Peace Out 2020!

Tonight at midnight we say "peace out 2020" and welcome in 2021.

I think everyone will agree that its time to kiss this year goodbye!

1)  What did you do in 2019 that you'd never done before?

Visited Hoover Dam.

Entered a pandemic with the rest of the world.

Quarantined inside my house and only left if we absolutely had to.

Made masks a daily/all day ritual.

Biked the 30 mile round trip Great River Road.

Celebrated all the holidays without family.

2)  Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more?

Yes!  I had a few goals and will make more for the new year.

3)  Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope

4)  Did anyone close to you die?
Personally, no, but there were a lot of deaths as a whole this year.

5)  What countries did you visit?
Zero!

6)  What states did you visit?
Nevada, which I'm grateful for as it was the one trip we were able to do this year.

7)  What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?

A travel life.

We had to cancel our big trip because of Covid so I have all my fingers crossed our plans for 2021 don't get canceled.

8)  What date(s) from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
March 16 - the Monday that we started our shutdown and a different way of life

9)  What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Hitting 200 boot camps with Burn - we may not have been able to go in person for a few months but we still did it at home and kept it up.

10)  What was your biggest failure?
Letting a lot of people walk all over me.

Allowing people to think that our choices for ourselves were bad.

I can promise you that isn't happening in 2021!

11)  Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got the flu February - first time ever.

I was diagnosed with placal synovitis in my left knee - its not fun having to modify much of life but its now a normal thing for me.

12)  What was the best thing you bought?

a bike trainer to use during the winter season

13)  Who's behavior merited celebration?
This is a tricky one...

14)  Who's behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I have so many people that have disappointed me with things this year.

15)  Where did most of your money go?
Nowhere - couldn't go anywhere, haha!

16)  What did you get really excited about?
The end of the year

17)  What song will remind you of 2019?

If you haven't checked this family out, you should.  They are a hoot!

18)  Compared to this time last year, are you:

a. happier or sadder? in the middle

b. thinner or fatter? thinner

c. richer or poorer? in the middle

19)  What do you wish you had done more of?

Speaking my mind.  Respect is earned not given and I'm taking that into 2020 with me.

Oh and run more...I want to do another 5k.

20)  How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas Eve - just us, catered dinner, church virtually

Christmas day - brunch with my dad & siblings, dinner with my siblings

21)  Did you fall in love in 2020?
I continuously fall in love year after year

22)  How many one night stands?

Zero

23)  What do you wish you had done less of?
Caring about what others think.  Some decisions have been made for me by others and I need to speak my mind about it a lot more.

24)  What was your favorite TV program?
TV got halted with the nationwide shut down so honestly a lot of Netflix was our favorite.

25)  Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate last year?
Yes.  I have a few people on my highly dislike list.  I don't normally say that either but I've had a lot of time to think this year.

26)  What was the best book you read?

I can't pick just one book that is the best.  Check out my Goodreads list and see for yourself.  I read 100 books this year so yay me!

27)  What was your greatest musical discovery?

Waay too many songs to list.  My playlist keeps getting longer and longer.

28)  What did you want and get?

I wanted to see Keith recognized for all his hard work on his masters degree and the university planned a great social distanced graduation.  It got us out of town for a weekend, it was covid safe, it was great!

29)  What did you want and not get?

We had a trip to Southern California planned for this past October.  Before we made the call to cancel it, Disney reached out to our travel agent and cancelled it for us.  Work made us sign no travel clauses so I couldn't just go and not go to Disney.  It was a sad time.

30)  What was your favorite film this year?
Greenland with Gerard Butler

Clouds on Disney+

31)  What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I turned 39 - Keith and I did dinner ourselves on a patio as the restaurants were on restrictions then my family joined me for yearly Apple picking.

32)  What was one thing that would have made your year immensely satisfying?
The pandemic not happening and being able to travel.

33)  How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019?
cozy casual - lots of leggings and less makeup

34)  What kept you sane?
Burn Boot Camp and the friends we've made there that we see at our camp time daily.  Knowing I get to release my anger and frustration daily helps a lot!

35)  What celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None this year.

36)  What political issue stirred you the most?
The election.

I honestly didn't care who won.

I can't tell you how the country is going to be once Biden takes over.  That doesn't mean I'm a Trump lover.  No one knows how a new person is going to take the reins.

