Recurring Series

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Happy Friday! A while back, Katelin wrote up this fun post on what she did yesterday, is doing today, and may do tomorrow, and it’s always been on my list to do it myself but I’ve never gotten around to it! But today seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so.

Yesterday, I…

Spent the majority of my day proofreading content from a writer who only worked at my place for a little over a month. It’s actually a lot of work because I am having to rewrite a lot of it, but I’m really enjoying it. (I just hope my editor likes it as well!) I’m two months into my new job and I still don’t have a solid base of clients, but I hear that’s very normal and to just enjoy it, because there will be a time I’m up to my eyeballs in content writing. So I’m biding my time, being patient, and showing off my skills whenever I can.
Went out for lunch. There’s a big mall with a great food court less than 5 minutes from my work, and it’s always nice to get away for an hour. I typically eat lunch at my desk when I bring it, which means 9.5 hours of sitting at my desk, inside. I need fresh air! (And there’s nowhere really to walk outside where I work, which kinda sucks.) So it was nice to get out into the sunshine and away from work for an hour.
Went for a long walk with Dutch. He may be eleven and have really short legs, but the little guy is a speedster. It was a brisk walk!
Had chicken nuggets and fries for dinner and it did not make me feel good. It’s just a good reminder that eating healthy may not be the most fun, but it’s better than feeling like crap.

Today, I…

Will continue working on the huge proofreading job I was given earlier this week.
Will start my weekend at 11:30! Woohoo! I still cannot get over half-day Fridays. The best perk!
Will. Wash. My. Car. This has been on my to-do list for two weeks and my car is embarrassingly dirty, both inside and outside. It needs a good wash and vacuum. I cannot go home until she is sparkling clean!
Will finish my last character analysis for my NaNoWriMo book, and start working on my plot! I have two strong characters in mind but haven’t yet figured out the plot, how they’re going to get together, their internal character struggles, and all that jazz.
Will try to get caught up on my DVR. I’m about two weeks behind on many of my shows, such as Parenthood, Nashville, and The Blacklist. Eek!

Tomorrow, I…

Will visit the Saturday Morning Market for the first time ever! We went over the summer but that was a mini version since the real market runs from October – May. They have over 200 vendors, live music, and lots of yummy food to sample and buy. I’m so excited!
Will scope out a new cupcake shop. You see, my birthday is on Thanksgiving this year and I really want to bring cupcakes to the family dinner to celebrate. But I have yet to find a really good cupcake shop in the area, so I’m on a mission to find it. It’s a hard life I lead.
Will get a pedicure! Yay!
Will spend a crapload of money at Target, because it’s payday week and that’s just what I do.
Will participate in a fun Halloween 5K with my mom and Dutch. We didn’t end up making it to the SPCA 3K Pet Walk, but I really wanted to do this event because it looks like a fun time! I’m not so worried about Dutch being able to complete the race, as I am worried about me keeping up with him!

What’s something you did yesterday, did or will do today, and will do tomorrow?

Categories: Recurring Series

Five For Friday (22)

1. Brunette

Yes – I made the change and I couldn’t be happier! I was actually thinking I would gradually darken my hair until it was the auburn color I wanted, but then I just couldn’t stop looking at this picture and decided to just go for it. It’s such a big change that it’s taken me a while to get used to it, even though I’ve been brunette before. But it’s so much fun at the same time. And I’ve gotten so many compliments on it, which always feels good. As for the cut, I am really on the fence about it. I wanted a long bob (like this), because my long hair was driving me nuts but I wasn’t ready to commit to short hair again. I think my problem with it is that my cut is uneven (as evidenced below). It’s actually shocking that it is uneven because I used the same stylist I’ve been using since I was 16 and she has never done a bad job. So I’m not sure if she meant to cut it like this, but I am way too anal to have an uneven cut… even if it is meant to be uneven. I made an appointment to get it fixed tomorrow morning so hopefully, after that, I will love it. Fingers crossed.

2. Phone

My phone arrived on Monday and I am in love! For one, I am just happy to have a phone again but honestly, the iPhone 5S is such a huge upgrade from the iPhone 4. It’s longer, which is a feature I totally love. The camera is a million times better and the new fingerprint technology is such a cool addition. I can use my fingerprint to unlock my phone and buy apps, so it basically feels like I’m living in a sci-fi movie. The battery life is good, but not exceptional. I can use it for a full day (or just about) without it dying, which is nice because my 4 would die within 4-6 hours, so I’m hoping the good battery stays around for a while. And I’m just happy to be back in 2013 again, and have a smartphone.

