Loving… generosity (and saving money). Last night, I picked up a TV stand and TV from a coworker who is moving. Since these were two items I will need soon for my new apartment, I was more than happy to take these items off her hands! I also came home with a bag full of clothes last weekend, after spending time with my mom. She was getting rid of some of her clothes, and since we’re the same size, she let me take a peek and see if there was anything I wanted. It’s like getting an entirely new wardrobe since everything I wore to work this week was from her closet! Thanks, Mom!

Loathing… summer. I want to love summer, I really do, but it’s so damn hot and humid. I start sweating within a few minutes of being outside, and I just want to spend as little time as possible outside. But also, the sunshine feels good on my skin and I love being outside on a beautiful day. So it’s truly a lose-lose situation.

Reading… Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! This is my favorite book of the series, and I feel so happy rereading it. I can’t wait to watch the movie when I finish it!

Watching… Master of None. I started this show a few weeks ago and have been watching episodes here and there. It’s really, really good. The acting can be hit or miss, but I kinda like it. It feels more real and true to life. And I like that it touches on social issues in a heartwarming way.

Anticipating… my birthday cruise… which is still 19 weeks away (but who’s counting). I am so excited to get away for a week, but it’s so far away! I definitely need to plan for a little staycation between now and then because I haven’t taken any time off since my short weekend cruise in March. I am well overdue!

Thinking about… how precious life is. This past week, at the bike trail right next to my work, an early-morning biker ran into a downed live power line and died. This person was just out for a morning bike ride, getting exercise, and tragedy happens. It’s so terrifying. Life is so fragile, so precious. We only get this one life to live, this one chance here on earth. It’s scary how quickly, how tragically, a life can end. A person who had a beating heart and a family and a life and dreams and hopes and goals… just gone. Forever. The finality of death takes my breath away.

Needing… a quiet weekend. This weekend will be semi-quiet. I have a few plans, but it will mostly be a weekend for rest and catching up on life. I’m hoping next weekend will be even quieter, though. Is there anything better than a lazy, do-nothing weekend? This highly sensitive introvert says no!

What are you currently loving and loathing?

loving… all the rain we’ve been getting thanks to the recent tropical storm that passed us by

reading… Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

watching… American Ninja Warrior (my guilty pleasure show!)

anticipating… a trip to the dog beach this weekend

realizing… how much better I feel when I don’t try to carry my burdens all on my own shoulders (duh)

drinking… more water than soda and having clearer sinuses because of it (!!)

feeling… a lot of excitement when I think about the future and how magical it is to have this open slate to do and be whatever and whomever I want

happy… that Dutch seems to be having his healthiest year in a long time (no vet visits, aside from planned comprehensive exams, since October!)

wanting… to replace my bedside table with hanging shelves after seeing Jess Lively’s bedside “table” on one of her vlogs

exercising… daily and having a lot of fun with it (focusing on intentional movement rather than hardcore daily workouts helps)

hoping… to finish my novel by the end of the year (I can do it, right?!)

wondering… if I want to take a social media and blogging break in August or not (probably yes for social media, but not sure about blogging)

buying… a few new pairs of work pants, since all of my current work pants are literally coming apart at the seams (I love new clothes, but man, I hate the expense of it)

experimenting… with some new recipes, which is sometimes a success (like mini BBQ cheddar meatloaves!) and sometimes a failure (like pesto chicken)

What are you currently reading, wanting, and anticipating? 

Loving… having a fuller bank account due to my no-buy challenge! So far, the challenge hasn’t been all that difficult and actually kinda fun. And, let’s be honest, looking at my bank account and seeing I have enough money now to pay the bills I was going to pay with my next paycheck? That’s pretty amazing. (Full review to come next week!)

Loathing… the fact that my nighttime congestion is back. I had a few weeks of reprieve in April, but for reasons I can’t explain, I’m back to waking up in the middle of the night with a completely clogged nose. Is anyone else as sick of hearing about my congestion as I am with dealing with it? Ugh.

Reading… Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and, of course, loving it so, so much. I can’t believe I waited five whole years to reread this series. And there is soooo much I forgot. Reading the book and then watching the corresponding movie ties it all together so nicely, too.

Watching… Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt! I’m only five episodes into the second season (because I’m terrible at binge-watching), but I totally love it. It’s ridiculous and over the top, and I typically don’t like shows that have that kind of comedy, but there’s something about Ellie Kemper. She has my heart.

Anticipating… our belated Mother’s Day celebration this week. My mom was out of town last weekend, so we couldn’t celebrate together, so we’re all getting together on Sunday and I can’t wait!

