The high of my week was getting more tattoos! You can see what I got on the photo above. These tattoos are for my mom—tulips are her favorite flower so I got two tulips on one stem to symbolize our relationship, and the anchor is because she is my anchor in this wild, messy world. I love these tattoos so much. They came out so beautifully! And now… let the tattoo healing process begin!
The low of my week was the unexpected departure of a colleague. I’m always pretty shaken up when people leave our organization—I don’t know why it affects me so much! I guess I just really dislike change. Bah.
I’m currently reading The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett in print. I just started this book yesterday and didn’t realize it was so short! (120 pages) I’m zooming through it.
A Reel I enjoyed was this very enjoyable Christmas prank. I always joke that I’m the favorite kid so I should absolutely play this same prank on my brother. (Also, my mom sent me this Reel on Instagram so…)
A podcast episode I enjoyed was the most recent Patreon episode for Sarah’s Book Shelves Live. The whole group (Sarah, Catherine, and Susie) came together to discuss their DNFs for the year, which was a fascinating discussion. I’ve become a lot better about DNF-ing books and that’s mostly due to Sarah who is ruthless in her DNF-ing. I loved this discussion on what books they DNF-ed, what books they wished they had DNF-ed, what books they are glad they didn’t DNF, and why it’s good to DNF. (If you took a shot every time I said DNF, congrats, you’re drunk.)
The best money I spent this week was $10 on a smart plug. I have to thank Elisabeth for this. My mind was blown when she wrote about smart plugs in her gift guide earlier this week. I have been looking for something like this! Here’s the story: I use a four-drawer dresser as a makeshift nightstand and had to rearrange a few things so that my CPAP machine was at arm’s length. This way, when my alarm goes off, I can take off the mask, throw it on the floor, and turn off my machine without getting out of bed. Great! The problem is that I had to move my lamp out of arm’s reach. This means if I want to snuggle up in bed, reading, I have to physically get out of bed to turn off my lamp when it’s time to go to sleep. What a first-world problem, I know, but it means I usually just wait until I’m ready to go to sleep to get into bed. But with a smart plug, I can use an app on my phone to turn the lamp on and off! What the what! I thought I needed something fancier to have smart technology in my bedroom. The plug should arrive today and you can bet I am getting that bad boy set up and ready to go ASAP.
My plans this weekend include all the things! Today is my last day of work for the rest of the year, tonight is book club’s Christmas party, tomorrow will be spent making sugar cookie batter and doing a quick run at PetSmart for last-minute gifts for the pups in my life, and Sunday, we’re making Christmas cookies with the whole fam. YAY!
What was the high of your week? What are your weekend plans?
Ooh! I love the tattoos! How did you come up with the designs?
You just reminded me that my Christmas shopping isn’t quite done. I also have to go to the pet store- I got all the pet presents a while ago, but we recently acquired a pet mouse, and if she doesn’t get a present I know I’ll hear “Hey! What about Penny???” What does a mouse want for Christmas, anyway? I’m sure I’ll find something.
A lot of googling, ha! I have had this idea in mind for a few years now and have spent a lot of time looking up one-line tattoos for tulips and anchors. I just showed my tattoo artist the one I really liked and she took it from there!
What DOES a mouse want for Christmas?! Inquiring minds want to know!
I want smart plugs for our outdoor Christmas lights. There is nothing WORSE than taking a shower at night and having to troop out in the cold and snow to turn them off. But my husband has a whole thing about using unnecessary technology and I understand his point, but if I had my way, I would not have to go outside after walking the dog at night!
You should absolutely have smart plugs for your outdoor lights! That makes so much sense – it’s safer, too!
I was just talking to some co-workers about how being a fiercer DNFer has made me such a happier reader this past year! This weekend, I’m hoping to get through the chores that are haunting me so I can better enjoy next week and also have some holiday fun; we are going to make some hot cocoa and ride around at night to look at lit up houses, hopefully!
Yesss to DNF-ing! I think it’s such a great skill to have as a reader. There’s no reason to read books we’re not enjoying!
I hope you were able to fully enjoy and embrace the holiday fun!
I love your new tattoos! AHH! They are amazing! I was wondering what you got when I saw your story last night. Thanks for showing us!
Sorry about the coworker 🙁
Yay smart plugs!!!! You are going to love it! We have our entire house that way except the guest bedroom (sorry) and bathrooms. When I have to get out of bed to turn off a light I am all WHAT IS THIS.
I have a friend who refuses to DNF. I am an avid DNFer. If it’s not bringing me joy/entertaining me/keeping me engaged, I am out!
What a fun weekend! We are going out for dinner tomorrow for Steven’s birthday and will go flying Sunday if the weather is good.