3. Dutch

Dutch had a routine check-up at the vet this week. All of his blood work came back normal, though we did learn he had the beginning stages of a UTI. Poor little dude! They were able to administer a shot and now we know to keep his water bowl replenished and take him on more walks. I was worried for a bit because he weighed in at 8.4 lbs, which is 2 lbs less than normal but the vet didn’t seem to be concerned. He’s still at an ideal weight for a mini-dachshund. I guess all these stairs at our apartment are a good workout for him! He runs up them like they ain’t no thang.

I did ask a question about his eyesight because his eyes look very cloudy, but he doesn’t seem to have any problem seeing or running up and down stairs (even stairs that he doesn’t normally use). But the vet says it’s just normal aging, so basically, Dutch, you’re an old man.

Visits at the vet always freak me out, because I always worry I think I’m taking him in for a check-up and they’ll find something terrible in his blood work and he’ll have to be put to sleep right then and there. I never said I was normal. But my boy is healthy and I aim to keep him that way for as long as I can!

4. Mom

MY MOM IS BACK! My mom came back late Sunday afternoon after being gone for 9 days and it is so good to have her home. I enjoyed my alone time and having the apartment to myself, but I also really, really, really missed her. She had a great time on her cruise and her boyfriend is officially hooked on cruises, too. (He’s talking about his next one being a two-week wedding cruise?!?!?!)

I am really happy to have her back, though. I missed my best friend!

5. #twookclub

I made the decision to close #twookclub. It’s something I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time, based on the fact that participation has dropped considerably (usually, only 1 – 3 people come to the chats) and my heart just isn’t into running the book club anymore. It’s hard to get excited about something when nobody else is, you know? I feel so much peace about this decision and this weekend, unless someone steps forward and wants to take it over, I will be closing down the Goodreads group and giving up the Twitter handle. It was fun while it lasted, but it’s time to move on.

Happy weekend!

Categories: Recurring Series

Looking Forward… (the Fall edition)

It’s Friday! My favorite day of the week! Today, I’m borrowing a page from Lisa and talking about all the fun things I have to look forward to over the next few months.

Today, I am looking forward to a quiet night in.

I really have no plans tonight and I am so looking forward to it. I’m thinking of spending the afternoon by the pool, catching up on my DVR-ed shows, ordering in for dinner, finishing a book I can’t put down, and cuddling with Dutch. It’s going to be a good night.

This weekend, I am looking forward to getting my hair cut and colored.

I haven’t gotten my hair colored since January and haven’t gotten a proper cut since April so I am very, very overdue. I am 80% certain I am going to go for the dark auburn color because why not?! It’s fun and different and such a perfect color for fall. I’ve also fallen in love with this bob and I may just be chopping my hair off. Who knows?!

I’m also looking forward to welcoming my mom and her boyfriend back in town on Sunday afternoon. She’s been gone since last Friday (they left on a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday) and I miss her like crazy! While I’ve enjoyed having the apartment to myself and doing my own thing, I’m also very ready for her to come home. 🙂

This month, I am looking forward to receiving my new iPhone!

I ordered my iPhone 5S two weeks ago and I am really, really excited to receive it. Partly because it is new and shiny and pretty, but mainly because I am totally phoneless for the time being. I’ve been whining about all over Facebook and Twitter, but basically, my phone overheated during my nephew’s birthday party and I believe some of the battery must have melted because when I took it to the Genius Bar, they said there was liquid all over the back of the phone and couldn’t even work on it. So that’s really lovely. The first time ever that my mom goes out of the country without me and I have no way to contact anyone, other than through my computer. It just makes me very anxious to be without a way to call if something happens! So believe me when I say, I cannot wait to get my new iPhone. Being phoneless is the worst. It needs to hurry up and ship!

This year, I am looking forward to going on a girls’ cruise with my friends from book club.

There are five of us going and all five of us getting along super well. It kind of boggles my mind that I’m actually going on a vacation with girlfriends. Joining this group and meeting these girls was simply divine intervention and I love that I put aside my fears of not fitting in aside to try out a book club. The best part is that we may be going on a party cruise (it’s just a 2-day cruise out of Tampa), but we’re so not partiers. There’s already been talk of waking up at 8am to exercise and we all got super excited about the library that has board games. I mean, if these aren’t my people, THEN I DON’T KNOW WHO I AM. So, so, SO excited! (Oh! And it’s a different cruise line. For the past 4 cruises I’ve been on, I’ve used Carnival and this cruise is by Norwegian. Excited to see how they differ!)

Next year, I am looking forward to taking my first trip to NYC.

