me and she was really well behaved.

17. What was the last new thing you tried?

Um…….I honestly have no idea. I am such a creature of habit that I don’t often try new things. About the only thing I am trying that is new is recipes.

18. My biggest hope is……

That everything for my wedding falls together nicely without totally breaking the bank.

19. What has challenged your morals?

Honestly I just don’t know…

20. What kind of car are you driving?

2011 Hyundai Tuscon. I love it. I don’t love having a car payment.

21. List your pets.

Right now we just have our one and only dog, Ali. She is approx. 3 years old, a mutt and super loveable. We adopted her on Valentone’s day. She has the biggest bat ears and they make her crazy adorable.

22. What are 3 things you need to buy?

Toothpaste, food and new seat covers for the car.

23. Today I felt really secure knowing…….

That my fiancé loves me.

24. Whose life did you make a difference in today?

Probably no ones

25. What is your super power?

Reading. When I am in the reading mood, I can knock out an entire 300 plus page book in a day.

26. What is annoying you?

Probably my mother or my nippy doggo.

27. What would have made today perfect?

Not having to get up and go to work.

28. What stresses you?

Talking to my mother and keeping my budget under control.

February 1-14

1. What is your favorite piece of art you own?

I have a large collection of paintings that I have done at wine and painting studios. My favorite is probably the Hogwarts one I did a couple years ago on Harry Potter’s birthday.

My other favorite is a gilded map of Middle Earth. I love Lord of the Rings and have had this map framed for about 10 years now.

2. The most expensive bill I paid last month was?

Car payment. If my fiancé and I weren’t living with his dad to save on rent, then rent would be my biggest bill.

3. What is the last thing you apologized for?

Who knows, probably something silly. I often apologize for things that are out of my control and do not require apologies. I am working on doing this less but it is a struggle.

4. My favorite color is……     

Green. Generally the brighter the better. I buys all things green, but have surprisingly few green clothing items. Green has been my color of choice for a long time.

5. On a scale of one to ten, how is your health?

I would say a solid 8. It is almost allergy season which is like hell for me and no otc medicine really alleviates all my symptoms. I could use to loose some weight to be overall healthier, cushy office job has allowed me to put on a few pounds the last couple of years. And then  I am always plagued by my mystery joint pain. I have had severe joint pain since I was like 10. I have no clue what causes it and mostly just try to ignore the pain and go about my life.

6. If you could do today over, would you change anything?

…..Over a month later I have no idea if this was a particularly good or bad day or just a regular old boring day.

7. Name a person you wish you didn’t have to deal with today?

If I talked to my mom it would be her. If I didn’t talk to her than it was probably just people in general.

8. What is the largest TV screen in you house?

50 or 55 inches. 

9. What time did you go to bed last night?

Since it was a work night probably somewhere between 9:30 and 11:30 pm

10. What did you buy today?

Food most likely

11. I wish I had ……

More money to just spend.

12. How many photos did you take today?

None. My cell phone has a broken screen yet again, so I can’t take any pictures : (

13. What book are you reading right now?

I have taken a little reading break again and have only been reading a few pages here and there in a bunch of different books.

14. How many hours of sleep did you get last night?

Probably between 5 and 8

Final January Questions

25. What is your favorite thing to drink?

I am a huge fan of iced coffee, e               specially cold brew. I am working on perfecting making my own at home to save money.

26. Today the temperature was…..

58°F Which is on the chilly side for my desert dwelling self. I like it when its in the upper 70’s to the mid 80’s. We only get a few weeks of that ideal weather each spring and fall. Warm enough to wear shorts and tanks but not so hot that everything is miserable.

27. How much did you spend at the grocery store last time you went?

I have been really bad about going to the store multiple times a week so I probably spent between $10-$15 just picking up a couple things to make for dinner.

28. Tomorrow I will………

Since I am playing catch up with these questions I don’t have an answer for this one : /

29. What was your last major purchase?

As of this date my last MAJOR purchase would have been my car. I finally had to cave in a get a new car in February of 2017, when it was really getting unsafe to drive my truck. While I hate having to make a car payment every month I love my 2011 Hyundai Tuscon.