I want more smart plugs! It’s been so nice to read in bed again and just turn the light on and off with my phone (and my mom got me an Echo for Christmas so now I can use the power of Alexa – even better!)
I hope Steven had a wonderful birthday!
Oh, I love your tattoos. They’re so damn cute. I keep dreaming about getting a small tattoo, and maybe something like yours to remind me of my mum. But, as of yet, have failed to find anything I want or dare get done.
We have a number of smart plugs, I love them. Especially the ones with built in surge protection, essential around here during winter.
And this weekend? A last minute assault on a small shopping street I love to grab a few last minute things before next week.
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Thank you! I am so happy with the way they turned out. I think the first tattoo is always the hardest – figuring out WHAT you want and WHERE you want it and worrying about the pain. I feel you on that – it took me forever to get my first one!
“Today is my last day of work for the rest of the year” – OMG THAT IS SO WONDERFUL!! Enjoy the heck out of this cozy season. I hope FL delivers with some cooler weather but if not, maybe turn the a/c up for a day and cuddle up under some blankets. 🙂
Your tattoos are beautiful. I love how delicate both of them are but the are reflective of the strength of your mom/your relationship with her!
Smart plugs are amazing. I should use them more. We have one for our Christmas tree and it brings me so much joy. I have it programmed to come on at 6am so my tree is almost always lit when I come down in the morning (unless my body is being a brat and wakes me earlier). And then it turns off at 10 I think.
My highs were my holiday party and then watching the boys enjoy the snowfall we got yesterday. They had so much fun rolling around in the snow and then I took them both sledding. Taco wasn’t into it last year but he went a few times with me and then he went home and Paul and I went a bunch more and it was very very fun!
I am definitely getting smart plugs for my Christmas tree and other lights next holiday season! Doing it manually every night is annoying haha. And my mom got me an Echo for Christmas so now I just have to ask Alexa to turn it on and off – AMAZING.
I love this – “I love how delicate both of them are but the are reflective of the strength of your mom/your relationship with her!” 😭😭
How fun to be a kid again with YOUR KIDS! I’m sure it makes all that snow a little less annoying when the kids are so excited about it.
In the last 10 minutes I “commanded” – via our Google speaker – for the lights on our mantle + tree to come on and even more importantly out outdoor lights.
I hope you LOVE your smart plug. They are life-improving for sure. And my husband does anything that requires setting it, so he has set a time for the lights to go off at night so if we go to bed early the Christmas tree glows through the window until a bit later so people passing by can see it.
I am SO IN LOVE with this dang smart plug. I’m trying to figure out what other areas of my home need a smart plug, haha. I will definitely get some for my tree lights/other lights next holiday season. I’ve been doing it manually like it’s 1995 or something!
Yay for the last workday of the year!!!
I love the new ink.
I think that the best money that I spent on reading this year was to join Sarah’s Bookshelves patreon. I enjoyed that episode as well.
Sarah’s Book Shelves Patreon is SO good. I’ve been happy to give my money to her every month. She makes it worth it for sure!
Your tattoos look great!
I am getting better at DNFing a book, but I still sometimes push through and then regret it. Goals, I guess.
Tonight is our big holiday open house! So I better get going, I have lots to do! xo
It can be hard to know if you should push through a book or just DNF it – sometimes it takes more than a few chapters to get to the good part. The way I do it, I gave every book 50 pages and if I’m still contemplating abandoning it, that’s probably a sign that it’s not for me. And I’ve never *loved* a book that I thought about DNF-ing, you know? Usually, I read the book and I’m like “that was fine – 3 stars.”
I have never heard of a smart plug, so obviously I need to go read Elisabeth’s post again. Clearly I didn’t read closely. I’m really behind in my blog reading, though, so I guess that’s why.
Congratulations on your new tattoos, I’ll bet your mom is touched by them. <3
I will sometimes DNF a book, but not often. I almost never DNF if it's an audiobook, more likely if it's physical.
I’m bad at DNF-ing audiobooks as well, so I understand you! Maybe that will be a goal for 2025 – abandon more audiobooks. Even if I hate the narrator, I will keep listening to it for some reason.
The tattoos are beautiful.
My home is all smart home home everything and I have a love-hate relationship. but the not getting out of bed when done reading is the best thing in the smart home world so enjoy it.
I wish I could make more things connected to a smart home system, like my kitchen/dining room/bathroom lights. The downsides of apartment living! But at least I can make it a little more convenient in small ways!
Love your tattoos and their significance!! Last week the highlight was Friday- my last day of work till January 2. I need those hours to rest but it hasn’t been very restful. Feeling the pressure to make the holidays magical and yet… just want to read my book lol
I imagine the holiday season is the opposite of restful as a mother of two littles! I hope you’re able to carve out some alone time over the next week. <3