Stephany Writes

Categories: Recurring Series

A Weekend in Pictures

If you haven’t heard the great news, I’m over on WordPress now! You may need to resubscribe to my feed if my new posts aren’t showing up in your Reader. Go here to subscribe!

A Weekend in Pictures is a new series I’m starting, recapping the little moments of my weekend as found through the pictures I took.

My mom’s mother-of-the-groom dress. For some reason, the picture doesn’t capture how exquisite this dress looks on my mom but trust me, every time she put this dress on, I just sighed with pleasure. We went through a lot to find this dress but it is perfect. A great color on her, the perfect length, and makes her look like royalty. We found it at David’s Bridal.

Baby ducks! We have a plethora of ducks living around my apartment building and every once in a while, a hatching of baby ducks appears! Towards the right of this photo, you see mama duck. She was busy yelling at me as I took this picture. How perfect are they? They were so giddy and cute and excited. I wanted to bring one home!

Saturday night game night. Every other Saturday, my brother comes over to spend time with us. Sometimes, he brings my nephew, sometimes he doesn’t. This week, he came alone so we settled in with pizza, episodes of Last Man Standing and Modern Family, and an epic battle of Monopoly. I declared bankruptcy way too soon, thanks to landing on the income tax space my first four times around the board! Just not fair. Trash-talking ensued, and my brother was declared the victor.

A venture into lipstick. I bought myself lipstick this weekend, since I’ve noticed my lips looking kind of dull after I put on make-up. I went for a nude color because I’m just not crazy enough for anything else just yet. Not too noticeable to anyone other than me, but I like it! Adds a little somethin’-somethin’.

  

Sunday at the beach. My mom and I spent Sunday afternoon at Clearwater Beach for some sun, sand, and relaxation. It was crowded, but not terribly so. We spent just two hours there, but it was good to get away and lay around in the sun, reading and chatting about life. Have I mentioned how fun it is to hang out with my mom? Because it is. She’s a lot of fun. I’m so glad I have such a rock-solid relationship with her.

All in all, a great weekend. Lots of things marked off my to-do list and lots of relaxation, too. I can’t complain!

This upcoming week should be a fantastic one: I have a lunch date planned with one of my favorite gals, a new series to start in my Bible study, and the return of my after-work runs! (More time to sleep in! Yay!)

Since I can tend to get caught up in the work week and trying to keep my head above water with all the bustling around I tend to do, I think it’s important to set small intentions, or goals, for the week ahead. Nothing major, just a few things to mark off my to-do list:

  • Call and set up my first appointment with a regular doctor. The last time I saw a doctor for a check-up I was 15. And that was for a sports physical so I’m not really sure that counts!
  • Call and figure out my school loan debacle. I just found out that my Stafford loans are with two different companies. I had no idea! So while I have taken care of one loan, I have $180 in late fees for the other. Um, whoops? Must call this week and get that sorted out.
  • Update my resume. I’ve been lightly perusing sites like mediabistro.com for freelancing work and have found some pretty great possibilities. But I need to dust off my resume and update it before I even think about applying. I haven’t even looked at it since July and I imagine it needs some work.
How was your weekend? Do you have any intentions for the upcoming week?
Categories: Recurring Series

Everyday Moments: February 2012

1 – Coming to a major realization about why I struggle with my weight

2 – Chick-Fil-A. Nuggets and fries, oh my!

3 – Ending an anxiety-free week of work, Outback for dinner

4 – Surviving boot camp, getting my hair colored & cut, and a fun night with my brother and nephew

5 – Getting a letter in the mail, saying one of my credit cards had been paid in full (!), the Superbowl

6 – Catching up on the season premiere of The Voice

7 – An incredible night at Bible study and learning more and more about my faith

8 – Chick-Fil-A for breakfast.

9 – Feeling in control for the first time in a few weeks

10 – Fantastic dinner at B.J.’s, which included a delicious, juicy burger

11 – A successful shopping trip, a yummy froyo date, and a long nap

12 – Another fun day of shopping

13 – Deciding to take the leap and go on TWO cruises this summer

14 – Heart-shaped Reese’s

15 – Lunch at Panera, chocolate chip cookies

16 – My first great run in a really long time

17 – Ending a quick and easy work week, reconnecting with friends on Facebook

18 – Spending my entire Saturday reading a book and writing

19 – Movie date with my brother

20 – Managing the media department on a hectic day and being able to control all chaos

21 – My Girl Scouts cookies order came in!

