Recurring Series – Page 123

Two Game Nights, Two Sets of Twins, and a Lazy Sunday

I don’t typically do weekend recap posts, mainly because my weekends usually consist of a lot of sleep, blog reading, and cleaning. But this weekend was drastically different. I actually did stuff. It felt great.

Friday night was, by far, one of the most fun nights I’ve had in a very long time. Here’s the short back story: Tamy is a good, good friend of our family who used to babysit my mother and her brothers when they were younger. She used to live in St. Pete. Tamy then went on to marry and have her own kids. My mom babysat for her kids. My mom went on to marry and have my brother and I. One of Tamy’s daughters, Talyse, babysat for us. The last time I saw Talyse, I was five years old. About a year or so ago, we all reconnected on The Facebook. Then I found out Talyse has a BLOG! So while this isn’t technically meeting a blog friend (since she’s actually a real-life friend, first), it was my first experience of meeting someone via the blogosphere. Everyone always talks about how meeting someone whose blog you read is different than meeting someone any other way because you know them already. This statement is totally true, social disaster that I am. I felt immediately comfortable and at ease with Talyse and meeting her babies felt like meeting celebrities I just read about weekly! There they were – in person! (And, ohmygod, they are adorable. I just wanted to gobble them up.)

We spent some time with the babies, who are amazing miracles born at 29.5 weeks. They spent 55 days in the NICU and are just proof of God’s grace and mercy of how far they’ve come since then. They’re 18 months now and so darn precious. Kyran is a flirt and has no problem attaching to other people. He’s silly and goofy and cuddly. Karyssa is a lot more reserved than him and is very shy. Surprisingly, she warmed up to my mom rather quickly – proving that she’s still got it. Karyssa was still a little unsure about me, but Kyran became my new BFF within 5 seconds so it’s all good.

Once the babies were asleep, it was time for games! For the next four or so hours, we played Apples to Apples. We had a good-sized group of 7 people, which I think makes the game a lot more fun. I’ve been wanting to play this game but we never have enough people to play it the right way. It was such a fun game! I had a blast reading the ridiculous answers, giving ridiculous answers, lobbying for my ridiculous answers, and laughing way too much. My face and sides hurt from all the laughter!

We didn’t leave the condo until 12:30am, which is LATE for me. I felt like a wild woman! Since my mom had to be at work early in the morning & Talyse and everyone was leaving to travel back to South Carolina the next day, we had to pack it in early. (Well, early for all normal 20somethings.) It was a fun night and I wish Talyse lived around here so we could visit more often. Just having a few hours was not enough.

I slept in until 12:30pm on Saturday, which felt AWESOME. We ended up having my 15-year-old cousins come over for a game night, which was loads of fun. I love these girls fiercely and I don’t spend as much time with them as I should. They’re growing up and are so much fun to be around. We can be totally sarcastic with one another in one breath, and in the next, totally deep and introspective with our thoughts. My mom and I want to make this a more common thing and have made some plans for the future. They are awesome girls, with the same issues and thoughts that most fifteen-year-olds are dealing with, and I just want to be there for them when they need a soft place to land.

We ordered pizza. (Yes, I had pizza two nights in a row.) And then settled in for a night of games. We played Buzzword, Mad Gab, and Clue. We also talked a lot. I think they needed a night like this, so I’m hoping to do it more and more so they know they have my mom & me if they would ever need anything.

Sunday was a lazy day, where I talked my mom into skipping church and going out to breakfast. And then we basically watched some TV, read, and napped. I love Sundays where you can just be lazy and recharge from the weekend to get ready for a busy week ahead. It felt wonderful.

I’m starting back at my internship this week, working for 3 hours, 2 days a week. I’m excited to get back and feel the energy and challenge from the projects again. And I miss the atmosphere and people! It’ll be nice to not be so lazy every day. I’m looking forward to it, even if it does mean missing out on afternoon naps.

Categories: Recurring Series

Ten on Tuesday (Vol. 17)

1. What was/is your favorite live-action (meaning not animated) kids’ movie?

For some reason, Babe comes to mind. I just looked it up and it came out in 1995, which seems right since I would’ve been around 7 at the time. Now I want to go back and watch this movie! Who didn’t love Babe?!

2. What is a bad habit you have? Are you working on breaking it?

I think my worst habit is talking badly about myself. I do it all the time and I’m trying to make a conscious effort to stop. My mom does this as well and it irritates the heck out of me when she does it. I need it to irritate the heck out of me when I do it as well!

3. Describe your father in 3 words.

Distant, jerkface, gambler.

4. Which character in the Breakfast Club were you most like in the ’80s?

I’ve never seen this movie, actually. I remember renting it once but only getting about an hour or so in, but Molly Ringwald annoys me immensely. I can’t stand her on Secret Life Of the American Teenager and she just rubs me the wrong way. Plus, I was all of two when the ’80s ended, so this question doesn’t really apply to me.