Frustrated… with dating. I’m taking a break from the apps for now because as much as I desire love and want to be in a relationship, I’m not sure if I want to find it because I swiped right on a face. Dating feels so impersonal now, you know? It makes me long for the days of simpler, less technologically-based dating.

Feeling… anxious about the future. I feel less present in my life because I’m spending so much time worrying about the future and all I want from it. And sometimes, my thoughts turn super dark when I start worrying about the people I love dying – Dutch, my mom, my brother, my stepdad, my grandpa, friends, etc. My mind has not been a super fun place to be lately, is what I’m saying.

Planning… on having book club at my pool this month! I am so excited for some brunch faves, free-flowing mimosas, girl talk, sunshine, and pool time. Sign me up!

What are you currently reading, anticipating, and frustrated with?

Feeling… a bit worn out from this week. Work has been crazy stressful lately with so many deadlines happening at the same time. I feel like I spend my whole day running from one task to the other, barely having time to catch my breath. (On Monday, I realized I didn’t move from my desk from noon until 4:30… whoops!)

Anticipating… my upcoming weekend! I’m staying in tonight and then tomorrow starts a fantastic mom/daughter weekend. We’re going to get pedicures and see a movie before enjoying our typical Saturday Night Game Night with my brother (and possibly my older nephew). Then, I’m staying over at my mom’s apartment and on Sunday morning, I’m going to spectate at the 5k she’s running and we’ll most likely enjoy breakfast before I head back to Tampa. I am soooo excited for some good, old-fashioned “mom time.”

Happy… with my roommate’s decision to institute weekly “date nights.” Even though we live together, I honestly don’t see her all that much because she has a crazy social calendar and she’s gone most weekends (I can count on one hand the number of weekends she’s been in town since we moved in September!) And she’s one of my favorite people to hang out with, so I’m really glad she noticed this and asked to do weekly dates. (Our date this week was to make homemade s’mores while watching The Princess Diaries, so who the heck needs a boyfriend when you have a soul sister like my roommate?)

Reading… Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy. I bought a physical copy of this book to read on my cruise, but I didn’t have time to start it. This is actually the first book I’ve bought in… well, forever, it seems. It kinda gave me this itch to buy more books… which can’t be good.

Grateful… that my congestion has just about cleared up. And I have no reason for why it did! I’m trying to be mindful of dairy (cow’s milk and ice cream especially seem to contribute to the congestion) and I switched over to a fragrance-free laundry detergent, but other than that, maybe the change in seasons? I am waking up in the middle of the night to a clogged nose, so it’s not completely gone and I still want to see a doctor about it, but honestly, all of the praise-hand emojis to feeling better!

Using… the 1 Second Everyday app. The premise behind is app is, as its name suggests, to take a one-second video of your day so that you have this short video of these tiny, everyday moments of your life. I’m planning to post weekly videos to Instagram because it seems like such a fun – and super low-key – way to document my daily life.

Frustrated… with Dutch’s middle-of-the-night wake-ups. I know he can’t help it, but man, is it exhausting. I can’t remember the last time he let me sleep through the night – he’s usually waking me up anytime between 1-3am needing to go out. #seniordogprobz

Planning… where I want to go on my next vacation. One of my yearly goals is to visit a state I’ve never been to before, and I’m thinking about North Carolina. Flights to North Carolina can be super cheap and I’ve heard such great things about Asheville that I really want to visit!

Wanting… to get back into a regular exercise routine. I haven’t been to the gym in weeks. It’s just been such a struggle to wake up early to work out. I could work out after work but, honestly, the last thing I want to do after a long day at work is get my butt to the gym. Oh, the struggle!

Hoping… to take a solo adventure soon. I’m thinking a stroll through the botanical gardens is exactly what my soul needs!

What are you currently anticipating, reading, and frustrated about?

loving my changing duties at work and how much it is challenging me

reading The Mapmaker’s Children by Sarah McCoy

watching Gilmore Girls, all day, erryday

counting down the days until my short-but-sweet cruise at the beginning of March with my mom, my stepdad, and my roommate (13 days!)

talking singleness with a close friend who is in the same life stage as me and feeling heard and accepted and supported

eating dairy-free this week and having lots of epiphanies

feeling lonely more often and at a loss for how to solve this problem

happy that my credit card is paid off (thanks, uncle sam!)

wanting to revamp my wardrobe with new items that make me feel amazing

tracking my food on My Fitness Pal (and crying about how fast 1,600 calories goes)

hoping to take myself to a Saturday matinee very soon (I’ve… never gone to a movie by myself)

wondering if it’s time to try a paid dating service

struggling with being the single caretaker of an aging dog

sleeping with an assortment of pillows: four regular pillows, a body pillow, and an oversized square pillow

realizing how much I desire a family of my own

What are you currently loving, reading, and happy about?