I will say Missouri needed a new governor bad - Parson doesn't give a cow's butt about anyone in this state, he hasn't governed during anything this year.  If he would, our state may not be the worse for crime, the worse for covid.  You catch my drift...

37)  Who did you miss?

My momma day in, and day out

38)  Who was the best new person that you met?
All the people in our Burn family - such great support!

39)  Tell a valuable lesson you learned in 2020?
Life is going to keep going on, even if its not the normal.  Accept it and move on.

40)  Quote a song lyric to sum up your year:

"Don't Stop Believing"

because everything eventually will be alright!

Cheers to the New Year!

Christmas weekend

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Thursday work was open for 3 hours and it was a long 3 hours because we got 3 1/2 days off following that.  Once off, I went to pick up our catered Christmas Eve meal from the Art of Entertaining.  Went home and relaxed for a few hours before prepping the meal.  It was delicious, and very plentiful with leftovers.  We then watched virtual church before exchanging gifts ourselves.  Santa gifted me workout clothes, a charcuterie board and other fun things while Santa gifted Keith a bike trainer and hiking boots.

Slept in a bit on Friday before going to my Dad's for Christmas brunch.  My immediate siblings, with my Dad, have been our bubble so just us minus the stepfamily, gathered for presents and brunch.  It was yummy and a fun time.  We visited Mom together also.  I had made a grave blanket for the first time for her.  Later that night just my siblings and us met at my sister's for a shrimp boil Christmas dinner.  The entire day was one of the most relaxing holidays I've had in a very long time!

Saturday we did our after Christmas workout at Burn before spending the day outside at Dad's new house property.  We are in the middle of helping him clear the land so the builders can start in the new year.  It was a gorgeous sunny not very cold Saturday in December and we got a lot done!

Sleep was in order again on Sunday as I was tired from being outside all day.  Ran some errands with my sister and nieces and got some things I had been eyeing.  I really need some more outside Christmas lights for next year but I'll have to just get them when christmas stuff comes out again.  It all seems to be have disappeared already.

It wasn't our normal Christmas celebration but honestly I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I was with the ones that matter the most and that's all that matters!

Merry Christmas!

Merry merry Christmas!

Celebrating may look different this year, it may not be with you normal bunch, doing your normal activities...

Its ok!

Yesterday, we had our first Christmas Eve dinner just us.

We rather enjoyed it!

We attended church's virtual service.

We exchanged presents to each other.

Today, we are going to my Dad's as we have a group present to give to him.

The only people there are going to be our circle of people we've been with.

We will then go visit Mom and we have a grave blanket for her - we've been wanting to make one of these every year, I'm glad we finally did.

I will then attempt my first Christmas dinner for the 2 of us.

We've also got snacks for the rest of the weekend.

It will be great!

Best wishes for a great holiday for you and your family!

Friday Five!

 

Happy Friday friends!

How on earth is Christmas day next Friday?  I honestly cannot believe it.  Are you ready?!?

~*~

1) GNI ornament exchange is tonight!

Tonight we find out who gifted us our virtual/social distanced ornaments.  I'm excited for the zoom call, it'll be fun to see what people got.

2) I love my ornaments but they aren't on my tree...

So this wasn't planned. The ornaments are by the tree to be put on however I just ran out of time.  The tree looks great with the lights & other stuff so its not bare.  I just, I don't know.  The year of the weird I guess.

3)  USPS has a lot of problems going on!

We don't have a problem with our packages, they've all arrived and everything is good.  However our mail person is delivering mail for the previous owners who haven't lived here in 4 years.  They obviously aren't forwarding the mail anymore to them.  Its not worth telling them they don't live here because they just end up in my mailbox again.  If you are one of the people who don't have their items yet, don't fret, you'll be fine!

4)  Greenland movie premiere

I got sent a movie code the other night to have an early screening of the new Gerard Butler movie "Greenland" that is releasing today.  It was great!  The movie was extremely good and if you get a chance to view it, do it.  It was nice to watch it in the comfort of our basement.  I don't want to give it away but be sure to check it out!

5)  Parts of Missouri got snow this week!