5. Name 5 songs you know ALL the lyrics to.

There are so many, but ones that come to mind:

Beauty from Pain – Superchick
Jesus Freak – dc Talk
His Cheeseburger – VeggieTales
How He Loves – David Crowder Band
Hope Now – Addison Road

6. Do you make pancakes from scratch or a box mix?

I don’t make pancakes. I think I’ve made them once in my entire life. They’re just never something I crave or even want to eat, so the only time I do eat them is when I go out to breakfast. My mom makes them a lot, though, and uses a box mix.

7. What was your worst job ever? Why?

Probably my job at Panera Bread in high school. I worked there for 3 months, only for a few hours on Saturday and Sunday. It was a horrible job. The only job I had was cleaning up the dining area/dishes. I was trained to work in the bakery, but never scheduled for it. I was also trained to work the register, but never scheduled for that either. And have you seen a Panera Bread register?! There are so many different buttons to press to get to different menus. They didn’t give me enough time to learn it at all.

Anyway, I had to close the restaurant on Saturday and Sunday nights which entailed sweeping down everything, making sure all the dishes were clean and put away, mopping the place, making sure the coffee pots were rinsed out and ready for the morning, cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming, wiping down the tables, etc. It was such a hard job! I absolutely hated working there.

8. What was your favorite class in high school?

Psychology. I took it when I was a senior and it was college-level, but my teacher was amazing. I swear she was Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus come to life. Her hair was crazy, her outfits were hilarious, and she was such a hands-on teacher, even for college. But she made the class so much fun and our final was that we had to come to class and watch Garden State. So tough!

9. Favorite summer guilty pleasure?

The hot weather. Honestly, I love it. A lot of people hate how hot and humid it is here but there’s nothing like the feeling of the sun beating down on your face and shoulders to lift your mood. Plus, after 22 years of living here, I’m used to Florida’s humidity. It doesn’t phase me all that much.

10. Please share your best money-saving tip!

Oh, I’m the worst person to ask. I guess my best tip is to make a budget and stick to it. It’s something I keep telling myself I need to do, but I never get around to it. But making a budget will help you see what your bills are, how much extra you’ll have left over, and start the savings process.

Categories: Recurring Series

Seven Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 10)

One. The last time I did a 7QT was on April 9th. It feels good to get back to a normal blogging schedule. Life is finally settling down and it shouldn’t get crazy again until September at the earliest. Thank Jesus for that!

Two. I went on a crazy spending spree on Sunday. I almost never have money to do that but I still had some money left over after paying bills and putting some money in savings. So, I dropped $60 at American Eagle and then $40 at Target. I really can’t remember the last time I’ve done that for myself. I always feel guilty for spending too much money on myself, especially when I have credit card payments that I need to catch up on. But, sometimes, you just have to treat yourself.

Three. This week has been emotionally draining, to say the least. But I’m happy that I figured out what was bugging me for so long, and that I now have a plan of action. I think it’s going to help my mood and energy levels a lot. Plus, going to bed at 9:30 is divine!

Four. Because I’m a glutton for punishment, I bought Jillian Michael’s “No More Trouble Zones” over the weekend. I did the workout on Tuesday and holy Moses, I’m still having trouble just walking without excruciating pain in my thighs and butt. I used 3-lb weights, but I think I can bump it up to 5 lbs because I have no pain in my upper arms or chest area. I want to do this workout twice a week, so I don’t burn out as easily as I usually do with workout DVDs. Still, I have an intense love for Jillian and her workouts. She’s been the only workout instructor I can find, besides Billy Blanks, that really pushes me to my limits.

Five. Has anyone been watching Last Comic Standing? I mean, seriously, if you’re not, you should be. It came back after a long hiatus and I am so happy it’s back. While I’m not impressed with Craig Robinson as host, the talent is outstanding. I couldn’t find any recent clips on YouTube (other than clips of comedians performing in comedy clubs, with crappy audio) but trust me, you’re missing out. TiVo, DVR, whatever it! Just make sure you watch it this Monday.

Six. Once again, I just have to thank all of you girls who have texted me, sent me some amazing e-mails, tweeted me, and sent me comments. It was more than I ever imagined because I thought it was a post where I would get 2-3 comments. I didn’t expect to feel so wrapped up in love and encouragement from everyone and just wanted to give a big thank you and a great big bear hug to you all. You know who you are.

Seven. I feel like I need to start giving myself a Twitter break once a week. I’m easily falling back into old patterns, although I have stopped the habit of checking Twitter when I wake up and reading through every, single tweet that was sent while I was sleeping. It’s crazy how dependent we become on social media and technology!

Categories: Recurring Series

Ten on Tuesday (Vol. 16)

The last time I did a ToT was April 13th. I’ve missed these!