22 – Bringing Tootsie, the office dog, home for a short stay while my boss attends a car show in Detroit

23 – Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies, cuddle time with Dutch

24 – 8 hours of sleep, a quiet night at home

25 – Killer boot cap, a productive Saturday, time spent with my brother and nephew

26 – Sleeping in, finding cute shirts at Target

27 – Starting my move to WordPress, my mom being ok after a bad fall

28 – Staying on plan, even when I wanted to eat all of my emotions after a very bad day

29 – A quiet night, alone, finishing up a fun book and cleaning

Categories: Recurring Series

Fill-in-the-Blank Friday (3)

So, today my “Everyday Moments” post for February was supposed to publish but when I got to work, I noticed it hadn’t. And since I do all my blog writing in Windows Live Writer, I can’t retrieve it from work. So, instead, you’re getting a fun little meme: Fill-in-the-Blank Friday!

1. The highlight of my week was starting my switch over to self-hosted WordPress! I’ve been working with Doniree this week on getting all my “stuff” moved over to the new hosting site and with Ashley on a new header design. I’ll hopefully roll out the new site very soon! It’s all so exciting for me!

2. If I had to classify my interior design aesthetic it would be Um, comfortable? I don’t really have one. I just like comfort and homey rooms, nothing too modern or funky.

3. My first vehicle was a forest-green Pontiac Grand-Am. That was the car I learned to drive in, but since I technically have never had a “first” car, that’s the first one I ever drove.

4. An item I need to have in my day in order to function is chocolate. It’s funny because I need it for the afternoon at work, not so much in the evening. I think there’s something about that 3.5-hour stretch of time after lunch that has me craving chocolate like a mad woman.

5. My favorite way to waste time is reading blogs and keeping up with Twitter. If you knew how many hours were wasted on these two hobbies…

6. Right now, I could really go for a sudden windfall of money. Between paying for two cruises and being a bridesmaid in my brother’s wedding, money will be very, very tight for the next three months. I mean, I can pay all my bills and save up, but not much will be left over. What I’m trying to say is that I shouldn’t even think about stepping foot in Target until July.

7. This weekend, I will be dress and shoe shopping! My mom needs to find a dress for my brother’s wedding so we’ll be hitting up the mall this weekend and hopefully, we’ll have good luck. And I need to find shoes for myself for the wedding. I’m not planning on spending more than $30 on a pair so Payless? Please have what I need!

What was the highlight of your week? Any fun plans for the weekend?

Fill-in-the-Blank Friday is a series hosted by Lauren of The Little Things We Do.

Categories: Recurring Series

Seven Quick Takes Friday (v.10)

1 – I’m bringing back an oldie (but a goody!) with Seven Quick Takes Friday. The last time I did a “Quick Takes” post was in April of 2010! Whoa. Oh, and do I remember that time of my life so well. That was when I was in the midst of my craziest semester ever. I am so glad that season of my life is over. And to keep things interesting, some of my Project 365 photos will be sprinkled throughout!

2 – I have readers email me infrequently to talk to me about my Letters to My Future Husband series. And it’s always fun to respond back because it’s the #1 way people find my blog through searches. I had a girl email me this past week with a simple, “I came to your page after I started doing my journal entries. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t the only one! Thanks for letting my heart rest easy.” Sigh. I love that. I emailed back and in the process, we have spent the past week emailing back and forth, telling each other our stories and finding peace in the fact that God somehow put us together, at a time when my heart was in turmoil. I just imagine He’s smiling down at his handiwork with each email we send.

078/365

3 – It’s been a crazy week here in my life. On Friday, my mom texted me and told me her work was sending her on a cruise in June. She was allowed to bring a guest, so I had a lot of thinking to do. For one, we are going on a cruise the third week of May and I’ll be taking an entire week off work for that. The June cruise would be a 4-day one, so I would only need to take a half-day on a Thursday, and a full day off on a Friday. But still. Asking for time off five weeks after being off for a week? I cringed. But I asked and my boss was completely, 100% OK with it. That was my biggest obstacle and I thought to myself, When am I going to have the chance to go on TWO cruises in one summer? So I’m going. On two cruises. This summer. How crazy does that sound? Let the excursion planning begin! (And the saving. Oh, the saving!)

4 – My entire weekend was spent spending, spending, spending. I had the money to do so and had fantastic luck at the mall and Marshall’s. (Side note: I used to detest that store, but now it is my *favorite* place to shop for clothes. So cheap! So cute!) I picked up two cute dresses, a new pair of jeans, and several shirts, including two new undershirts from Old Navy.