Is this not gorgeous!  This is Big Cedar resort and its one of my family's favorite getaways.  I saw them post this and I got instant FOMO because I have yet to be there when it snows (but I have been there for Christmas celebrations that didn't involve snow) and I miss traveling so much!  

Any big plans this weekend?

Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Gardens

 We were determined to do at least 1 holiday activity this year so when our friends asked if we wanted to join them at the Garden Glow, we jumped on the opportunity.

We've only gone one other time and according to my memories, it was 3 years ago.  We weren't totally sure how it was going to be this year but capacity was at 25% and people stayed the 6 ft apart and wore masks (only off for pictures).

Its hard to make friends when you're an adult but with us joining the Burn community, we have met many people and Alicia is one who the friendship has come outside those 4 walls.  She and her husband Dave were great company for the Christmas lights.

The only things the Glow didn't have that are usually there are Santa, the poinsettias and the train layout, all those because they are inside.

After the Garden Glow we all were in the mood for more lights and a friend of mine has made a list of the best homes with light displays in South County (West, City & St Charles as well) so we caravanned through the list and it was so fun to explore the area even more.

The holiday may not be "normal" this year but a fun little activity like this can go a long way!

39 while 39 update

 

I've already missed a few months of updates - oops!

But I've gotten some done!

~*~

1) Go to a balloon glow

2) Take a cooking class

3) Build a new wine rack for the kitchen

4) Re-do one of the bathrooms

5) Replace the deck

6) Put up bird feeders/hummingbird feeder

7) Visit Johnson Shut Ins or Castor River Shut Ins

8) Paint my kitchen cabinets - completed Nov 2020

10) Take a road trip somewhere

11) See the Blues play in a new city (if there is no Covid and there is a season)

12) Throw a surprise party - completed Oct 2020

13) Watch Keith walk across the stage for his masters degree - completed Oct 2020

14) Go on a vacation

15) Finish my 2019 scrapbook

16) Start/finish 2020 scrapbook

17) Weekend away to bike new trails

18) Hike Pickle Springs

19) Trip to Lake of the Ozarks or Branson

20) Go bowling

21) Lose another 5 lbs

22) Trek around Dogwood Canyon - completed Oct 2020

23) Have a social distanced bonfire - completed Oct 2020

24) Get professional pictures done for our 10 year anniversary

25) Make a outside welcome sign

26) Participate in the American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb

27) Do a double under!

28) Make new workout shirt(s)

29) Make a trip to Eckerts - completed Oct 2020

30) Landscape the backyard once deck is done

31) Celebrate Keith's 40th birthday

32) Play golf at Top Golf

33) Visit a new to us winery

34) Buy a tent for us to camp

35) Print the twins 2 year Shutterfly book (just waiting on my sister)

36) Hire a cleaning person for 1x a month

37) Career change?

38) Travel out of the country

39) Do something memorable to ring in my 40th

~*~

6/39 = 1% completed

Gotta get working!

November books!

 

November - what a busy reading month!

10 books...I'm not sure how but I'm not arguing.

I've discovered that I can get some of my Kindle books on the regular CPU, which has been a godsend with work being shut down (by appt only) but still being there as bankers are essential workers.  They all aren't shown but a few is better than none.

December has brought Christmas novels, which I'm excited for!

~*~

⭐⭐⭐

When the local library shuts down indefinitely due to repairs, Dodie loses her sanctuary.  She gets a brilliant idea to turn a room of her house into a lending library.  This hobby turned lifestyle opens up her world to a lot more opportunity.  Its a cute read.

~*~

⭐⭐⭐

Madison is determined to live her dreams and to get away from her parents control.  She accepts a position as a room-maid.  In exchange for room and board, all she has to do is keep the penthouse clean and take care of the dog.  Everything is so perfect...what could go wrong?  This book was short and interesting.  Not a bad read.

~*~

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lakey Sisters are complete opposites.  After their mother died, Willa has to raise Harper and their brother Lucas.  She then put her own life on hold to help Harper battle cancer.  Now that Harper is better its time for Willa to follow her own dreams.  Harper also is following her own dreams now that she's beaten cancer.  Life has lots of challenges in store for them all but both sisters will discover that even in the darkest moments, family is everything.  I couldn't put this book down, it was so good!

