Stephany Writes

Categories: Holidays

My Christmas Wish List

There are less than 10 days until Christmas, and even though this holiday season is going to be a heavy one (2020 keeps being the worst, ya know?), I am going to try to be as merry as I can. Every year, I like to give you guys a peek into the Christmas wish list I send to my family. It’s always fun to put this list together and anticipate what might be under the tree for me this year. (And yesssss… Christmas isn’t about the gifts. We all know that! Gifts are still fun to receive, though!)

So, without further ado, here’s what’s on my Christmas wish list this year:

1) Pots and pans set ($150) – It’s time for me to have a grown-up pots-and-pans set. Right now, all of my pots and pans are mismatched items that I bought when I moved into my apartment four years ago and consist of a frying pan and two small-ish saucepans. This pots-and-pans set gets fantastic reviews, is in my favorite color, and includes all of the kitchen stuff I need!

2) Bullet journal kit ($28) – I have grand plans of starting a bookish bullet journal in 2021, after seeing Rachel at All the RAD Reads talk about hers a few months ago. So I asked for this adorable bullet journal kit (that comes with stencils and stickers and fun pens!) for Christmas.

3) Popcorn machine ($50) – Popcorn popped in a popcorn popper (say that five times fast) is the best popcorn, don’t you think? When I lived with my mom, we used to have one of these popcorn poppers and it always made the most delicious popcorn, and I really want one for my own place!

4) Lighted makeup mirror ($35) – I used to have a floor-length mirror on the back of my bedroom door that was super useful when applying makeup. But that mirror got damaged in the move and I really need something that allows me to get up close when putting on makeup (especially when I’m not wearing contacts, which is often). I did a quick search on Amazon and found this lighted mirror that I immediately loved and added to my Christmas list.

5) Cat coasters ($15) – How adorable are these coasters? I really need some new coasters, and of course, they should be cat-themed! Amazon currently states this style is unavailable, but I’m crossing fingers and toes that Santa got the memo before they sold out. 🙂

6) Fuzzy socks ($19) – It’s been cold in Florida recently (cold enough that I’ve been able to turn off my air conditioner!) and it made me realize that I do not have a proper collection of fuzzy socks to wear when it’s cold in the mornings, especially now that I’m working from home. And if I’m going to get fuzzy socks, shouldn’t they be cat-themed? (The answer is always yes.)

7) Cat and books shirt ($20) – My collection of bookish t-shirts keeps growing and growing, and I basically don’t wear anything else anymore. (Lounge clothes are the theme of 2020.) I found this adorable shirt when looking for gift ideas to send to my mom, and it’s basically perfect. (The amount of cat-themed gifts on this list speaks to who I am as a person now. I am a cat person, through and through.)

8) Outside area rug ($63) – I’m so excited to have a usable balcony to enjoy, but it needs some furniture first! I added this cute area rug to my Christmas wish list because it’s one of those expensive purchases I know I would put off for months and months (why are rugs so expensive???), even though it would make hanging out on my balcony a little more cozy. (Next up: chairs, a little table, twinkly lights, and maybe some plants!)

9) Exercise bands ($35) – I want to get back into a regular strength-training routine next year, as it’s my favorite form of exercise, and I added exercise bands to my Christmas wish list after seeing someone I follow on Instagram talk about how great they are for at-home workouts. This set includes extras like ankle straps and a door anchor, too!

10) Books – Of course I added a few books to my Christmas list! What do you take me for? I asked for a handful of titles, including Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld, Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad, and Millenneagram by Hannah Paasch.

What’s on your wish list this year?

Categories: Holidays

The A-Z Thankful List

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, friends! This is my absolute favorite holiday and while things will definitely be different this year, I am still optimistic that it will be a lovely day. Over the weekend, I saw someone on Instagram do this A-Z challenge for things that happened over the year and I thought it might be a fun exercise for thinking about all of the things I’m thankful for this year! I am certain I left something vitally important off this list, but here’s what I’m thankful for in this crazy, weird year:

A – Apartment. I am thankful that I was able to move into a bigger, more updated apartment and that the move went as smoothly as possible. I love my new place so much!

B – Biden winning. I am so, so, so very thankful that Biden won the election. Another four years of Trump’s nonsense would have been disastrous for our country.

C – Cats. I am so thankful for these cute cats of mine! They are so affectionate with me and make me feel so loved. It was much easier to get through those isolating early days of the pandemic with them by my side!

D – Dachshunds. Specifically, my fur-brother, Chip. 🙂 He is the sweetest little monster who always gets so excited when he sees me. I am so thankful for him and the way he makes me laugh!

