Recurring Series

TGIF (v. 17)

The high of my week was Dutch adjusting easily to his new home. I’ve had a few people ask me how he is doing and I’m happy to report he is handling this change much, much easier than me. I was worried he was going to spend his days crying in my apartment and annoy the neighbors, but he’s been on his best behavior! He’s bonding with my Roomie and it lessens my anxiety tremendously that he has taken this change in stride.

The low of my week was dealing with this adjustment period of living with a roommate. My roommate herself is amazing and I love her to death. She’s been very accepting of my anxiety and given me a lot more grace and kindness than I’ve been giving myself. Still, this week has been a very tough one and there have been many, many tears. This is a big life change for me, and change is my #1 anxiety trigger, so I should have expected this to be a lot harder than I anticipated. But there’s just something about being in the anxiety and living through it that feels so discouraging. I am doing better today than I was on Sunday/Monday, so I can only pray this new life situation starts to feel more normal and less terrifying as the days and weeks go on.

I’m currently reading Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park. I was reading Stiff by Mary Roach to fulfill the microhistory category for the Book Riot reading challenge, but it wasn’t grabbing my attention and was just putting me in a downer mood. That’s when I realized that what I really need right now when it comes to my reading life is books that are fun to read and light-hearted. AKA, all of the romance and YA I can get my hands on. This book is exactly what I need.

A blog post I enjoyed was 7 Ways to Calm Unemployment Anxiety by my friend Linda. This post was perfect timing for me (you could honestly retitle this “7 Ways to Calm New Living Situation Anxiety” and it would just about work perfectly). This post was so insightful and it has helped me take a step back and reevaluate things.

The best money I spent this week was $3 on my new favorite mug (pictured above)! Isn’t it perfect?

My plans this weekend include spending Friday afternoon with some of my favorite coworkers to celebrate two birthday girls, writing with my friend on Friday evening, unpacking and reorganizing all day Saturday, going to my nephew’s birthday party on Sunday afternoon, and taking my roommate out for dinner to celebrate her birthday on Sunday evening. Whew! It shall be a busy weekend indeed.

What was the highlight of your week?

Categories: Recurring Series

A Weekend in Pictures: The Moving Edition

Right after work on Friday afternoon, my roommate and I drove to our new apartment to pick up our keys! We were very excited, as evidenced in the above photo. We moved in a few of our boxes and then took a trip to the happiest place on earth – IKEA – so Roomie could buy a TV shelf and coffee table for our new place. It was quite an interesting experience trying to fit two super-long boxes and one square-shaped box into her Jetta. With the use of a bungee cord and me using skills I didn’t know I had to shove a box in the back of her car, we made it work. And drove s-l-o-w-l-y back home. Then, I did a quick shopping trip at my new Publix so I’d have food for next week (and won’t have to shop during the week, which I hate). By that time, it was nearly 6 p.m., and I still had packing to do (!), so I high-tailed back to my side of town.

It was time to get serious about packing on Friday night. I had packed up most of my stuff the weekend before but still had to pack up things I had left for the last minute – like clothes, bathroom items, etc. My first night in the new apartment would be Sunday, so I still had to keep a few items unpacked, but packed up about 95% of my stuff! If you’re also planning to move, hiring a professional moving company like Three Movers is highly recommended especially if you have a lot more things to do.

Saturday morning, I was up early because it was moving day! My brother and my mom pitched in to help me move all my big items (namely: my dresser and bed, as my roommate would be supplying the couch and dining room table). It was a super smooth move (even with a bit of rain while loading and unloading) and within 3 hours, we had finished our move! After that, we headed back to St. Pete to drop off the U-Haul, have lunch, and complete a few errands.

In the afternoon, I ventured back to my new apartment with Dutch in tow (so he could get used to the new place before coming back for good the next night!), where I spent a few hours unpacking boxes and taking slow walks with Dutch outside. I managed to unpack my kitchen boxes, got my bathroom put together, and unpacked a few things in my bedroom – making my bed and unpacking my clothes, mostly.