I have decided that I must, must, must visit NYC in the Spring of 2014. I’ve never been and it’s one of those “Life List” items that I can never seem to get around to. I’m thinking of either April or May, a time when it’s not too cold and not too hot. (So April 25, right?) My mom has never been either and, as my favorite travel buddy, I think the two of us experiencing the wonder of NYC together would be such a fun thing! I’ll definitely be looking for your tips and advice on what to see, do, and eat while we’re there. This will probably be my one big trip for 2014 so it’s time to start planning and saving! (Although a cruise in the fall is not off the table. Because of course!)

What’s something you’re looking forward to?

Categories: Recurring Series

September Recap + Goals

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And then it was October. Well, almost.

It’s crazy how fast this year is flying by. It has been a really, really good year but I’m not ready to see it all end. Luckily, we are entering my favorite time of the year – the holidays! October, November, and December are just my favorite months. I am not excited for shorter days, but I am excited that we are getting tiny hints of cooler weather to come and there are just so many good things on the horizon that it’s hard to contain myself. I am a happy girl.

I’m trying to figure out a good format for recapping the month and talking about my goals so just bear with me as I figure it all out.

In September, I…

Celebrated my brother’s (27!) and nephew’s (5!) birthdays. My brother and my nephew are September babies, my brother being the 15th and my nephew being the 25th so it’s always a big birthday month for us. We celebrated my brother’s with pizza, cake, and a very sad Sunday Night Football game. (He’s a die-hard Niners fan and they lost awfully to the Seahawks, their rival team.) For my nephew, my sister-in-law and brother threw a fun pool party for the little stinker that was a ton of fun.
Took Dutch to the dog beach! I had a blast watching Dutch experience the dog beach for the first time. He was hesitant about the water, but we forced him in a few times. He was the perfect boy and I’m looking forward to going back another time or two before it gets too cold!
Started trampoline fitness classes. My mom bought us a Groupon for 3 trampoline fitness classes and we put them to good use this month. Goodness, I think I underestimated how tough the workouts would be because they were hard. My legs felt like jelly after each one. I would say you would probably need some sort of fitness base to begin these types of classes because it’s high-intensity cardio. But still, very fun and I am hoping to find room in my budget to continue going.
Spent five hours at book club! Our book club meetings are generally 5% talking about the book and 95% chit-chatting and catching up on one another’s lives. At September’s book club, the five of us who will be going on a cruise together in November were there and it was just the best time. We started at our favorite restaurant and then moseyed on over to a frozen yogurt spot right next door where we sat outside and talked and talked and talked until 11pm. We are going to have such a fun time on that cruise! (And I may have volunteered to sing karaoke with another girl. Uh.)
Had a 30-day review at my job. My company likes to do a 30-day review to catch up with their new hires and make sure they’re settling in okay. It was basically a “Is this the job you thought you were getting?” sort of low-key discussion. It went well. My team leader is very happy with my performance so far and I am really happy with the job itself so good things all around.

Goals for September

Try out a trampoline fitness class. Check! My mom and I attended all three sessions paid for via a Groupon and they were very fun. I am hoping to continue these!
Go back to church. Ehh… sort of. I went one out of the four Sundays in September. Things just kept coming up that prevented me from going. Oh, well. Here’s hoping October will be better!
Sit down and create a new budget. Yes! I did this! And it’s awesome. I’ll be helping my mom out WAY more than I was before, able to save and pay down my debts, and still have fun money left over. I love my new budget!

October Goals

Don’t use my credit card. I really, really have to stop using my credit card for unnecessary purchases. My best bet is to take it out of my wallet and leave it at home.
Go back to a cash budget system for extras. I was doing better at this earlier in the year but got off track in the summer. I think giving myself a set amount of cash to use for my extra fun expenses will help me to stop spending money so frequently. It’s not out of hand, but it has the potential of getting there.
Take Dutch to his first 5K and second 3K Pet Walk! Dutch has a busy race season coming up and it all kicks off with the 3K Pet Walk put on by our local SPCA on October 12. We did this last year and it was so much fun, though the pet walk itself was a bit messy. Hopefully, it is more organized this year! We also may do a 5K Halloween run, too, since it allows dogs to participate and I think it would be fun. Gotta keep this old man active, you know?!

What’s one money-saving rule or budget tip you always keep in mind?

Categories: Recurring Series

Five for Friday (21)

1. Stitch Fix

I ordered my first Stitch Fix box because I wanted to see what the buzz was all about. I haven’t done any other monthly subscription boxes because none of them seem interesting enough for me to shell out money for. But I love the concept of Stitch Fix and after hearing many bloggers rave about it, I plunked down my credit card and ordered a box. First, even just getting the box was a debacle because FedEx delivered it to the wrong address and then there were many phone calls to FedEx and many emails to Stitch Fix to figure out what happened. Finally, on Tuesday afternoon, it was delivered!