E – Etsy. I am thankful for Etsy sellers, especially those who pivoted their businesses to create cloth face masks. I have found so many cute, well-made face masks through Etsy!

F – FaceTimes with Mom. Back in the early days of the pandemic, my mom and I started FaceTiming with each other every day and we’ve kept it up, even though we see each other regularly. We rarely text each other anymore, haha—now, we just FaceTime one another whenever we have something to say! I’m thankful for technology and the way it keeps us connected, and so very thankful for the relationship I have with my mom.

G – Games on my phone. I am addicted to games on my phone! There is just something so calming about playing a silly game while listening to a podcast. I am thankful to have this little outlet. (Favorites: Candy Crush, Wordscapes, 1010!, Four Plus, and Match 3D.)

H – Health. I am thankful that I have remained healthy this year. In fact, I’ve been even healthier than in previous years since I’m not working in an office anymore. (Not one single head cold—knock on wood!) I’m so thankful, though, that I haven’t been diagnosed with COVID at any point and neither has anyone in my family. That’s something I do not take for granted, considering how many families have lost loved ones this year.

I – Instagram. I love Instagram. I really do! It’s one of the few social media platforms I follow closely. I try not to scroll incessantly (I have a 30-minute daily limit) but I love being able to share my life and follow my friends’ lives. I am thankful to have such a fun escape from the everyday!

J – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. I am so thankful for this woman who did so much to bring about change in our society. Because of her, I am able to lead an independent lifestyle without needing to be married. She left behind an amazing legacy.

K – Kindle. I am more thankful than ever for my Kindle! When the libraries closed down early on in the pandemic, I was glad to be able to use Libby to fulfill my reading needs. I was downloading e-books like crazy! I like reading a mix of physical books and e-books, but this year might be a bit heavier on the e-book side. Thank heavens for my Kindle!

L – Listening to podcasts. Where would I be without my beloved podcasts? Whether they’re keeping me informed, making me laugh, telling me a story, or introducing me to a topic I don’t know anything about, podcasts have helped me through this crazy pandemic year. I am so thankful for the content creators of podcasts who continuously push out content for us to listen to for free!

M – Marco Polo. Early in the pandemic, my book club had a Marco Polo group chat going on but it got a little unwieldy to keep up with, ha, with six different people chatting. Nowadays, I use Marco Polo for a daily check-in with my friend M. I love the Marco Polo app because it allows me to get my thoughts out without being interrupted by others, which is the plight of the quiet person. I am thankful for this little app and for my friend M. who really kept me grounded this year.

N – Naps. OF COURSE, I AM THANKFUL FOR NAPS! Naps are my absolute favorite and are made even better when I have a snoozing cat by my side.

O – Opportunities. I’m thankful for the opportunities to grow my skills this year at work. I’ve taken on more challenging writing tasks and have asked for and received other responsibilities that I’m really enjoying.

P – Poll working. I am thankful that I was able to be a poll worker this election season! I am also thankful that I pushed through my social anxiety to do it because it was not an easy task for me! But I had a lot of fun and learned so much about the election process. It was a very long day, but was totally worth it.

Q – Quiet days. Working in an office can be hell on the senses of a highly sensitive person, and it definitely was for me. I am so thankful to be working from home now and to be able to set up my work life in a way that appeals to my HSP nature. I keep my apartment dead silent all day (no TV, no music, nada) and it’s so conducive to a productive working environment for me.

R – Reading. I am so thankful for reading and that I was able to read voraciously throughout this pandemic. I know it’s been a struggle for a lot of people! But reading has always been my source of comfort and my appetite for reading only increased when I was stuck at home for so many months.

S – Surprising friends. It was so much fun to throw these birthday surprises for my friends this year! We tried to plan them so that our friends would be super surprised like the time my friend thought she and her husband were going to walk their dogs… only to find out we were on her sidewalk! Or the time a friend thought another friend was coming by to pick up a yoga mat… but it was actually to be surprised by all of us! Eeks… these surprises were so much fun to plan! I am thankful to have such thoughtful friends!

T – Talking about my life. I am so thankful for this blog and my little corner on the Internet. I am grateful to everyone who reads, everyone who leaves a comment, and everyone who emails me. My blog is such a cathartic space for me, a place for me to talk about my life and work through my emotions, and I don’t know where I would be without it! I am also so thankful for all of the friends I have made through blogging. You all mean so very much to me!