After a few hours at the new place, Dutch and I went back to St. Pete for the night. And I soaked my feet in a foot massaging bath and it. was. the. best. I needed it so much – my feet were killing me – and it really helped.

Sunday morning – after helping me move! – my mom ran a 5k. She did awesome! She’s been working super hard with her running pace and it’s been really showing. (She finished about 6 minutes faster than she did at our Savannah 5k in March!) Yay, Mom!

We celebrated my brother’s birthday on Sunday afternoon! We watched some football and ate some good food, like the above delicious cookie cake. I’m typically not a huge cookie cake fan, but this one (from Publix!) might have changed my mind. Soooo good!

And then, on Sunday evening, Dutch and I spent our first night in our new home. I’m struggling big time right now with this change, and I knew I would, but it just feels so much bigger and so much harder. I’m being reminded of my time in college a lot right now, which just makes me feel sick to my stomach. I thought I was past this, you know? Sunday night was tears, tears, tears. It’s hard when home doesn’t feel like home. I know it will soon and I just need to get past this, but I’m trying to be okay with not being okay right now. Feeling very grateful to have my buddy Dutch along for the ride, though. This would be a million times harder without him.

How was your weekend? Anybody else feel completely off-kilter when a big change – even good change! – happens? How do you deal?

Categories: Recurring Series

TGIF (v. 16)

The high of my week was my mom coming home from her honeymoon! I was so, so, so happy to welcome her back after 9 days gone. She went on an 8-day cruise (yes, two cruises in one year! This lady lives the high life.) and had a good time, but Dutch and I missed her a ton. And I also appreciate not worrying about being murdered every night. There’s just something about being alone at night…!

The low of my week was being so sick. Ugh, I started to feel ill on Monday afternoon, but it wasn’t until Tuesday that I felt like I was coming down with… something. I ended up calling in sick to work on Wednesday, and it was actually nice because my mom was home so I got some good, ole Mom TLC. And, luckily, I scheduled one of my work-from-home days for the month for Thursday, otherwise I probably would have had to call in again, seeing as I got maybe four hours of broken sleep. I’m still not feeling 100%, and I am very glad for a short work day and a whole weekend to recuperate!

I’m currently reading two different books. First, I’m reading Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes, which has been an eye-opening experience for me thus far. I’m about halfway through and it’s very detailed and involved, but I’m hanging in there! The other book I’m reading is Room by Emma Donoghue, which I’m reading for the Book Riot reading challenge. I’ve been dreading reading this book because I know it’s a heavier type of book (at least for me), but that has seemed to be my theme of July reading thus far! I’m going to opt for much lighter novels in August. Gimme all the trashy romance!

A podcast episode I enjoyed was Judy Blume Forever by Stuff Mom Never Told You. Oh, this made my little reading heart go pitter-patter! Judy Blume was one of my favorite authors growing up and I loved learning more about her books, her personal life, and the censorship battles she went through.

The best money I spent this week was $17.50 to see Joe Machi perform stand-up at Side Splitters in Tampa. I followed his journey on Last Comic Standing last season and adored him. Dear God, he’s adorable. His stand-up was pretty funny and I was so glad I got a chance to meet him! I was totally geeking out!

My plans this weekend include looking at an apartment to rent this afternoon (we’re trying not to get our hopes up about this place since the move-in costs and monthly rent are lower than average for South Tampa). The rest of the weekend will be spent recuperating and trying to get myself back to my normal healthy self!

What was the highlight of your week?

Categories: Recurring Series

TGIF (v. 15)

The high of my week was obviously my mom’s wedding. A close second, though, was how my six-year-old nephew wanted to be my buddy during the wedding. He wanted to help me with some of the photography I was doing (a special project for the guestbook!), and then to drive in my car to the reception. I’ve never actually driven alone with my nephew before, so it was really fun and we chatted the whole way there. Then, at the reception, he asked if we could sit together at a table a little bit away from all the action. I was more than happy to oblige! So, lots of one-on-one nephew time? Definitely a highlight for me!

