feeling very content, relaxed, and at peace about life right now

anticipating tackling an adventure or two off my Tampa list this weekend, a girl’s trip in October, and the upcoming NFL season

reading Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

thinking about how to maximize my time on the weekend. (I never seem to have enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I want to get done!)

pricing out prescription sunglasses. I want to start wearing glasses more regularly, but I need to have prescription sunglasses if so. (My eyes are very sensitive to sunlight.) Right now, Zenni Optical or GlassesUSA look to be the most decently priced. Anyone have experience using them?

happy with my purchase of new running shoes. They are cute, feel good and supportive, and were under $100. Woo!

obsessed with the film scores Pandora station. It makes writing about windows and patio products a lot more dramatic!

resisting writing the next scene in my novel. It’s an action scene and I’m not feeling very confident about writing it, so I keep finding other things to do, rather than writing the scene. Blast it!

planning to do a big closet purge next month and create a list of closet staples. I am so tired of my wardrobe, of not wearing clothes that make me feel good. I need a revamp of my closet and style.

wanting to open my heart up to something new, but scared of taking the leap. How do you take the leap when failing could mean embarrassing yourself beyond belief? Sigh.

using MyFitnessPal regularly now. I set my calorie goal at 1,600 and I’m trying to use it more as a diary than a “well, I used up all my calories so I’ll have soup for dinner.” I think calorie counting can breed very unhealthy behaviors and I don’t want to do that. I just want to see how I’m eating and adjust as needed. So far, so good!

hoping to take a solo vacation next year. Solo travel terrifies me, but I want to break out of my comfort zone and try it. I have my eye on Asheville or Savannah!

watching Big Brother because duh, it’s the summer! Big Brother is easily my favorite show to watch because I get so wrapped up in the game play and drama. I love it!

inspired by a friend who is moving to Spain for the next two years to teach. I wish I had that adventuresome spirit!

preparing to hand sew my first pillow. I’m frightened (I’m not great at that kinda stuff), but going to at least give it a try.

wondering if I should try a subscription reading service  (like Oyster or Amazon Unlimited). I like the idea behind it (unlimited books at one set price!), but it all depends on the selection. If I still have to supplement with the library, it’s not worth it for me. But both options give a one-month trial, so it can’t hurt to try them out and see how I like them!

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

Feeling: A little melancholy. I really, really miss my dad. Father’s Day is probably the hardest day of the year for me to get through, so I tried to take it easy yesterday. I started my day off with a long walk with Dutch, had a yummy lunch with my mom, took a delightful afternoon nap, and finished off the day grocery shopping, doing laundry, and watching episodes of Shark Tank.

Reading: Hot Pursuit by my all-time favorite author, Suzanne Brockmann. It’s the 15th book in the series so, needless to say, I am totally invested in these characters – they feel like family to me!

Thinking: About trying my hand at Camp NaNoWriMo in July. It’s basically like NaNoWriMo (which takes place in November), but you can choose the word count you want to shoot for (from 10,000 to 999,000!). It seems like it would be a fun challenge to take on!

Anticipating: A day trip to Miami with my brother in the fall! We’re going to drive down to see a Dolphins game, and I’m just really excited to spend some solid one-on-one time with him. My brother is one of my most favorite people, and we rarely get time alone with one another anymore. It should be fun! (As long as the ‘Phins win, of course!)

Watching: Last Comic Standing. Oh, my goodness, I love this show so much! It’s one of the few shows I actually watch live because I can’t handle waiting for the new shows.

Wishing: It was easier for me to open up to people in real life. It sounds funny because I have no problem opening up and being vulnerable on my blog, but it’s so hard to do the same to the people in my life. I think this is why I had such a problem with therapy. It just doesn’t feel normal for me to talk about my feelings out loud. In writing? Sure! But in real life? So hard. I’m working on it.

Learning: More about my highly sensitive nature. Being sensitive is a trait I’ve always understood about myself, but recent events have made me more interested in learning about what being a highly sensitive person means and how it has affected my life. Perhaps a blog post to come on this?

Hoping: To schedule more pool days this summer. People always ask me if I spend every weekend at the pool since I have two beautiful pools in my apartment community. And the truth is? Last summer, I probably spent less than five days at the pool! Isn’t that sad? I need to change that this year!

Loving: Cereal. The fact that I’ve kept up with Project 365 (even if it is a pain in the neck some days!). Dutch sleeping on my chest. Writing dates. Accountability check-ins with Nora. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Shark Tank. My new cube at work. Sleeping in on the weekend.

What are you currently reading, anticipating, and watching?