U – Unity. We all came together this year not just to help stop the spread of this awful virus but also to elect a decent, kind, empathetic man to the White House. Not everyone came together, of course, as there is unmitigated spread of the virus right now and 70 million+ people voted for Trump, but I am thankful for the people who put their lives on hold, always wore their mask when in public, and voted for hope and change.

V – Vaccine research. Gosh, am I ever grateful to the scientists and researchers and study participants who have helped in getting a COVID vaccine to market. I can’t believe we are looking at an actual timetable for this vaccine to be ready for essential workers and high-risk people! Amazing.

W – Working from home. I am so thankful that my company moved to a fully remote workforce in mid-March when the pandemic hit. And that my company continues to monitor the case numbers as well as how its employees are feeling about remote work life, so much so that they decided to change our entire office! As mentioned previously, we’re going to be changing offices and using the new one as a coworking space, so I’ll be able to continue working from home for as long as I want. So very, very thankful for that!

X – eXtra time with the cats. Oh yes! One of the best benefits of working from home full-time is getting so much time with my girls! I’m pretty sure they love it just as much, evidenced by the way they like to sleep on my desk and meow at me for pets any time I get up from my desk. 🙂

Y – YouTube ASMR videos. I spend at least 15-20 minutes every night watching an ASMR video on YouTube. There are so many great creators out there, and I am so thankful for what they do. Their videos help to calm my mind and put me in a very relaxed state so I can fall asleep easily.

Z – Zoom writing dates. I think everyone is thankful for the magic of Zoom for some reason or another, and for me, I am so grateful that my writing partner, M., and I were able to use Zoom to continue our weekly writing dates even when everything was closed. We met every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and I usually got to see her sweet baby (who loved smiling and laughing at the baby she saw on her mom’s computer screen, hehe!), so that was a delight.

Tell me something you’re thankful for by choosing the letter of your first name! 🙂

Categories: Holidays

This Year’s Christmas Wish List

I love learning how other families celebrate the holiday season. Do you exchange a lot of gifts or do a Secret Santa exchange? Do you have one big experience? Are gifts not even part of the equation? In my family, we exchange gifts. (To be fair, I only exchange gifts between my mom, my stepdad, and my brother and his family. I also do a gift exchange with my girlfriends.) This requires a yearly wish list that we send to each other via our family group chat in November. I’ll be honest: I have a hard time making a list nowadays since I can essentially buy whatever I want and the things I can’t (ahem, a new mattress), are way too expensive to put on a Christmas list. But it’s still fun to peruse gift lists and think about some of the things I want but have resisted buying for myself. I also really enjoy buying gifts for other people. If you have a loved one who loves customizing watches, then you may consider giving customized seiko mods from Seiko lab. I love thinking of thoughtful gifts to give them and I often go overboard with buying gifts. What can I say? I love spoiling my family!

My list this year is really, really boring but ah, that’s life, isn’t it? Here are some of the things I asked for this Christmas:

1) 23andMe DNA test

Have you done one of these genealogy tests? I’m only vaguely familiar with my own lineage – I know my dad’s side of the family is from Germany and my mom’s side is a smattering of Irish, English, and Polish. But I don’t know much more than that! I’ve had friends do these tests and the results have been super interesting.

2) A new Crock-Pot

I know everyone is about the InstantPot these days, and I have one and I like it well enough, but it’s still not as convenient as a Crock-Pot. For me, at least, since my motivation wanes drastically in the evening when I get home from work. It’s easier for me to throw ingredients into the Crock-Pot in the morning, let it simmer throughout the day, and come home to a fully cooked meal when I get home. Plus, meat from a Crock-Pot is the best. A pressure cooker can’t tenderize it as well. So, I put a Crock-Pot on my wish list because the one I have now is old and doesn’t do that thing where it clicks over to “warm” when the food is done cooking. Since I’m out of my house for at least 11 hours every day, it’s impossible to use my Crock-Pot on work days and that’s the whole point!

3) Handheld cordless vacuum

Probably the most boring thing on my Christmas list but the thing I’ll be most excited to get! Now that I have cats, my couch needs to be vacuumed on a near-constant basis. (“So much cat hair!” I constantly say as I sweep and vacuum.) The hose attachment on my older vacuum does the trick for now but I’d prefer something more compact and easier to use, like this hand vacuum that’s literally called the “pet hair eraser.”

4) New makeup brushes

File this under “things I can get for myself but just haven’t.” My current makeup brushes are rather cheap and definitely need to be replaced. I found this simple set at Sephora and it seems perfect for my needs!

