Ever have a month that feels so long yet passes pretty damn fast? That was my January. The first two weeks were gross. The next two weeks just blew past me. I have never been a great fan of the first chapter of the twelve month book of new year but this year January was just totally not fun. I'm not alone. I know several others who had a January that was less than stellar. So friends....cheers to a new month. The better of the winter months (if you ask me) that just happens to be three days shorter.
Trader Joe's for the win on beautiful flowers but I will share that Walmart has a great selection that lasts long term as well! (Same prices too!)
More organic....
There's a time to spend a little more and a time to save a little more. When it comes to what you put in your body...spend a little more. The majority of my food shopping is done at Walmart, Aldi, and Food Lion. Walmart and Aldi both offer certified organic options for not much more than the heavier processed options.
More hiking...
I gave up my YMCA membership in December. I cannot get there with my schedule and decided that after the year of donating to the YMCA that was 2020 was I needed to re-evaluate how I would take care of myself. One thing I love to do other than swim is hike. An added benefit of hiking is it is all inclusive for the entire family. My husband and kids can benefit from a few miles of climbing the NC hills (and TN and GA too!)
Braces
The oldest child will be entering her last year of middle school in the fall of '21 and we have been patiently awaiting time for braces. This will be the year. But first she will have to endure an expander. Bless it.
Tennis
Speaking of my daughter - she took a risk this past fall and decided to try out tennis for her school. She did very well and also fell in love with the sport. Actually, we all did. So this year both kids are going to get private tennis lessons and I think we'll find ourselves on the courts more!
But I still cannot taste, smell, or stand up for too long without feeling like I may pass out.
I thought I would share what is in my kitchen this week. As in what I ordered for pick up and my sweet husband went to get. I had hoped to be doing a soup cleanse this week. Oops that's not happening because I'm just reaching for things that may elicit a response to my taste buds or good ole olfactory system and also that doesn't screw my stomach up.
The List...
Oranges - lots of oranges because I keep hoping as soon as I bite into a slice I will taste it! I haven't yet.
Bananas - Potassium...need I say more? I'm also make smoothies with blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
Apples - because some wise old woman once said, "An apple a day..."
Pico de Gallo - I hate cilantro so I figured my luck would be if I got this I would only be able to taste cilantro. I cannot taste cilantro.
Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup - because we all need chicken noodle soup when we don't feel well.
Eggs - I believe in huevo power.
Saltines - no explanation needed.
Easy foods:
DiGiorno Pizza
Toaster waffles
Apple sauce
Fruit cocktail
What's your go to sick time food?
Have you lost your taste/smell? How long did you go before it returned?
Four days into it and I'm thinking I must still be in two zero two zero because I spent my New Year's Day being diagnosed with COVID-19. The doctor was incredibly enthusiastic as she watched my test go from no value to positive in "record time" - what the ever loving hell? Does that get me a reward? If so...
I would like my taste and smell back. That happened the night before my test. I got in my car and was driving home from work when I realized I couldn't taste the peppermint in my mouth. I immediately started reaching for hand sanitizer to see if I could smell it - nope. I had just bought room spray (thanks to my husband's fart machine ass) so I sprayed it - nothing.
My body had been aching horribly all week but it felt like my regular run with a sinus infection. I was even diagnosed with one earlier in the week! But ole 'Rona likes to pose as a sinus infection that spreads like a wildfire.
Cough? I got it.
Aches and pains? That too.
Cannot keep my eyes open? Oh yeah.
I just wish I could freaking taste!!!
I haven't been this worn out in ages and I have been pretty sick in my thirty sddkf years. This virus is just weird all the way around. It has brought with it every possible gross feeling you can imagine. Nausea and stomach ache are also part of the package.
But the craziest part? No fever. I haven't had a fever and that is a small celebration in itself. If there is anything I hate more in life it is a fever.
***
Since my nanny cannot take my children to the house I bought her in Banner Elk...my kids are positive by association. I can go back to work in ten days but the kiddos have to wait fourteen days to return to school.
My husband has tested negative (over and over) so he's some freak of nature. However, while I have been battling this mess he has been battling random swelling in his limbs. Very strange. It has been going on since November. Steroids have it under control (that makes me laugh)...but its annoying because you cannot live a life on the 'roids.
The plus side of my husband being negative and on the 'roids is that he has limitless energy. He spent all of Sunday DEEP cleaning our house. I have been walking room to room like I'm just returning to my home after an HGTV show came in and reordered it. I am wondering if he can take steroids once a month to keep this up for us?
Thank you for all your reading, loving, and laughing. A Brownie World has closed down shop. Be sure to bookmark: Cardio, Cabernet, & A Keyboard - the fresh new blog starting on Friday, October 28th, 2016 at 5AM!