1. If you could trade lives with another blogger for a day, who would it be and why?

There are so many bloggers whose lives seem a lot more interesting than mine. They’ve seen more success than me and have found a way to make money from blogging. (The ultimate goal, right?) If I had to choose anyone, I would probably pick Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point because not only is she healthy and active and married to a gorgeous husband, but she’s also found a way to give back to the online community, as well as become a published author!

2. Do you prefer receiving handmade or store-bought gifts? Be honest!

I’ll be totally honest and say store-bought gifts. I don’t think I’ve received many handmade gifts and when I have been given them, they haven’t impressed me. I think you can also put a lot of thought and effort into store-bought gifts (sometimes more so than handmade ones). I mean, I’m totally not a fan of receiving bath & body sets because I think that takes zero creativity. Still, I will freely admit: store-bought> handmade.

3. Would you rather camp or stay in a hotel?

I’ve only been camping once and I’ve stayed in about a billion hotels. The one time I did go camping, I had an absolute blast. I was eight or nine and I just remember how relaxing and fun it was. Plus, nothing beats roasting marshmallows over the fire and making a s’more. (Or two. Or three.) Then again, I love sleeping in hotels. It’s a bit more comfortable. In any event, it’s always nice to get away.

4. What’s your favorite comfort food?

Chocolate. Anything with chocolate. It can turn my mood around like that!

5. You’re having a really bad day at work. How do you unwind when you come home?

I’m pretty good at being able to put work problems behind me when I come home. I don’t like thinking about work when I’m not there. If I do have a bad day, all I really need is a vent session with one of my co-workers or my mom and food. Lately, I’ve been doing better at not letting circumstances give way to gorging on food. But it’s still a big comforting factor for me. I’m just doing it in moderation now, which is good.

6. What’s your favorite chore? (Or, the chore you hate the least)

Probably laundry. I really don’t mind doing the laundry, for the most part. Plus, I find that I put my clothes away more quickly when I do the laundry than when my mom does it. When my mom does it and puts my folded clothes in my room, it usually takes me a week to actually sort through them and put them away. I’m really bad about that.

7. What got you interested in blogging?

I’ve really always had some type of blog. I started off at Diaryland, then went to Xanga, then back to Diaryland. I tried LiveJournal for a while but didn’t like it. When I started college, I started a Blogger blog to document my teaching experiences. Then I went over to WordPress to do a more personal blog. After having some success with that, I went back to Blogger and I’ve been here ever since. I’ve always liked documenting my life, even the silly things I wrote when I was fifteen. It wasn’t until probably a year ago that I realized how big this blogging community is and really started getting involved in that aspect.

8. Are you currently reading a book? What is it?

I’m reading two books currently. I’m reading Perfecting Kate by Tamara Leigh, which is about a girl who begins to change what she looks like to please people. I’m just getting into it but it’s really interesting! I’m also reading When God Writes Your Love Story by my two favorites, Eric and Leslie Ludy. This book is amazing. I can’t wait to do a review of it when I’m done. It’s not changing my view on love, but it’s making me see that my way of going about finding love is not weird.

9. Do you have a favorite artist?

As in art? No. I’m not that into art. Honestly, I see art at Target and think it’s spectacular. Obviously, I have a very un-critical eye for art.

10. Have you ever met someone famous?

I’ve met some local celebrities, like our news anchors. Oh, and on Saturday, I met one of our local jazz singers at a festival I attended.

Categories: Recurring Series

Five For Friday: Confession Session

I’m stealing an idea from Kayla Aimee’s blog (which you should totally check out, because she’s awesome). I’ve been a little ‘eh’ about Seven Quick Takes Friday so I thought I’d switch up my Friday posting a little.

1) I didn’t mention this anywhere, not even on Twitter, but I totally failed on my soda fast. I lasted until 8pm on Friday night, which takes me to about 46 hours without soda. Around 7ish, I got a headache and felt a little weak and dizzy. And, gosh darnit, I was at Carrabba’s and having dinner – I wanted a Coke! So I had one, and I enjoyed it. Immensely. Since then, I’ve had about a Coke a day. I do want to drink less of it but I’m not sure if I totally want to cut it out of my life. I love it! Why should I totally give up something I love? I want to get to the point where I only drink it on Sundays (my “cheat” day) and when I’m eating out. Right now, I’m implementing “No Coke Days,” which is pretty self-explanatory.

2) I bought a webcam a few weeks ago to join the 21st century and start Skype-ing. The webcam is totally set up and ready to go. But I haven’t Skyped yet. And I need to. Who wants to break my Skype virginity?

3) I gained 2 pounds in the past two weeks.

4) I have squeezed my dog’s ears way too much in the past week. Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this.

5) I’ve never liked Siobhan on American Idol. While she does have a powerful voice, when she’s just singing regularly, it grates on my ears. And I’ve never felt any good connection with her. On the other hand, Lee Dewyze might just be my future husband.