5) Book scarf

I was perusing Amazon for gift ideas and came upon this adorable infinity scarf dotted with books. How on-brand for me!

6) Makeup organizer

I’ve been on the hunt for a new makeup organizer but it’s been a futile mission because most of the organizers I find are too large for my tiny bathroom sink. And yet – I need it to be large to fit all my products! I found this makeup organizer on Amazon and it has pretty good reviews. I like that it rotates and has adjustable plates so I can decide exactly how I want to use it. (Also, I just realized I never actually put this on the list I sent to my mom and brother, haha, so I know it won’t be under the tree this year! Maybe an after-Christmas gift to myself?)

7) Vegetable chopper

Another blogger I read raved about this handy vegetable chopper that can slice, dice, chop, and spiralize vegetables, and I had to add it to my Christmas list this year because I absolutely despise chopping vegetables. I’ve tried other slicers and dicers but most haven’t been able to chop my veggies the way I want. This one has lots of different attachments so it may be the miracle kitchen tool I need to eat more veggies!

8) Coloring books

I’m a sucker for an adult coloring book. I always have a coloring book open on my kitchen island with markers in a cup nearby. (Of course, the girls love tipping over the cup and stealing the markers!) I don’t really sit down and color a full page in one sitting. Instead, I’ll continue with the page I’m coloring while watching something on Netflix, listening to a podcast, or if I have a few minutes before needing to leave for work. It always fills me with great joy when I finish a page! (For those looking for a recommendation, I adore Johanna Basford’s coloring books. Thick paper, pretty illustrations, and each page is so different from the last!)

What’s something you asked for this year (if you exchange gifts!)?

Categories: Holidays

Thankful (v. 2)

Happy Wednesday, friends! I’m back for round two of my gratitude worksheet. Enjoy!

11) The best song I heard today was nothing? Eeks! I don’t really listen to music! I listened to podcasts while I was getting ready for work, an audiobook while I was driving, and more podcasts while I was working. Yesterday, though, I did turn on my Christmas playlist on Spotify and one of my favorite songs came on first: O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Ugh, I love that song. So pretty!

12) When I look inside my closet, I’m grateful for the clothes that remind me of people and places and events. The rain jacket that reminds me of my trip to Ireland. The red dress that reminds me of my friend’s baby shower. The bookish tee that reminds me of my friend every time I wear it since she bought it for me. Clothes can evoke so many memories, and I’m grateful for all of them.

13) I’m lucky that I’m smart enough to figure out how to write just about anything. I have to write a lot of different things for my day job and there are many times when the topic is something I know nothing about, like bioengineering or roof insulation. But I love it. I love learning about something totally new and trying to figure out how to take my research and turn it into a concise article. And I love that I can be counted on at my job to write out-of-the-box content, stuff that might not fit into our normal constraints and needs a more creative hand.

14) In this moment, the things I love most about my friends are their kindness, silliness, and love. I adore my friends so very much, mostly because they just let me be me. It took me a long time to accept myself for who I am and an even longer time to find friends who did the same. But they’re my people and I love them so!

15) I’m grateful that my hands can hold my sweet little kitties and my fur-brother, Chip. Pets are such a blessing, aren’t they? My kitties are just so much fun and make me laugh all the time. They also make me feel super-duper loved, especially how they are constantly pawing at me for attention. Chip also makes me feel so loved in the way he always greets me – his whole body trembling with excitement. It’s the sweetest thing.

16) The prettiest thing I saw today was the beautiful view of Tampa Bay! The weather has been GLORIOUS lately (today was a high of 71!) and I went on a beautiful, sunshine-y bike ride with two coworkers during my lunch break. (We have one of those bike-share locations in our parking garage where we can rent bikes for free.) The views were gorgeous – we rode along the water for much of our journey – and the weather was amazing. It definitely gave me the energy boost I needed!

17) When I look into the mirror, I’m grateful for the girl who looks back at me. I’m grateful that, most days, I don’t cringe at the girl who looks back at me because I wish she was skinnier or prettier. I’m grateful that I’ve grown to appreciate my body and what it does for me, and genuinely like the girl that stares back at me. She’s pretty great, you know?!

18) Three of my most prized possessions are Eloise, Lila, and my bed? Ha. The kitties are definitely my top favorites and they bring such immense joy to my life, as I’ve already mentioned. And my bed is something I greatly love and appreciate. It’s comfy and cozy and warm and so nice to sink into at the end of the day.