Good morning, sweeties! Can I just start off this post by formally announcing October is the fastest freakin' month in the calendar year? I say they are all super fast but this one kicked the up the speed to rocket blaster! I'm sad about this. I really love October and every year it just goes by faster and faster. Well at least I have this monthly link up to reminisce a bit!
What We're Eating This Week
Back on the wagon of low carb low sugar. Everything this week is savory and filling and minus potato products! Summer returned to NC last week with highs in the mid 80's and that made any cravings for fall food fall by the wayside. This week we're sitting in the sixties and seventies again so I'm warming up my kitchen with good stuff like...
Of course I feel like it is super safe to say there will be Halloween candy floating around...eeeek! Last week I had a pumpkin cake and a pumpkin pie in the house - that was dangerous. I ended up making cake a meal one day and you guys know that is not me. It was just too damn good!
What I'm Reminiscing About This Week...
One of NC's greatest - Biltmore Estate
Ha! My hair has so grown since last year...about six inches!
The food. Oh the food.
Hello Harrah's Cherokee...what a waste of money.
I guess it would be the norm to say Halloween but sorry, not doing that. I am actually thinking about my birthday trip last year to Asheville. The husband and I slipped away on a Friday and went to Biltmore Estate and then stayed the weekend in Asheville. It was a fabulous, wonderful, perfect trip. Wishing we could do that again this year but totally understanding we cannot I'm left to decide how I want to bring in number thirty-five. Posting on that this week!
What I'm Loving...
Keeping my house pretty tidied up. HA! I know what a weird answer, right? I get paid to keep other homes neat and tidy and organized. When I can keep my own house in good order it is a reason to celebrate!
What We Have Been Up To...
The husband turned 34 this month and he has been working nearly every day of the week. Or rather I should say he has been working every night of the week.
Our daughter has been super busy with swim and school. She's been working with her dad on a wagon project for the pioneer unit they have been studying at school.
Our son is into everything. He's a busy bear and so full of energy.
And then there is me...I planned a pretty OK Eat, Drink, Carve party! I have been busy with work, workouts, and keeping my kiddos entertained. Right now I'm squaring away how I want to celebrate my birthday this year. Also, I'm working on my new avenue for writing and sharing and gabbing. Details on that to come next week.
What I'm Dreading...
You know when I turned thirty I could have cared less. Now that I'm turning thirty-five I am feeling a little weird. Often I find myself asking just why this decade is flying by and also where the hell did my twenties go? I feel like the thirties are the lost years. We all know the twenties get all types of attention and let's not even get started on the forties but what about us thirty-somethings? My outlook is actually not as bad as I may make it out to seem. Thirty-five is a lot better than pushing up daisies and I'm grateful for every day I get to wake up and drink a pot of coffee, yell at the kids, roll my eyes at the husband, laugh with a friend, and fall asleep watching Netflix.
What I'm Working On...
All I am saying is
Furniture.
What I'm Excited About...
Very proud of my Wolfpack this year. They beat Notre Dame in the mud and gave Clemson a run for their money.
On Saturday we are headed to the NCSU v Boston College game! It is also homecoming for NCSU! Woo hoo, I'm so excited to go to Raleigh for the day - it has been way too long. I traded services (cleaning, get your mind out of the gutter) with our friends Meredith & Adam for the tickets and Adam assures me we are in a terrific and fun section to watch the game with. State has had a pretty good season beating Notre Dame (sorry, Andrea) and giving Clemson a run for their money. I know BC isn't the best in football (Sorry, Luke K.) but I do think we will enjoy the game immensely!
What I'm Watching....
I should just copy and paste this every month. Of course Real Housewives of Orange County! The RHONJ too. Just like every other blogger I have fallen victim to This Is Us. The Middle is back so I am loving that to pieces. The Goldbergs and Speechless are two favorites both old and new.
Younger is back and it is one of my most favorite shows on cable television. I guess now is the best time to admit I have also been watching Catching Kelce which is ridiculous. Oh and maybe Don't Be Tardy has been on my television too. Eeeek!
He is very nice looking but not a massive person like that other TE that I'm kinda like oozing slobber over...you can guess that guy's name.
Every Monday, Thursday, and Sunday I watch football. You know this if you follow me on Snap Chat!
I haven't been to the movies in ages but I'm really wanting to head that way and see a few films that are out. I type that and totally forget the titles...nice move.
What I'm Reading...
I am sad to report I have no desire to read at the current time. I do good to read any of my magazines on my night stand or to get to blogs - that is pitiful. I'm working on it.
What I'm Listening To...
Hold your tongues...Top 40. I'm over country music so I just switch on pop and hip hop now. I mean if you think about it country is now bro country or pop country so <eye roll> whatever. The song I stop what I am doing and belt out is Charlie Pouf & Selena Gomez's We Don't Talk Anymore. I also find it weird that I'm really liking a song that surpasses the level of stupid known to man - Gold. I swear I had no clue what this girl was saying and when I googled the lyrics I was still like - no she's not saying that.