~*~

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is book 2 in a 4 book series.  Braden thinks by reading romance novels he is an expert in love but he will soon realize that real life is better than fiction.  You don't have to read the first book but I would so you have an idea of what's going on.  I love this series!

~*~

⭐⭐⭐

Plus size blogger Bea is tapped to be the next Bachelorette.  Thing the TV series but in book form.  I really couldn't read it and enjoy it as much as I do on the tv.

~*~

⭐⭐⭐

Can a rom-com obsessed romantic finally experience the meet-cute she's always dreamed of or will reality never compare to fiction?  Annie spends her days writing and watching movies.  She believes if she could just find her own Tom Hanks her life would be perfect...but he's nowhere in sight!  This book didn't live up to all the hype I had been seeing around the blogs.  It was just ok in my book.

~*~

⭐⭐⭐

Two sisters are forced to become closer when death strikes their family.  Their relationship changes as the story progresses.  It was a interesting family drama that I do recommend you read.

~*~

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chelsea loves to reminisce about her year long post college European adventure.  Since losing her mother to cancer and her dad remarrying, she's thrown herself into her work.  Chelsea thinks if she takes off on that same trip many years later she will find happiness.  Nothing goes as planned but she finds love when she leasts expects it.  Really good book, I did agree with the hype going around on this one!

~*~

⭐⭐⭐

The day her doctor tells her a diagnosis that no one wants to hear, Amy learns of a secret her husband of 25 years has been keeping from her.  She decides she needs to go where she is happiest and go back to childhood memories.  Her husband is going through his own battle, which is the key to why Amy found out about his secret.  Their daughter is having issues and the 3 of them realize what family is for.  The book was okay, it was slow and I found myself flipping through the forest scenes.

~*~

What are you currently reading?

Let's be friends on Goodreads.

Cheers!

Friday Five!

 

Happy December everyone!

The last month of this crazy year...normally you'd think it go slow but man its flown!  I hope that means 2021 is going to shine shine shine!

~*~

1) I'm in the Christmas mood...how about you?

We decorated the weekend of Thanksgiving.  I sent cards out on the 1st, which I'm soo glad I got them done early.  I'm pretty much done with Christmas shopping.  It actually feels good to be ahead of the game.  My sister invited me to help them cut down a tree for their house on Saturday.  We drove through lights last weekend at the AB Brewery and we've made a reservation to go to the Botanical Garden Glow next weekend.

2) We may not be able to go to the movies but we can still see new releases!

I'm super glad that the county library is still operating, even if its just curbside.  I've been able to request new release movies so we've been able to at least catch some good ones at home.  I do miss the movie theaters and I miss some of the new releases that were supposed to come this past summer (Top Gun!)

3) Girls Night In Ornament exchange in a new way

Each Dec, my GNI girls and I do an ornament exchange.  To bring some cheer to our lives since we can't get together in person, we are doing a drop off one and will zoom to share our present.  I think it'll be fun!

4)  Happy 1st anniversary to Burn Boot Camp South County!

One year ago this week we went to Burn for the first time and we haven't looked back!  More on the anniversary fun next week.

5) Yes...we still go to the gym...wearing a mask.

If you follow me on other social media, you have seen we've kept up our working out.  Dec - March we were in person.  March - July we were at home.  July - current we've been doing a mixture of in the gym and at home.  We are 6 ft apart from others, we wear masks, we sanitize everything we touch, they clean everything.

We have 3 circles - family, work, gym.  I honestly can't trust the middle circle as much as I can the other 2.  We are at the same time everyday, the same people, and I know we've all gotten close that we would be honest with each other if someone were to get sick or something.

Some don't agree with our decision.  However we aren't leaving our county to go eat in other places, we follow the rules.  We need an escape and that is our escape.

What plans do you have this weekend?

Cheers!

4 glorious days off!

Did you all have an amazing Thanksgiving?!?

We did!

Thursday we got up and had an asiago cheese breakfast bake (soo good!) before lacing up our hiking boots and checking out the trails at Don Robinson State Park. This park has been on my radar for awhile so I was glad we got to go explore. After that, we had a zoom call with my family before diving into our meal courtesy of White Box Catering. We used them for Easter so when Turkey was the same situation I jumped on board. It was perfect!