19) I’m grateful my eyes let me see all the nature I want! Is there anything more beautiful and awe-inspiring and healing than being surrounded by nature? For me, there is not. Whenever I’m feeling low, I know getting outside and being in nature helps me so much. I’m so grateful there are so many beautiful nature trails near me where I can do just that!

20) The things I would never change about myself include my sense of humor, my empathy, and my introversion. All three of these things are a huge part of what makes me me and I wouldn’t change them for anything.

Categories: Holidays

Thankful (v.1)

Six years ago, I did a series about gratitude, following these prompts. And I thought – hey, maybe it’s time to revisit those prompts! My life has changed a lot since 2013, so it might be fun to see where I was at then – and grateful for – and where I’m at now. Plus, I was looking for something semi-easy to blog about in November since a lot of my creative energy and time is being spent on NaNoWriMo.

Let’s dive into the prompts (and totally feel free to do this on your own blog! I’d love to see it!):

1) I’m most thankful for my ability to empathize. I think this is one of the strongest things about me – my ability to listen and empathize with other people. Someone I love is going through a really rough time right now and I love that this person feels comfortable coming to me to talk about it, knowing I will be the sounding board they need. Of course, this can often backfire as I tend to take in other people’s emotions but, through lots of therapy, I’m learning to let it go and understand I can listen and offer advice without needing to burden myself with their emotions.

2) In this moment, the thing I love most about my family is our honesty. I’m talking about my mom and my brother here, and I just love how we have really allowed ourselves to open up. The three of us have been through a LOT together and separately, and it has made us much closer as a result. We are not afraid to get real about our feelings and express our emotions. It feels so good to have a safe space where I don’t have to be anyone but myself with them, and I know they will always love me unconditionally.

3) Something that made me smile today was seeing my kitties when I came home! I just love coming home to them. I was gone for 13 hours today so it was a long time away from them! (For me, at least. I’m obsessed with my girls.) While I was at work, a maintenance guy came by to fix a few things in my apartment and I think they were hiding under my bed until I came home! Poor little ladies. But once they saw it was me, they came out for pets and love. <3

4) The best thing I smelled today was Starbucks! I stopped by to get a peppermint mocha because it’s that time of year! I’ve had three since they came back in season less than a week ago, oops.

5) One of the memories I’m most grateful for is all the moments I got with Pops when he was in the hospital. I screenshot a text my mom sent me after he’d been in the hospital for a few days where she said, “I feel like chopped liver. Pops keeps asking when you are going to get here.” And it just meant the world to me, to know that I brought him a level of peace and comfort just by being there. I tried to bring him strawberry milkshakes when he had the appetite for them and just be a person in the room. Because that’s all he really wanted, to not be alone. I had no idea we’d lose him so suddenly, and I am so immensely grateful that I was able to be there just about every day and have sweet moments with my Pops.

6) Thank goodness someone taught me how to be a cat mom! This one goes out to Kim, as she was endlessly patient with me and all my questions throughout my journey to become a cat mom. She sent me a long list of cat supplies to think about buying, calmed me down whenever I got worried about Eloise and her acclimating to my apartment, and cheered me on through every stage of cat motherhood. She’s been so supportive and helpful and made me feel so much less anxious about the prospect of owning a cat. I’ve never owned a cat or even had much familiarity with them, but Kim was the perfect person to reach out to because she never made me feel silly or dumb for my questions and is also SUCH a huge cat person that she makes me feel completely normal in my obsession with my girls. Cat people FTW!

7) The strongest part of my body in this moment is my heart. Okay, this is going to be very cheesy but I honestly can’t point to something super physical, like my legs or my arms, or even my mind right now. But my heart is strong. It beats fiercely for the people I love and has been beaten up so many times, but still, it loves. My heart is the very best part of me.

8) Even after a rough day, the things I’m most grateful for at work are supportive coworkers, a great boss, and creative work. When I originally did these prompts, I was just a few months into the job I’ve now been at for six years and in a complete honeymoon phase. I’m not in that same honeymoon phase but I still really love my job. I have autonomy and really supportive people around me, and I get to flex my creative muscles from time to time. I’m immensely grateful.

9) I’m so grateful that my legs carry me through just about any workout I want. I may need to take breaks and may need lower-intensity accommodations, but I can do the workouts. It’s easy to feel unmotivated to work out or whine about not having the time, but what an honor and joy it is to move my body the way I want to.

10) I felt a little burst of energy today when I finished a workout class. I haven’t been to BodyPump in a few weeks, but I went this morning and it was exactly what I needed. I felt strong going through the movements and proud of myself for getting up early and doing the damn thing.

What’s something that made you smile today?

2013 answers: part I, part II