Feeling… worried about my poor sick pup! Over the weekend, my mom made him homemade dog treats (coconut oil cubes & “Beggin’ Strips”) because we’ve noticed he’s been having an issue with dry skin again. Currently, he gets regular oatmeal baths every 4-6 weeks and we started feeding him a grain-free pet food that’s good for dogs with sensitive skin, which has really helped. But the last time he was given a bath (we take him to PetSmart because it’s just easier and the girl who takes care of him loves him to bits and pieces), she mentioned he had dry skin again and sure enough, he’s been itching a ton lately! So we wanted to switch him over to all-natural, grain-free pet treats, too. (We currently feed him “junky” treats, like Beggin’ Strips and Snausages. It’s bad, I know!) Long story long, my mom made homemade pet treats and Dutch’s sensitive stomach did not handle it well. Let’s just say we had to get out the steam vacuum to clean up our carpets. Yep. Very fun. So! We’re going to try giving him actual dog treats (all natural) which I think his stomach will handle a bit better. We may try giving him the coconut oil cubes again, but in a smaller dosage, and after he’s feeling better. I think those would really help his dry skin!

Reading… The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. I just started it yesterday and I’m less than 50 pages in, so I don’t have much of an opinion yet. It’s this month’s pick for book club and everyone on Goodreads has nothing but great things to say, so I just hope I love it as much as everyone else does!

Watching… Crisis! Is anyone else watching this show? I am hooked. The premise is that a bus full of high school students gets kidnapped and nearly every kid on the bus has an influential parent. (The President’s son, a senator’s daughter, etc.) And the kidnappers are forcing these parents to do something illegal to get their kids back. (There’s some sort of conspiracy plot, or something, related to these illegal incidents, I think, but that hasn’t been revealed yet.) The FBI is involved, but the kidnappers always seem to be one step ahead of them. It’s such a good show and I look forward to it every week!

Anticipating… starting my first sewing project! I am honestly the last person you would ever think to tackle a sewing project, but a good friend (my writing partner, in fact!) hosts a fun “Stitch & Bitch” sewing group every Thursday and invited me to come along and learn how to sew. I decided, why the hell not, it’s not like I have this super busy life and couldn’t handle another hobby/social group. So in a few weeks’ time, I’m going to attempt my first sewing project (I’m thinking of a pillow?) to see how I like it.

Planning… to start coloring my hair myself. The whole reason I went back to brunette in October was that being blonde was expensive. It was easily costing me upwards of $100 every 6-8 weeks to keep my roots fresh. Well. I went to my hair salon on Friday to get my color freshened up and it cost me $84! Eighty. Four. Freaking. Dollars. That’s ridiculous. So, it’s time I start coloring my hair myself. I’ve done it once and it turned out just fine, but I always worry I am going to royally screw the dye job up and wind up with awful-looking hair. (Any tips? Best brand to buy?)

Wishing… that these next few weeks would fly by! My cruise is 25 days away and this time four weeks from now, my mom and I will be relaxing poolside in the Bahamas, sipping fruity drinks and enjoying the island breeze on our skin. I. CAN. NOT. WAIT.

Wondering… if I should hit “check out” with the items currently sitting in my Loft.com shopping cart. I am in desperate need of new work clothes, but I keep putting off shopping because a) I have a little thing called debt I’m trying to take care of and b) I want to lose weight. Well, this mentality can serve me well in some cases, but it comes down to the fact that I have one nice pair of well-fitting dress pants (and I “get away” with wearing a pair of black Old Navy skinny jeans most days, but those are quickly getting worn out and faded) and a bunch of shirts that are losing shape. Right now, I have a pair of dress pants and a cute blouse sitting in my shopping cart and I think I’m going to bite the bullet and buy them because a) they are a necessity and b) they’re having a sale that is kinda too good to pass up!

Loving… sunshine, being more social, homemade egg sandwiches for breakfast, chocolate-covered espresso beans, getting back into an exercise routine, playing with sting rays at the marine aquarium, and having funny conversations with coworkers.

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

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was rather low-key, but I managed to sneak in two long naps, two long workouts, Scandal bingeing, and lots of cleaning and organizing. Let’s kick off the work week with a fun currently post to see what I’ve been up to, eh?

Feeling…  sore! I pushed myself hard in my workouts this weekend, getting in both cardio and strength workouts. I made up two different circuits, one for the lower body and one for the upper body, so I could do them on back-to-back days without working the same muscle groups. Between all the squats, lunges, burpees, mountain climbers, shoulder presses, tricep kickbacks, push-ups, and bicep curls… I am hobbling around like an old lady. Walking is hard, sitting down is hard, opening a door is hard, rolling over in bed is hard, using a mouse is hard. But it feels oh so good. I love strength training SO much!

Reading… The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty for book club. I hadn’t heard about this book at all until one of my friends brought it up as a suggestion during our January book club meeting. And then I started hearing about it everywhere! Isn’t it funny when that happens? I’m only about 150 pages in, so I don’t have an opinion yet, but I do love the author’s writing style. Very personable!

Watching… the latest Scandal episodes! This weekend, I got completely caught up on season three and whoa, it’s a crazy one. There’s so much drama! And intrigue! And I never know what’s going to happen next! I am hooked, you guys. (The best part, though, has been texting with Amber since we’re both catching up on the show and having someone to go to with “WTF was up with THAT episode?!” Ha.)