Friday was decorate for Christmas day and things around the house. Done & done! I can't believe I got it all done in one day. Later that evening we helped my Dad at our church's tree lot. It was fun, got lots of steps in, easily stayed socially distanced and sold 30 trees in 3 hrs. Pretty good for the 1st day!

Saturday we kicked booty early with friends at camp before tackling our biggest project of the weekend...painting our kitchen cabinets. When we moved in 4 years ago we could tell they needed touching up but it wasn't something we needed to do immediately as other projects came to light first. So we found paint, cleaned, primed and oh my got it done in the course of 12 hrs and it looks like a whole new kitchen now - I love it!

We were exhausted after it all but it looks so much better!

Sunday my body finally let me sleep in as it was a day of nothing. Got groceries and meal prep done, addressed Christmas cards and just odds n ends. We dropped a meal off for a friend who is battling covid and that gave us a chance to drive around downtown and see all the new stuff up and about. We also drove through the Anheuser Busch Brewery lights. Its only drivable this year so its short but still neat to see all lit up:

Pretty good 4 days in my book!

I do not want to go back to work!! Keith was told to work from home the next 3 days so I wish I have that luxury but I do not.

I got a lot of criticism from certain people in my life about our decision on how to celebrate the holiday and it stung but you know what? I know what we did was safe for us, safe for my immediate family and thats what matters. I don't care about quantity, especially when it was advised not to have a large quantity and some care about that over quality. It is what it is but know that you made the best decision for yourself.

Unfortunately Christmas might be the same way and thats just going to have to be okay this year.

Hope everyone gobbled til they wobbled!

Happy Gobble Gobble Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Celebrating may look different this year, it may not be with your normal bunch & may not be what you normally do but guess what...that's ok!

I have a breakfast bake in the oven.

Parade watching while eating.

We plan to go take a walk somewhere (since the Turkey Trot didn't happen).

I have homemade chex mix ready to bake for snacking.

Dinner later today.

Family zoom call.

Relaxing!

 I'm thankful for Keith, grateful for friends who support me, and blessed to have a family that loves  me no matter what.

 Gobble gobble! 🦃

 

What's Up Wednesday - gobble gobble!

 

Happy Gobble Gobble day tomorrow!

How are you celebrating?  Its just the 2 of us this year, with a zoom call with our family.  Different yes but its the safe thing to do with everything going on.  Fingers crossed that Christmas is different but I kinda don't think it will be.

~*~

1) What we're eating this week:
Sun - fish & brussel sprouts

Mon - leftovers/quesadillas

Tues - chicken sausage & veggies

Wed - not sure yet!

Thurs - Turkey day food!

Fri - not sure yet!

Sat - out

2) What I'm reminiscing about:

Our Gatlinburg trip last year, mainly because my sister is there with her family for Thanksgiving.  I'm extremely jealous:

3)  What I'm loving:

Our Burn friends becoming real life friends.  Its hard to make friends as an adult and the Burn community has helped us find our place.

4)  What we've been up to:

We had a barn party at my sisters for Halloween.

We explored a new restaurant (Coal Fire) and their new general store in Labadie.

We explored a new park (Route 66 State Park) with Burn buddies who have become outside friends.

We spent a few hours with the twins - they make my heart happy!

We've celebrated my niece turning 12

...all while social distancing!

5)  What I'm dreading:

The holidays - kinda!  I'm ok with us not doing anything for Turkey Day.  Christmas might be harder as it was the last holiday with my mom so its always been hard for me but knowing I am keeping myself and others safe is what counts.  We may do something with our family circle if they are in town but otherwise its just us!

6)  What I'm working on:

I home-edited my closet - all colors together!

I'm halfway through my 2019 scrapbook

Getting deck bids

7)  What I'm excited about:

A home project during our Turkey Break - its much needed!

8) What I'm watching/reading:

I just finished the book "Undercover Bromance" - totally recommend it!

Finishing "Dynasty" on Netflix

9) What I'm listening to:

Bobby Bones in the AM - really only time I'm in the car

10) What I'm wearing:

Sweater dresses with leggings are up my alley at the moment!

11) What I'm doing this weekend:

Turkey Day Thursday

Tree Lot Friday

House projects all the other time

12)  What I'm looking forward to next month:

13) What else is new?

Not much.

I hope this last month of December is a great one!

What's new with you?