It was really fun to go through my box of clothes and see what my stylist picked out for me (based on an extensive style profile I completed before ordering). I was given one skirt, one blazer, two blouses, and a necklace. The only thing I really loved was one of the blouses but I didn’t love it enough to pay $58 (!) for it. The box’s prices range from $28 to $78, with the lowest-priced item being a necklace. And no, I will never pay $28 for a necklace. (I’m cheap, maybe?) Stitch Fix is a great concept and I think it’s a wonderful company, but it’s just a leeeeetle out of my price range for right now. It’s possible I may order from them in the future, but not anytime soon.

(To be fair, you pay $20 for your box, and then that $20 will be taken off your total price when ordering. So, if I had bought the blouse I wanted, it would have been $38 when I ordered. Still above the price I could afford right now. So, basically, I’m out $20 for nothing. Live and learn, kids, live and learn.)

2. Pinterest

So it took me about a million years, but I am officially addicted to Pinterest. I’ve been a member for over a year now, but mainly only logged on to look for workout ideas or hair inspiration. (And rarely pinned anything.) Over the past few weeks, though, I have grown increasingly addicted to the site. For example, last Saturday night when I couldn’t sleep, I spent around an hour on Pinterest looking at funny dog pictures and laughing my head off by myself like a crazy person. It was quite special. I’m still trying to figure out my way around the site and my boards still look pretty sad. Mainly, I only go there to pin cute dog photos but it’s a great procrastination technique for me when I’m at work and having trouble getting started on an article. And somehow I need to find room in my budget for three more dachshunds:

3. iOS 7

A week ago, I went ahead and updated my phone to iOS 7. My new iPhone may take up to 3 weeks to be shipped (whimper) and after playing around with the new operating system on my mom’s phone, I fell in love immediately and wanted it. Honestly, I do not know why people hate the new system. I mean, I know we all fear change which is evident in the way everyone goes on the warpath every time Facebook changes its look, but seriously, I am puzzled. It is such an upgrade from the old system, in my opinion. It feels cleaner and neater and just wonderful. None of it is hard to figure out and anything I do need to figure out, a quick Google search solves it for me. I think my favorite new feature, though, is being able to take square pictures right from my camera app. No more trying to squeeze a rectangular-sized picture into Instagram. It’s all done for me. Seriously. Good job, Apple. Hugs and kisses.

4. A raccoon named Jake

So Tuesday was a rather eventful morning. I woke up as usual. It was around 6:15am when I had Dutch leashed and harnessed and opened the door to take him out… only to come face-to-face with a raccoon. Dutch was barking and trying to fight him, the raccoon was making, um, raccoon sounds and fighting back, and I finally had the presence of mind to slam the door shut before the raccoon got inside. I believe I might have screamed because my mom came running out of her room, convinced I was being murdered. Dutch was fine. I was fine. The raccoon was fine (for all you animal lovers). It was such a scary moment, though! Seeing raccoons isn’t such a big deal. We live right next to the woods and I’ve seen them from time to time. They’ve always gone through our trash if we leave it outside on a day our valet trash doesn’t come. But this was the first time I’d been so close to one! And them being so close to being IN MY HOUSE! Freaky.

The raccoon was still there five minutes later, lying on one of our stairs. And then he was still there when I left for work about an hour later. And he was still there when my mom came home for lunch. It was very rainy that day and I think the poor little dude was just trying to find some shelter. So the animal lover in me felt bad for him. And named him Jake. So we have a raccoon. And his name is Jake. That is my crazy story for the week.

5. Hair help

I have my first hair color appointment since JANUARY next Saturday. I have been growing my blonde highlights out for months and months and months in preparation to go brown. There were some reasons I wanted to go back to brown: it’s easier to keep up, it’s cheaper, and I want a change. After 3 years of blonde hair, I wanted to shake things up! So I’ve been obsessively perusing Pinterest for the last week for what I want to do with my hair. This is the brown I want to go, though I don’t think I’m ready to go that dark yet:

This is the color my hair is now:

Ew.

And this is the color I’m thinking about doing:

Or maybe this one:

Hi, my name is Stephany and I have a crush on Emma Stone. Or maybe just her hair. No, it’s her. And her hair.

And heeeere’s something fun. A poll! Whee!

Vote on what you color you think I should choose! (You may have to click out of your feed to view.)

[yop_poll id=”2″]

Have a great, great weekend everyone! I have a fabulous one planned with a catch-up lunch with my former coworkers, book club tonight, and my nephew’s birthday party on Saturday afternoon. Make it a good one!

Have you ever used Stitch Fix? What’s your favorite monthly subscription box? What are your thoughts on iOS 7? DID YOU VOTE ON MY POLL?!?!?!