30. My house is a home because…..

My fiancé and I make it one. We work together to make a space that is both of ours and combines who we are. Also there is nothing better than coming home my favorite person every day.

31. Who is the last person to tell you they love you?

My fiancé. We tell each other often that we love one another.

20-25

20. What is the hardest thing you are dealing with?

A combination of wedding planning stress and figuring out who I am now that I have moved to a new chapter of my life. My life has been a whirlwind since my 30th birthday in October. Lots of changes super fast and I am still adjusting.


21. Today I wish I had more......?

Money. I went to a bridal show last minute with my bff and it made me wish I had more money to spend on ridiculous things. Even though I don't actually want 90% of the crazy things that I saw.


22. Tomorrow will be better because?

My girls day with my bff was cut short on Sunday and we are making up the missed time on Tuesday. So Yay! It has been good to get back into the groove of having girls only time on Sundays. As much as I love my fiance, it is nice to have some girl time.


23. What made today unusual?

Instead of spending a lazy evening at home with the fiance, I went out with the bff. Also I had way too much coffee and bounced off the walls all day.


24. What are you looking for from life?

I wish I knew. I am just along for the ride at this point. I'm planning a wedding which will probably be closely followed by having kids because I will be 32 when I finally tie the knot.


25. What is you favorite thing to drink?

Coffee. Preferably cold brewed and iced with a splash of half and half. I like my coffee to taste like coffee and completely cut sugar out of my coffee a little over a year ago.

I also drink tons of water. I have half a dozen water bottles that all have different places they belong to. Like my car, my bed, my bike etc....

7 Quick Takes

I have been a long time reader of 7 quick takes but never participated. This year I am trying to do more things that make me happy, including trying to blog for fun. So I decide to give 7QT a try. So without further ado here are my 7 Quick Takes.


1. The fiance and I had plans to head up to Mt. Charleston to see the snow. Unfortunately they are expecting snow showers all day tomorrow and highs in the 30's, so we are postponing our day trip til next weekend. Living in Las Vegas we don't get a lot of wintery weather and often try to make it up to play in the snow every year.

When we went last January the snow was up over my knees, we haven't had much snow yet this year, so hopefully there will be a fair amount of snow when we go next weekend.


2. Ahh the joys of wedding planning. Not they we have really gotten much done in the way of planning besides settling on October 2019 and Halloween/Fall theme. It is crazy how expensive everything is. I am hoping to make some stuff myself and make generous use of coupons and clearance sales at Halloween this year to get decorations. I have been scouring Pintrest for ideas.
And am so excited that my fiance is not opposed to my Halloween theme.



3. Also on the wedding front, I am having trouble figuring out having enough bridesmaids. I am a major introvert and only have a couple of close friends, whereas my fiance is more extroverted and has decided on four groomsman. That leaves me in the predictament of finding two more people to stand with me because I like the look of an even wedding party.


4. I love to do crafts and my biggest craft is crocheting. I am working on a very basic and simple cardigan for my grandmother and was a few rows from completing the main body when I realized that I had been missing stiches and had to pull out 90% of it. Fortunately the pattern is a simple repeat and works up quickly. Once I finish it up for her, I think I will be making myself something similar.


5. I am also an avid reader. I have been in a slump "patiently" waiting for books to come out in the multitude of seiries that I read. I love the way books smell and love having physical copies of everything. However I also appreciate the ease of having ebooks and take my tablet everywhere so that I am never with out somethign to read.  I wish they sold books the way they sell movies and include the digital copy. I would be willing to pay a little more for physical books if I also got a digital copy of the book.


6. Sadly I have broken my cell phone yet again. This will be the 2nd time I will have replaced the screen on this phone. And I have finally accepted that I will have to spend the money on a hideous Otterbox case to protect my next new phone. I am a notorious cell phone killer and have broken every phone I have had in the last 6 years.


7. I am in need of some new clothes. The zipper on the only pair of jeans I own that actually fit broke earlier this week. A couple of days later I put on a pair of leggings and ripped them at the seam in the thighs.  I have been putting off buying too much new things in the hopes of losing some wieight and fitting into the things I already own. As much as I love my cushy office job, it had done nothing to help me stay active.