The low of my week was not exercising. I just have been supremely lazy this week and haven’t been able to get my butt to the gym in the morning. I’m trying not to beat myself up about it because sometimes, we just need weeks like these. I’m planning to get back to it this weekend, though! No more slacking off!

A blog post I enjoyed was Confession: At Age 30, I’m Scared to Move Out of My Mom’s House by Kate of Greatest Escapist. I actually have a blog draft in the works that is eerily similar to her statement (just change “age 30” to “age 27”), and I have been debating publishing it because I don’t want to seem suuuper lame. Which I know is silly. I was so grateful to read Kate’s words and realize fear is such a common symptom for so many of us. And that the things we are struggling with aren’t unique only to us, even when we think they are. Someone can relate, in some way.

A podcast episode I enjoyed was Skate Like a Girl by Stuff Mom Never Told You. I had really never thought of the world of skating and how hard it’s been for women to break into the sport. It opened my eyes a lot!

My plans this weekend include signing papers for my car loan refinance (!), a lady date with two girlfriends on Saturday night, and a Sunday pool day. Sounds like the perfect weekend to me!

What was the highlight of your week?

Categories: Recurring Series

Currently in July

Feeling… a lot less stressed than I was last week. Last week, I was feeling very overwhelmed and I thought it was due to knowing my mom would be away for more than a week, but I think it had more to do with the wedding and making sure everything went perfectly for my mom. (Not that she was putting any pressure on me… it was my own perfectionist tendencies, I guess!) Once the wedding was over, I felt all my anxiety go away, and have been feeling very good this week! Three cheers to that!

Reading… What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. It’s a ridiculously long novel, nearly 500 pages, so it’s slow going. I love Moriarty’s novels, but I do wish they weren’t so long! I think this book will end up being my least favorite of hers, but it’s still pretty good.

Watching… The League! I had a friend implore me to start watching this since I’ve been in my own fantasy football league for a few years now and she thought I would relate to it. And I love it! I’m halfway through season 2, and it can be a bit crass and silly, but it’s fun and lighthearted and just what I need right now.

Anticipating… seeing Joe Machi this weekend. I followed his journey on Last Comic Standing last year, and I was hoping he would win. I’m going with some girlfriends and I just can’t wait!

Listening to… a slew of new podcasts. I need to do a follow-up post to my post on my favorite podcasts because I have added so many more shows to my feed (I listen to around 27!) and my favorites have definitely changed. My most recent favorite is been The Shepod.

Planning… on trying out You Need a Budget. I loved San’s full review of the software, and it sounds like something that could be super useful to me. I hate talking about it, but I am not the best manager of my money and I really want to get better. I haven’t had much success using sites like Mint.com, but hopefully, YNAB will be different!

Wondering… what life is going to be like in a month or two. It’s hard to fathom how much my life is going to change when I finally move out. I can be very dependent on my mom, but I’m also very independent at the same time. Which probably doesn’t make sense. I’m worried about how my anxiety will be affected by the move, but I’m also really, really ready to shake up my life and make a big change.

Grateful… for my grandma. I learned last week that my grandma is 1 in 7. What does that mean? Well, stage IV colon cancer patients have a 1 in 7 chance of living past five years. My grandma was diagnosed in 2008. And though the cancer has returned three times since her initial diagnosis, she’s managed to kick its butt each time. This time around has been much more difficult on her, but the lady is a fighter. She’s incredible.

Wanting… a new bed. I was hoping to buy a new bed before my move, but it probably won’t happen. But this is a purchase I want to make very soon! I want to go to an actual furniture store (not IKEA!) and buy an actual adult bed and an actual adult mattress. No more hand-me-downs!

Loving… fresh flowers at home, tiny ice cream cones, the Colorfy app, group texts with my coworkers, snuggles with Dutch, and rainy afternoons.

What are you currently reading, anticipating, and grateful for?