075/365

5 – I’ve been really disappointed in myself for how I’m doing with Weight Watchers. I’ve tried a few different times writing about it but the words just aren’t coming. Suffice it to say, I wanted my word for 2012 to be health but I can’t seem to break the cycle of unhealthy living. Every day, I set out with great intentions but I keep slipping up. And while I know the steps I need to take to break the cycle, sometimes it’s very hard to put it into action.

6 – Today, my nephew is having surgery to get his tonsils removed. Ironically, it is the same surgery I had when I was four. His surgery is happening this morning and I’m going to be a nervous wreck until it is over and done with. Say a few prayers for him, please?

On that same note, my grandma has her last CyberKnife treatment today. She had to go in four times for this where she has to lie completely still (they strap her down, even her head!) for about an hour while lasers shoot all around her. She can’t do anything but lie there. I. Would. Go. Crazy. But knowing my grandma, she’s lying there reciting Bible verses and praying during that time.

072/365

7 – Sunday night, the March book for #twookclub is announced! Have you voted yet? The votes for all five books are so tight that I’m not sure at all which book will win! Go here to vote.

And one last thing! I’m giving away a pre-made template from Yellow and Savvy Design’s Etsy shop. Giveaway ends on Monday night and you have THREE ways to enter.

Categories: Recurring Series

Odds and Ends

  • I tried writing my weigh-in post today, but the words just wouldn’t come. I hate when that happens. The past two weeks haven’t been weeks to be proud of, but they have been weeks that I can learn from. I’m back to tracking, drinking water, and eating healthy foods. I’m scared to step on the scale, so I’ll leave that for my meeting on Wednesday.
  • I spent the last week uploading all of my Project 365 photos to Flickr. I’m up to Day 73! I’ve never made it this far and the weekly updates on my blog can get cumbersome. Once I get my new blog launched, I’ll have a sidebar showcasing my photos but since most of them post to Twitter and I sprinkle them throughout my posts, I decided to do away with the blog updates.
  • I started a new boot camp class last Saturday. Through Living Social, my mom found a deal for four boot camp classes for $20. The instructor is only former NFL running back, Michael Pittman. After the terrible experience I had with my first boot camp, I was very apprehensive about this one but people love boot camp! They can’t all be terrible, right? Well, yes and no. Yes, because it was terrible. As in, hard and tough and made me want to pass out. And no in the fact that it was over an hour but the time flew by and the instructors were fantastic. Encouraging but tough. I need someone who’s going to be tough on me, make me work for it, and not let me quit. The instructors at my other boot camp gave up on me quickly. What I’m trying to say is that if you’re watching The Biggest Loser this season, Conda ain’t got nothin’ on me. And I need a Dolvett-like trainer to push me past what I think my limits are. After just one class, I’m seriously considering canceling my gym membership so I can afford to go to this boot camp every Saturday.
  • I’m reading L.A. Candy right now by Lauren Conrad. The writing isn’t great but there’s just something about that book that I can’t get enough of! Is it time for lunch yet? I need to get back to my book…
  • Speaking of books, I recently found out I can borrow books from the library for my Kindle. I can only request four at a time and only get a week to read each book, but it’s still pretty exciting! I love my Kindle but I never used to buy books before – I always went to the library. It’s been quite a financial burden, with the way I go through books.
  • Tuesday, I was dealing with girl problems and it took everything in me to head to Bible study instead of going home and curling up in a fetal position. I hadn’t finished my homework for the week and was feeling lousy. But man, I am so glad I went! The message Beth Moore gave spoke right to my heart, exactly to what I am dealing with right now. The wheels were turning in my head through the entire message and I can’t wait to share some of what I learned with you guys soon!
  • My running has sucked lately. Su-u-u-u-cked. Running has never been a favorite activity of mine to begin with, but I had been doing good for a few months there. I’m not sure what is going on, but I have a 5K to run in April. And I want to beat my time from last year’s 5K. So I need to figure it out and get to training!
  • I’m also thinking of running walking the Disney Princess Half-Marathon next February. But I’m still not sure I have what it takes to get through 13.1 miles. It’s not an easy feat, for sure!
  • I’m so happy it’s Friday. I have boot camp tomorrow morning and big shopping plans since I got a nice little bonus in my paycheck this week. I’m trying to be smart with the extra cash, but you can’t fault a girl for wanting to treat herself a little! Wheee!

Have you ever done a boot camp? What was your experience like? What are your weekend plans?

Oh! And a little reminder for #twookclub members! Sunday, I’m closing the discussion for our March book pick and putting up the poll to vote. If you haven’t given a suggestion yet, do so before Sunday at 8pm EST. We have a lot of great suggestions so far, but I’d love for some books that have been suggested to get another nod!