It is almost time for Christmas music....
What I'm Wearing....
Clothes...
At the gym - but I take off the hoodie and wear my orange tank....
I wear cute clothes too but haven't thought to take a picture. Oops. I will try to do better with this in the future...bahahahahahaha, I crack me up.
What I'm Doing This Weekend...
Heading to ole Raleighwood to see the Pack play!
What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month....
Via quotesgram
So much, guys! First off the election will be over so no more debate and ads - woo hoo! Second, my birthday. I'm also looking forward to a 5k and our friends' Heather & Josh's annual chicken stew (perfect timing - it is immediately following the 5k for me). Then there is the BIGGIE - my favorite holiday...Thanksgiving!!! Our tradition goes strong for year eight - Blowing Rock for lunch and then Greene Tree Farm for a fabulous NC Tree! I hope to spend November sipping wine with good friends and making many fabulous memories.
What Else Is New...
I'm excited and hope I won't lose you! Next Tuesday you can find out where to find me from that point forward. Thanks for making ABW such a fun work of life!
Wuzzup rose buds? Over here I'm busy with something...probably work and breaking up a kid fight or two. Ya know the joys of every day living.
Before I go further - Gronk is mentioned twice in this post. I feel the need to let you know that. Because, um, because it is a birthday post and birthday + Gronk = Happy Birthday.
Sometimes, during this part of October, I slip away (mentally) into thinking about what I will do to celebrate me. Why this time of year? Because my birthday is around the corner.
I like to plan birthday parties. I can only think of one adult birthday I did not plan. It was number thirty. My husband surprised me with a birthday party at a local bar. We don't have much in this little map dot town, folks. But it was super fun. My closest friends were there, we danced, we karaoked, and just had a lot of fun.
This year I wanted to have another super fun time like that.
Or I wanted to skip town. I mean this is an increment of five birthday so it deserves to be celebrated in a mighty fine way. Right?
Meh.
Now is the time I tell you I let the dancing "electric slide" out of the plan, the get away got away, and I have decided on a nice dinner at a favorite restaurant. Last week I used Facebook (love it) to invite some of my favorite non relatives human friends who make me smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
This is the way I think I should bring in 35.
We will be headed to Downtown Winston-Salem which is one of my favorite places until I realize how freaking dead it is. Don't let them fool you when they advertise it is a happening spot - most times it is quiet as can be and nothing is open. Wow, I'm bashing my back yard pretty bad. Let me retract that statement and say - There's plenty to do (eat) and lots of fun (a couple bars) and the city never sleeps (except from about 11:30pm-10am).
Never fear: There is always my back yard after dinner....complete with a fire pit and I may can get my weird little brother to bring his guitar (he is super great at picking a guitar.)
----
Cue the segue...
My mother gave me a gift certificate for a facial and I'm thinking I may use that on the day we actually celebrate my birthday (the day before my actual birthday, yes I am trying to confuse you.)
This is where I interject that I would have loved to celebrate birthdays with my Ashley but that did not pan out.
I love to shop during my birthday week and this year my eye is set on Old Navy just because I have $45 in rewards there. That's pretty fabulous if you ask me.
One of the best parts of my birthday (this year) is my friend Meredith cleaned out her closets and has a few bags of stuff for me to go through. Yes, I love hand me downs for my birthday! She had no clue that she totally made my day/week/month!
I am toying with the idea of buying myself a pretty bouquet of flowers. Generally, I do not get flowers. I was the girl who always rolled her eyes at flowers because they die. Now for some reason I see cut flowers and I'm jumping up and down. My husband bought me an adorable jar of them at Valentine's Day and his mom sent me the gorgeous ones at the passing of my grandma. What can I say? I'm a flower junkie - cut ones too.
Coffee dates...that's something I'm going to do this coming birthday week. A friend from high school I have reconnected with and slowly I'm getting her to work out with me since our daughters are in swim together. I mentioned grabbing coffee one night after swim and just chatting. She was all for it. It turns out, moms, we're a lot a like. Between raising the future, working, and trying to get some rest we forget friendships and the importance of conversation and laughter. I also think I'll schedule a few other coffee dates because my in-laws generally give me some DD love for my birthday. And you know how I feel about some Dunkin...
This year I want to support our church's soup mission so for my birthday I'm registering for the Souper 5K. My husband is going to join me...I'll walk for him (slacker).
And then there's vodka. You know I'm a Cabernet connoisseur well I'm also a Vodka enthusiast. Mainly Vodka, tonic, and cranberry. This will be the drink of the week. So feel free to mail me a fifth of Absolut.
And that is how I will probably celebrate trienta y cinco.