365 Questions.....Numbers 17, 18 & 19

17. What are you grateful for?

I have so many things to be grateful for. I have a fabulously easy job that pays well and allows me time to do crafts and read. I am grateful that I can afford a car payment so that I can drive a vehicle that is actually safe. I am grateful that I have enough money to pay all my bills and still buy things for myself and fiance.



18. The best part of today was..........?

Since I am a day late, the best part of yesterday was getting home and being able to relax. The last week has been a little crazy and I needed a reset. It is so nice to get home put comfy clothes on and just chill until bedtime.



19. My current favorite website is?

Right now it's probably Pintrest. I have been using for recipes and wedding planning. I love being able to see what other people are doing and getting some ideas for my own upcoming wedding.

365 Questions......Number 16

16. Who are you in love with?

This is so easy to answer. My wonderful fiance, who will be referred to as the boyfriend until we are married next year. He is the my dream come true. I couldn't ask for a better partner for this crazy adventure. We get along wonderfully and even though we are opposite in almost every way, it just works. It's like we are 2 sides of a coin.

I love the way he loves me. I love that he is a wonderfully talented musician. Not only has he learned to play songs I love on the guitar, he wrote me a song that made my heart melt. He never shies
 away from me when I am at my lowest and supports me in all the crazy things I do. He keeps me from sinking into that darkness. He is adorably clueless on anything involving cooking. I love out mutual weirdness.

365 Questions

So I recently came across a list of questions for each day of the year, and think it would be fun to work my way thru them this year. Of course I am off to a late start. I am aiming to make a post each day for each question.

 So with out further ado here are the 1st 15 questions and my answers.


1. What is your number one goal for this year?

To settle on where we want to live and get settled into our own place. I am currently living with my fiance and his dad. While the arrangement is way better than when I lived at home with my parents, I still want to get our own place and really start building our life.


2. What are you most grateful for?

This is easy. Hands down, I am most grateful for my fiance. He changed my life and I would be completely lost without him. He is my other half and my complete opposite in almost everything which means we mesh well together most of the time.


3. Are you content?

I am more content than I have been in years. That being said, there are still a few things I want to change to make me more content. Like getting our own place, a higher paying job, being more active.


4. What is your best memory of last year?

Easy. The proposal. It wasn't big or epic but it was perfectly us and it was definitely a surprise I didn't see coming.


5. What was the last major accomplishment you had?

I moved out. After weeks of anxiety and panic attacks and talking it to death with my fiance. I finally made the big step and moved out. It has been the best thing I have ever done for myself.


6. What possession could you not live without?

My tablet. It's my lifeline when I inevitably break my cell phone and it also holds all my ebooks. Any one who knows me knows that I read like my life depends on it. Reading is like breathing for me. My tablet goes everywhere with me so that I am never without a book.


7. Can people change?

Absolutely. I think people can change for both better and worse. I think the best kind of changes are when someone chooses to change because someone else cares about them. They work to make themselves better for someone.


8. What is the last "good" thing you ate?

Paymon's fries, which are delicious but not healthy. However I have been doing almost all of our cooking for dinner and breakfast on the weekends. So its been 3 months of home cooked delicious food.


9. What is your current favorite snack?

"Cuties" Oranges. I have been eating them like crazy.


10.  What made you smile today?

We went shopping on the 10th, and I finally got a cold brew coffee pitcher and a new planner, to keep me on top of my bills as well as wedding planning.


11. What's your favorite accessory?

I love big character themed hair bows. I am almost always way to lazy in the morning to style my hair, so sadly they go unworn more often than not.


12. What is making you mad?

The death of the screen on my cell phone. I dropped it months ago and cracked the screen, it remained functional. However Thursday afternoon while sitting in the dentist office, scrolling social media, the screen just went blank. I will have to replace the screen again.


13. What did you have for dinner today?

The fiance and I went to Chili's before heading out ice skating. It was nice to use one of the many gift cards we have and enjoy taking a night off from cooking at home. We love date night now and again.

14. What did you get done?

Girl time. Sunday's are special because that is when my bff and I have agreed to make time for one another separate from our boyfriends. Just us girls.

I didn't get anything productive done.


15. Who last called you on the phone?

Before the great screen debacle of Thursday, probably my mother. or I called her.