Anticipating… MY NEXT CRUISE! It may seem like this was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but I’ve been canvassing the Carnival site for months now looking at cruises. My mom and I decided on a 5-day cruise that leaves in early May. It will travel to Key West and to two stops in the Bahamas, Freeport and Nassau. I am just. so. excited. I really, really needed something fun and exciting to look forward to. We probably won’t go too crazy with excursions like we normally do (and there’s really not a ton of interesting Bahamas excursions, to be honest), but five days of sun, relaxation, and getting away with my favorite person? The best.

Listening to… Can’t stop, won’t stop with this song by one of my favorites, Christina Perri. I am so excited about her upcoming album.

Planning… to start my first (paid!) freelance writing gig very soon. An opportunity came up this past week and it was the perfect timing for me.  Perhaps I can finally get that freelancing side hustle going this year like I keep saying I’m going to do?

Wishing… for my tax refund to be deposited! I’m hoping it will come sometime this week so I can get those darn credit cards paid off. I know I will feel so much better once that happens. Plus, I’m putting some of my debt goals on hold for the rest of February/March to pay for my cruise (I know – I will never be the poster child for personal finance, but whatever, I need this cruise for my mental sanity.) so that will help me to feel a little less of a slacker.

Thinking…  a lot about healthy living. I’m writing a post about this for Wednesday, but I feel like I always start off the year super motivated and energized and then it all feels overwhelming and eating healthy day in and day out seems so dang hard. And that’s when I lose it and just give up. But I am committed to my health and to losing weight, and I know I cannot give up, even when every day, hour, and minute feels like a challenge against myself. My health is too important! When it’s difficult, that’s when I have to dig in and find someplace inside me to keep fighting. One quote I keep coming back to is one that Nicole of Life Less Bullshit said in her goal-setting workbook: big, sexy change happens one unsexy step at a time. I’m in those unsexy, annoying, hard steps but that just means my big, sexy change is on its way.

Loving… lazy weekends, sunny days, Dr. Pepper, after-work bubble baths, vacation anticipation, getting organized, Project 365, and the sweetness of a silly crush.

How was your weekend? What are you currently reading and/or anticipating?

Reading: The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin. I’m only about 100 pages in, but I love it so far!

Loving: That my brunch date on Saturday brought me a flower. It was so unexpected and so sweet! I highly approve and he earned a bajillion bonus points from me. Dating can be really disheartening at times, but not all the time. 🙂

Thinking: About the NFL championship games this weekend! Oh, I am the most nervous! If you must know something about me, it’s that I am the biggest fan ever of Peyton Manning. (Um, I cried when he won the Superbowl. Yes. Cried.) And, honestly, he needs a second ring so his critics can stop talking smack. And! San Francisco, of which my brother is a diehard fan, is also playing in the other game. So, basically, I’m going to be a nervous wreck for all of Sunday.

Feeling: Content, restful, happy, present. January always feels like such a calm month, after the busyness of the holiday season. I am really enjoying 2014 so far. Hoping it is a year of big changes, but also love and happiness.

Anticipating: Starting Best Body Bootcamp on Monday! This will be my third time doing Tina’s program and I am really looking forward to it. She really puts together the best workouts and I can’t wait for that “toilet sore” feeling! My workouts have been very lackluster lately, and I know I can count on BBB to shake things up.

Inspired by: A ton of personal finance bloggers. Gina was kind enough to forward links to some really great personal finance bloggers who are in the same boat as me – paying off debt – and it’s been really inspirational reading their stories. My favorites are Blonde On a Budget and Girl Meets Debt.

Watching: Scandal! I am so addicted, you guys. It’s not even funny. I love this series and these characters and I just want them all to be okay and in love and happy.

Sad: When I think about the pain and tragedy and heartache some of my faraway friends are dealing with. It tears me apart thinking about what these wonderful, amazing, incredible girls are going through. It’s SO not fair and I can’t stop thinking about them and wishing I could somehow take their pain away. It just sucks, you know? I feel so helpless. My heart is very heavy.

Working: On my budget, all the time! I’m using a spreadsheet I adapted from Blonde on a Budget and I’m basically obsessed with it.

Grateful: For awesome coworkers, half-day Fridays, and the knowledge that there is a long afternoon nap on my agenda for today. Have I mentioned how much I love my job?

Listening: To Lorde’s album on repeat. I bought it a few months ago and I still can’t pick a favorite song. So good!

Wishing: That I had a fancy cruise on the horizon. Originally, my mom and I were planning on taking a 7-day cruise in May, but we never got around to booking it and a part of me is glad because I know I can’t really afford it. I’m crossing my fingers, though, that my tax return is sweet enough to allow me to take a 4-day Bahamas cruise sometime in May. I want to use the majority of my tax return to pay off my credit cards but also may use some of it to put towards a short vacation in the summer. (And since Carnival is showing rates for Bahamas cruises for under $350, I think I can manage it!)

What are you currently reading? Anticipating? Inspired by? Wishing for?

Prompt inspired by Caroline