Those beads right there? Smacked me in the face during a Mardis Gras parade. If you were following along on IG then you already knew that, and if you weren’t, then you missed out!
Because I also met the Pen Pals! Ryan and I shouted “Saga!” as they went by on their float (it’s an inside thing, so you’ll have to just listen to the show). Then we ended up having a drink and chatting with them and it was truly a magical night. Only surpassed by the magic of the first live episode. This felt like a once in a lifetime experience – we were there! I’m still grinning.
More social media stuff: I’ve turned off the notifications for all my apps and let me tell you – it’s been at once both liberating and illuminating. Even without notifications going off I’m still super addicted to checking my phone. Hello, time suck. I’m truly hoping to get better at that (while also still being engaged and growing my audience so that’s a fun catch 22). Does anyone else did with this? How do you combat the siren call of the screen when you’ve got work to do on these platforms?
Even though Seth and I have only been married for 1 month (OMG), we’ve been bombarded with questions (and suggestions…) about when we’re having kids. This article from Julie pretty much sums up how I feel about that. Thank you, next.
Finally started reading “An Absolutely Remarkable Thing” and I’m in love. I haven’t been this engrossed by a book in ages.
This weekend I’ll be officially moving in with Seth! About time, right? After all of the moving I’ve done in the last three years (including three moves in less than a year), I had kind of been dreading uprooting my happy home but I know that we’re going to be creating a happier home. So everything will be ok.
Last week I smashed my finger. This week I cut the tip off the same finger in an unfortunate cilantro incident. My nail will grow back…eventually. The things I do for guacamole.
The Carhartt leggings were everything I’d hoped they’d be! And more!
Tomorrow I fly to Houston with my friend Ryan to have a weekend in Tuxas. (That’s an inside joke for any Pennie or Paller that may be reading.) We’ll be attending the first live episode of Pen Pals on Sunday afternoon and I. Cannot. Wait!
I know I’ve mentioned it before (and I’ll be sure to mention it again) but I’m making YouTube videos now! For a local grocery store! Watch and subscribe here!
Late to the party on this one but I adore Kacey Musgraves! We had “Butterflies” on our wedding playlist and I can’t stop listening to her album. Or scrolling her gorgeous IG feed.
I jammed my finger killing a spider yesterday. It’s all puffy and bruised. I haven’t done that since I played basketball in middle school. Oy.
My friend Kristen and I booked a room on the Golden Girls Cruise for next year! I can’t believe in just 368 days we’ll be setting sail from Miami in our finest silk nightgowns.
I finally bit the bullet and put Edgar on anti-anxiety medication. Of course, the day after I did that he wound up in the emergency vet on an un-related issue. He’s just gotta be difficult. (And is doing just fine now, thankfully.)
As my wedding bouquet finally and completely gives out, I’m aching for the smell of fresh lilacs in spring. Anyone else?
And right after typing that, I clicked on this post from Jessica. The first pic? Lilacs! Omg. Spooky. Her words were also so necessary for me to read.
Podcast things: MFM will never get old. FTCF (if you know, you know). The PenPals read my letter a few episodes ago! Go listen! It’s under the title “Midwestern Grandma.” And Jason Mantzoukas may be my very favorite guest on any show I listen to.
Carhartt makes leggings now! Mine should be arriving today and I cannot wait to try them on!
My best friend, Mandy, took some of these lovely photos.
And some of the not-so-lovely ones. (Real life, what’re ya gonna do?)
My husband’s (gosh, that’s fun to say!) friend, Josh, took some too.
We are slowly but surely setting up our new life together. That includes packing up everything Edgar and I own and moving it down to the Lake to be with Seth. It’s going to take time. And patience. And lots of boxes. But, as with everything else that’s been happening around here – it’ll get done. (To offer a very quick update: in a matter of eight weeks I have started a new job, planned the wedding with Seth, then had the wedding, only to then move to Seth’s, and finally travel to Europe.) And it’ll be wonderful. Just like our wedding day.
Are these not the CUTEST ornaments ever?! Gladly made room on the tree for big-headed Hermione and Harry after Seth’s mom gave them to us.
BRB, getting on the next flight to California to make all my dreams come true! Think they’ll have an endless supply of coffee available?
We’re FINALLY watching Elf tomorrow! For years and years, I refused to watch that movie thinking it was total nonsense. When I finally did I fell head over heels for it and have to watch it every single year. (I can only hope to embody the positivity of Buddy during the holiday season – and beyond!)
The Fawn Moscato episodes of New Girl are truly some of the best.
Even though Seth and I spent the better part of 6 hours in a major shopping city on Sunday, I didn’t do most of my Christmas shopping until Monday. Online. I’m the worst.
New podcast alert! (Well, new to me.) Pen Pals with Daniel & Rory. Two comedians (one of which has a hilarious Netflix special) read letters of all kinds from listeners and just talk about it. Kind of in the vein of Dear Hank & John, but less soccer talk.
EyeBuyDirect is having a major sale right now – you can open a virtual gift box and get anywhere from 20% off to BOGO and anyway that’s how I ended up buying four new pairs of glasses…
I want to make use of my Christmas gift from last year and prepare some fresh pasta ASAP.
Baked mac and cheese generally bums me out. That is all. Lotsa pasta talk right now.
The Holiday Edition of GBBS is just divine! Oh how I’ve missed those accents.
The newest episode of Unqualified with Anna Faris features Sophia Bush and I’m all about it. I’d always loved her in One Tree Hill (umm, hello my high school years!) but hearing her (with that raspy voice!) speak as a grown woman was really inspiring.
My dad coughed himself into a hernia last week, so Edgar and I spent last Thursday helping him instead of posting Thursday Things. He’ll be ok, he’s on the mend already and was even sneaking Edgar bites of crackers before we left.
We’ve got less than three weeks until Christmas and I. Am. Panicking. And 99% sure Cookie Week won’t be happening this year. I’m sorry. But, I’ve no doubt you’ll survive. I’m focusing on making cookie trays and delivering them out to friends and family. I implore you to do the same. And you can always check out my backlog of cookie recipes HERE!
I got a new oven last week! And a new dryer may be next on the list because it took me three hours to dry one load…that I’m just now realizing I forgot to fold. (It’s quite something to witness another’s descent into madness via a rambling blog post, isn’t it?)
At least there’s snow on the ground so I feel some kind of solace in my current state. And Edgar has been having the absolute best time playing with his friends in the fresh powder at the dog park. Which is a vast improvement from last year’s refusing to walk in the snow.
